Chris Patten reminds Iranians that negotiations in view of trade agreement are closely linked to progress over talks on other issues, in particular political dialogue

Brussels, 04/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - During the first round of his tour of the Middle and Far East (see EUROPE of 1 February, p. 8), the European Commissioner Chris Patten reminded the Iranian authorities of the need for progress in terms of respect for human rights, non-proliferation of arms of mass destruction and the fight against terrorism if it desires to finalise a trade and cooperation agreement with the EU.

The talks in view of a trade and cooperation agreement, for which the Commissioner should launch a second round this Wednesday, 'are linked to the talks underway on other issues and in particular political dialogue,' he told the press conference on Monday, in Tehran, adding that the dialogue initiated with Iran last December 'does not simply consist of sitting and talking, (and that) we expect progress in certain areas.' In particular, the EU expects the Iranians to recognise the state of Israel, sign and enforce international non-proliferation treaties, enforce United Nations Resolution 1373 against the financing of terrorism and respect human rights. During his meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Khamal Kharrazi and with the head of the judicial authority, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hachémi Chahroudi, Chris Patten expressed his 'concern over freedom of the press, certain trials, torture' and raised issue of the free access for investigators from the United Nations Human Rights Commission. He also discussed 'the death penalty, substitute penalties, in particular the stoning of women, the role of women and the prospect of Iran signing the convention against discrimination towards women.' I pointed out that if the Iranian judicial authorities believe that the Western press mistreats them, a simple way to remedy this, is to allow further United Nations inspections and sign more agreements, he added. Concerning the Iraqi dossier, the European Commissioner spoke of his hope that Iran will exercise all the pressure possible - and it has already done so - to force Saddam Hussein to obey United Nations resolutions.