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WELCOME TO THE NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM OF IRAN AND THE PERSIAN CENTER OF BERKELEY

WHEREAS, Iran's National Soccer Team is visiting California to engage in several soccer matches, including matches with the U.S. National Soccer Team and the Mexican National Soccer Team; and

WHEREAS, soccer is Iran's most popular sport, and the Team has had much success, particularly at the 1998 World Cup games; and

WHEREAS, engaging in sports competitions and cross-cultural events are a means by which better person-to-person and intercultural relationships may be developed between citizens of different nationalities despite national political disagreements, and much progress has been made over the last year in bringing together Americans and Iranians through sports and culture; and

WHEREAS, the TEAM is being hosted in Berkeley by the Persian Center in their newly-acquired Victorian building on Durant Avenue; the Persian Center is a nonprofit organization founded in 1992 and dedicated to promoting Persian education, cultural celebration and exhibitions, and an appreciation of the rich 10,000 year old Persian heritage, which is at the heart of world civilization; around 2,500 years ago, Persia's greatest leaders promulgated the ideas of peaceful multiculturalism, justice, peace, and rule of the law, and the protection of the weak from the powerful; and

WHEREAS, there are approximately 500,000 Iranian-Americans in California who have put down roots here, have successfully established themselves and engaged with the larger American society, and who are working to preserve the Persian identity and heritage; and

WHEREAS, the Persian New Year, "Norouz", is celebrated on the first day of Spring, which in the year 2000 falls on March 20th,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Shirley Dean, Mayor of the City of Berkeley, in behalf of the residents of Berkeley, heartily welcome the Iranian National Soccer Team and commend the Persian Center for its good works, and do hereby declare

PERSIAN HERITAGE DAY
MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2000

In the City of Berkeley, and call upon all of our residents to acquaint themselves with the rich Persian legacy and promote person-to-person and intercultural activities between Americans, including Iranian-Americans, and citizens of Iran.