Brussels, 11/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - The "reform-minded" President of Iran, Mohamed Khatami, is in favour of a prudent rapprochement between his country and the European Union. It is in this context that on Monday, following a meeting with the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kamal Kharazi, Chris Patten's International Relations Office announced that he would shortly be submitting a Draft Directive to the Council. This proposal will outline negotiations for a trade and economic co-operation agreement with Iran. A spokesperson from Mr Patten's Office indicated that the Commission was very much hoping that the Council would approve the mandate, "under the Belgian Presidency but if not, at the beginning of the Spanish Presidency". Imports from Iran into the EU are worth Euro 5 billion, with EU exports to Iran worth Euro 4 billion.
The agreement is likely to contain "a human rights clause", given that the EU is counting on a lasting rapprochement with Iran to curb the fundamentalism in the country and will, therefore, have to go further than simply economic agreements. The Commissioner had a "frank discussion" with Mr Kharazi on the death penalty, public executions, women's rights, freedom of the press and the fate of political prisoners in the country. The Iranian Minister explained that "cultural differences" distinguish their different notions of democracy and Iran practised an "Islamic form of democracy". The Iranian Minister did, however, welcome the EU's "pragmatic approach" towards his country, an approach that was radically different to that of the USA. The latter has renewed a five-year regime of sanctions against Iran and Libya. Mr Patten's spokesperson explained that the Commissioner welcomed the "political reforms" embarked upon by the Iranian President and hoped that they would continue in a clear direction with not too much backtracking. Mr Kharazi declared that the road to improvement would continue according to wishes of the President, the people and the Parliament
One European Union source explained that, "The reform process in Iran is still fragile" and The EU should regularly assess the situation in Iran before the co-operation agreement is concluded. There is also another point on which the two si0es differ: the question of Iran readmitting the increasing number of economic refugees attempting to enter European Union territory. The two sides intend to set up a working group on the subject. Iran, however, would also like the Community to grant it more financial support for helping to repatriate more than two million, mainly Afghan refugees who are in Iran. A representative of the National Council for Iranian Resistance; dominated by the People's Moudjahadin (armed opposition to the Iranian regime), Hamid Reza Eshaghi protested against the visit of Mr Kharazi to Brussels. He claimed that such a visit, "would only encourage this regime in carrying out further political repression". Between 1995-1999, the European Commission granted Euro 4.65 million in assistance to refugees and more than Euro 0.9 million of aid in helping the drought that gripped the country in 2000.