EU Worried About Iran's Election But Downplays Fallout
February 20, 2004
Agence France Presse
AFP
The European Union said Friday it was concerned about the conduct of Iran's elections but played down the impact on its policy of "constructive engagement" with the Islamic republic.
"We are watching developments closely and we are concerned as to what happened in the run-up to these elections," a source with the EU's executive commission told reporters.
Iran's hardline Guardians Council disqualified more than 2,000 reformist candidates from running in Friday's election, leaving the way clear for a crushing victory by religious conservatives.
"The quality of democracy affects our relationship with all of our partners. Clearly it's something that we take very seriously," the EU source said on condition of anonymity.
"But what it doesn't change is our clear preference to keep the channels of communication open and to develop ways of talking to Iran," she said.
EU foreign ministers will debate Iran at a meeting on Monday, including the election and whether to resume stalled talks on a trade and cooperation agreement.
"Nobody could be happy about what has happened in the lead-up to the elections," said an official with the EU's Irish presidency.
"So there is concern that these developments will affect at least the perception of legitimacy about the outcome of the elections," the official said.
"There's also of course concerns about continuing problems on the human-rights front in Iran."
The EU's approach of "constructive engagement" with Iran contrasts sharply with US mistrust of the country, which Washington has labelled part of an "axis of evil".
In contrast to the United States, the EU is pressing ahead with a carrot-and-stick approach with Iran by pursuing human rights issues while at the same time seeking to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement.
But the trade talks have been suspended since June amid concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions.
By Monday's monthly meeting of the EU foreign ministers, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei may have released a report on Iran's nuclear programme, the EU sources said.
IAEA diplomats said this month that UN teams in Iran had found components of an advanced uranium enrichment centrifuge, of a type Tehran had failed to declare while claiming to provide full disclosure on its atomic programme.
"I wouldn't want to pre-empt the (IAEA) report. We'll respond in whatever terms the report dictates," the Irish presidency official said.
The commission source said: "If Dr ElBaradei is able to give a positive report, then the response should be positive.
"But the key point is we don't want to move the goalposts. We are against the idea that new demands be made as condition for the resumption of talks," she added.
http://www.afp.com/english/home/The EU is cowardly. How will they face the Iranian people, in the future?