Brussels, 15/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - Already under great strain due to Iran's continued nuclear programme, relations between the EU and Teheran have grown still worse since the recent presidential elections and the ensuing violence. Speaking on Wednesday 15 July, Carl Bildt stands firm, saying that, in any case, these issues remain “among the Swedish presidency's top priorities”. The Iranian authorities must carry out an investigation into what happened during the elections”, he said. Condemning repression and the use of force against peaceful demonstrators, the “EU has been the international organisation with the clearest, strongest reaction” to these events, the Swedish foreign minister told MEPs in Strasbourg. Underlining how important it was to make the right choice in coming months regarding the attitude to be adopted towards the theocratic regime, Mr Bildt called for the international community to show unity and said he hoped for “new relations with the Iranian nation”. Despite the thorny situation, 'the Commission believes it is absolutely necessary to maintain dialogue”, said Catherine Ashton, Trade Commissioner. “All channels of communication remain open with Iran”, she stressed, adding: “We currently have many differences with the current Iranian government” but, she went on to say, they were urging the Teheran government to take part in seeking a solution
Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (EPP, Poland) took the view that there should be consistency in stances adopted by Europeans (mainly between member state ambassadors in Iran) and that efforts should be stepped up to support the civil society. Regarding the way to achieve this, he said: “Sanctions are a means to be explored, but trust must be restored through a strong diplomatic process”. “I do not think one can trust the results of these elections”, said Richard Howitt (S&D, UK), who bemoaned the absence of international observers. “European Liberals do not support a change of government through force”, said Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck (ALDE, Belgium), who has the same doubts and considers that the Iranian government has lost “all credibility”. While the president of the United States has shown proof of good will, “Iran is missing a historic opportunity”, she said. “When people want freedom, we admire them”, Daniel Cohn-Bednit (Greens/EFA, France) acquiesced, acknowledging how difficult it is to strike a balance between the interests of the Iranian people and the EU's own interests. He went on to ask the Commission and Council to analyse “the responsibility of Nokia and Siemens in the repression of the Iranian people”. Such a regime “does not have its place in the 21st century”, said Anna Rosbach (EFD, Denmark) scathingly. She, like Struan Stevenson (ECR, UK), wonders how appropriate it is to keep an EP delegation for Iran, when it has “been transformed into a spokesman's service for the Iranian government”.
Several MEPs called on the international community to support democratic movements and remain united against the nuclear threat. “The EU and the United States must continue to cooperate, but also with all members of the United Nations Security Council” (in particular China and Russia), said Francisco José Millan Mon (EPP, Spain). “We must not have fragmented dialogue on the nuclear issue or on human rights policy”, pointed out Maria Paloma Muñiz de Urquiza (S&D, Spain). “Iran is not and will not be the same”, as its citizens have refused to be hostage to clerical leaders, said Tunne Kelam (EPP, Estonia) optimistically. (A.B./transl.jl)