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EU says Iran must show greater respect for human rights |
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Wednesday, 14 December 2005 |
 Dow Jones Newswires, BRUSSELS - European Union foreign ministers called
on Iran Monday to show greater respect for human rights, saying the
situation in Iran was deteriorating and damaging E.U.-Iran ties. The
E.U. ministers said they regretted that Iran has failed to hold talks
on human rights this year, "despite the E.U.'s strong and repeated
requests."
"Greater respect for human rights in Iran is essential for progress in
E.U.- Iran relations," said an annual E.U. review of human rights,
adopted by the foreign ministers.
Human rights talks with Tehran were to be held alongside negotiations
to draft a free trade pact. However, both have been frozen in the wake
of European and U.S. fears that Iran is setting up a nuclear weapons
program.
"The deteriorating human rights situation and the absence of action by
the Iranian authorities to reform laws and official practices, which
allow human rights violations to occur, cast serious doubt" on Iran's
intentions to respect fundamental freedoms of their citizens, it said.
The E.U. called on Iran to "demonstrate its commitment to human rights
and to the (E.U.) dialogue." It said the E.U. remains open to
discussing human rights with Iran, adding that otherwise it would back
plans for a U.N. resolution on human rights in Iran.
The 25-nation bloc and Tehran are deadlocked over Iran's nuclear program and recent comments made by Iran's president.
The E.U. last week condemned Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for
suggesting Israel be moved to Europe so the continent can make amends
for the Holocaust. In late October, he called for Israel to be "wiped
off the map," comments which also drew swift condemnation by countries
around the world.
Iran has vowed to press ahead with enriching uranium and producing
nuclear fuel in defiance of E.U. and U.S.-led efforts to stop such
moves.
France, Germany and the U.K., negotiating for the E.U., broke off talks
with Tehran originally meant to ease tensions over its nuclear
activities. Last month the U.K. offered new negotiations to persuade
Tehran to give up its insistence on running its own domestic program of
uranium enrichment - a possible pathway to nuclear arms.
Iran continues to insist that its program is aimed at generating electricity.
The U.N.'s nuclear energy agency has warned Tehran that its nuclear
program could be referred to the U.N. Security Council, which has the
power to impose sanctions against Iran.
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