EU to Press for Free Elections in Iran without the Guardian Council?
December 17, 2003
Nazenin Ansari
Kayhan (London)
London -- Jack Straw indicated that Britain might be willing to support measures to ensure that elections in Iran would take place without the supervisory role of the Guardian Council.
On Monday French president Jacques Chirac said he is ready to mobilize Europeans to support the reforms in Iran during a meeting with Shirin Ebadi according to Agence France Press quoting a source from Elysee.
According to AFP, Mrs. Ebadi requested that the European Union use its influence with the regime in Iran to pressure the regime in Tehran to support a bill aimed at reforming the system of selection of the candidates for the Parliamentary elections scheduled for 20th February 2004.
In response to a question at a press conference with leaders of the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC), that whether Britain would support free elections in Iran without the vetting of the Guardian Council, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said, "our position is universal, we wish to see free and fair elections in all countries across the world."
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