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EU
officials and lawmakers debating Iran in the
European Parliament last night repeated earlier
warnings that Tehran must stop nuclear-conversion
activities or risk UN sanctions. The European
Parliament today will adopt a nonbinding declaration
calling on Tehran to resume talks with the EU-3
negotiating team of Great Britain, France, and
Germany. Iran’s human rights record also came under
attack during the debate yesterday.
Human Rights Issue
Yesterday’s debate at the European Parliament also
highlighted growing unease within the EU over the
repressive policies of Iran's new president, Mahmud
Ahmadinejad, who took office in August.
Douglas Alexander sharply criticized Iran’s practice
of allowing children under the age of 18 to be
sentenced to death for certain crimes. Some
sentences have allegedly been carried out. Alexander
said capital punishment for juveniles is a "clear
violation" of Iran's obligation under international
law. He warned that Iran’s increasingly hard-line
stance on human rights will reduce the country’s
international standing.
“The EU-Iran human rights dialogue enables the
European Union to work to improve the human rights
situation in Iran. We would like to see much greater
commitment from Iran to the dialogue and to ensuring
that the dialogue results in real progress achieved
on the ground. We are frankly disappointed that Iran
has not yet agreed dates for the next round, and
[we] will continue to press them. Iran’s attitude to
human rights is damaging its reputation in the
international community,” Alexander said.
EU officials and many deputies also demanded the
release of the journalist and human rights activist
Ahmad Ganji, imprisoned since 2000.
EU Commissioner Jan Figel said the EU has other a
number of other concerns as well. “There are other
serious issues of concern which have emerged
recently: the juvenile death-penalty cases, despite
the existence of a moratorium on the death penalty;
the arrest of members of the Baha’i faith; the
excessive use of force to suppress unrest in the
provinces of Khuzestan and Kurdistan; [the]
continued suppression of press freedom. Each is a
matter of deep concern,” Figel said.
Figel said the EU would not sign a
trade-and-cooperation treaty with Iran before these
issues are addressed. Trade talks between the two
sides were broken off in August when Iran restarted
nuclear activities.
The European Parliament will adopt a nonbinding
resolution on Iran today.
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