Strasbourg, 14/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the EP adopted a resolution calling on the EU Council to send an official delegation to visit the 13 Jews and 8 Muslims accused of spying for Israel and the United States, recalling that, in Iran, "any kind of contact" with Israel could be qualified as espionage carrying the death sentence. The trial began on the same day as the vote, 13 April, and Parliament was concerned to learn that it was only to last one day (meanwhile, however, it has been adjourned until 1 May). At a time of reestablishing "more normal" relations with Iran, the EU must take account of the judgement past down in this affair, says Parliament.
The EU and Member States have already made several approaches in this affair, and these are continuing, said Commissioner Pascal Lamy. But, he considered that, following the positive developments that have characterised the situation in Iran since the last elections, one should avoid "giving the impression of foreign interference that could harm the improvement observed in the political climate" in the country.