Brussels, 23/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The External Relations Council on 23 February adopted very critical conclusions of the Iranian elections of 20 February, the democratic character of which was besmirched by the exclusion of an enormous number of reformist candidates:
"The Council recalled that over the last ten years Iran had made progress towards greater political freedom and that in the parliamentary elections in February 2000 the Iranian people clearly showed a desire for further...