Brussels, 16/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 16 February, Iran's Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he was ready to work with Europe “to reduce the tension” in the Middle East.
“If we acknowledge that there are common challenges and problems and that a common solution is needed, we will have made a step forwards”, he said at a hearing with the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee. Stating that the EU had to address the refugee crisis, and the Middle East had to address extremism, sectarianism and violence, Zarif believed due to a globalised world, “either we sink together, or we save ourselves together”. “We are ready to work with you to respond to the problem (of the migration crisis) right where it originates, in Syria, but let's travel the road together (…) Efforts need to be made on both sides. We need to work together and we will get there it, as we have got there” with the nuclear programme, he said.
No military solution in Syria or Yemen. Zarif called for political solutions in Syria and in Yemen, believing that in the absence of such solutions, “Daesh, al-Qaeda and al-Nusra will win”. “We must all acknowledge that these groups are no one's friends. They cannot be exploited by anyone (…) Some people believe that beating al-Nusra is a victory for Bashar al-Assad, but it shouldn't be seen that way. There is no military solution to be proposed for this Syrian crisis”, he added. His country supports the Bashar al-Assad regime. In a press conference at the end of the hearing, Zarif stated that Iran was not taking action on the ground but had military advisers at the request of the Assad regime. “Those who operate without the authorisation of the sovereign government are violating international law”, he added.
In the hearing, Zarif gave details of Iran's programme for the Syrian and Yemeni crises: “a ceasefire and a national unity government, and between the two, humanitarian aid”. “Intra-Syrian and intra-Yemeni talks are needed, and elections based on a new constitution. Third parties should facilitate this process but not intervene. It's not up to us to say who should govern. It's up to the people to decide”, he added.
Without explicitly mentioning it, Zarif criticised the action of Saudi Arabia and Yemen. While Iran is helping the Houthi rebels, a Riyadh-led coalition is helping the Yemeni government. “If a country in the region is sanctioned for reasons linked to human rights, is it Iran that must be sanctioned or the one bombing the people of Yemen? Howe many people have died? There are more who die each day because of the bombing in Yemen than in Syria”, he said, criticising the European sanctions against Tehran in connection with the human rights violations. “What's happening needs to be seen. We mustn't close our eyes. There is nothing to bomb in Yemen any more except human beings”, he added. “We must stop the bombing in Yemen, which takes place every day and kills many people. An end needs to be put to these atrocities”, Zarif told press.
Tehran wants a dialogue on human rights, not a monologue. Questioned about human rights by MEPs, Zarif criticised Europe for always giving lessons. While saying he was “looking forward” to starting the dialogue on human rights with the EU, Zarif said that this dialogue should be “mutual”. “It should not be in one direction, a monologue. It shouldn't be one side giving lessons to the other”, he said. Zarif stated that he was ready to speak about the death penalty and the fight against drugs trafficking. “No country can claim to be conducting a perfect policy in terms of human rights”, he added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)