DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH IRAN
2nd Interparliamentary meeting
between the European Parliament and the Majlis of the Islamic Republic of Iran
7-9 December 2007
Tehran
* * *

Mission by the Delegation for relations with Iran to Tehran, 7-9 December 2007

In Tehran, the Delegation met its main objectives, i.e. to hold a dialogue with Members of the Majlis and of the Government, and to meet also with representatives of civil society, on topical issues in EU/Iran relations as well as on developments in Iranian society (in particular with regard to respect for democracy and human rights). The establishment of a regular dialogue, after the 1st Interparliamentary meeting held in October 2006 in Brussels, can be regarded as a considerable success, since it institutes an important channel of communication between the EU and Iran.

The complete list of our meetings is included in the attached programme. It should be noted that the dialogue with NGOs and “civil society”, as well as the briefings by EU mbassadors, were organised by the Embassy of Portugal (representing the Council residency in Iran) in co-operation with the European Parliament, while the rest of the rogramme was organised by the Majlis Secretariat and by the Ministry of Foreign ffairs of Iran.

It should be stressed that the Delegation had requested a very wide range of meetings at
official level, including with personalities such as the Head of the Expediency Council and of the Assembly of Experts, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Secretary and the former Secretary of the Iranian Supreme Security Council (Said Jalili and Ali Larijani) and the Head of the Iranian Judiciary, Ayatollah Seyyed Shahroudi. The Delegation had also requested to visit detainees Mr Mansur Ossanlou and Mr Emadeddin Baghi in prison: this was, ultimately, not possible. On strong request of the delegation, the Portuguese Presidency also tried to arrange a meeting with Peace Nobel Price Winner Shirin Ebadi, but unfortunately failed due to conflicting time schedules.

The Delegation was received at a very high level, including Speaker of the Majlis Dr. Haddad Adel and Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Manoucheer Mottaki. These two meetings, in particular, continued for about twice the originally allotted time, and allowed for a very comprehensive dialogue and exchange of views with the Delegation.

The following other important elements should be mentioned:

-upon receiving from the Majlis the final version of the programme, the Delegation realized, on 7 December, that the requested meeting with students had been organized in the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. EU institutions and think-tanks, however, have suspended cooperation with IPIS since it hosted the “Holocaust Conference” in December 2006, where positions denying the shoa were prominently disseminated. The Iranian authorities were therefore asked by the Delegation to move the scheduled meeting to some other premises; the dialogue with students eventually couldn’t take place, allegedly because of organizational problems.

- the Chair of the EP Delegation and the MEP representing the Subcommittee for Human
Rights were approached by the families of students arrested by Iranian police (apparently,
in order to avoid student demonstrations on the occasion of the “Iranian Students’ day”, on 7 December). A list of arrested students, which were still held “incommunicado” in undisclosed detention centers, was transmitted to the MEPs. The EP Delegation contacted Amnesty International to initiate an urgent action on the cases. It also forwarded the list, with a request for speedy liberation of the students, to the Chair of the Iranian Majlis Delegation, Dr. Mahmoud Mohammadi, who undertook to ask the competent Iranian authorities for information on these cases. According to press reports members of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee and deputy intelligence ministers met in parliament on December 12 to examine the cases of people arrested at Tehran University on December 4.

The Portuguese Presidency was also asked to exert, jointly with other EU Member States’
Embassies, best efforts in view of the liberation of the arrested persons, via diplomatic
channels.

- the Delegation took part in a meeting with former Members of the MKO (Mujahiddin e-
Khalq Organisation). On this occasion, the Chair of the Delegation underlined that the
European Union considered the MKO (under its various forms) as a terrorist organization, and stressed that it was still included in the official EU terrorist list. She underlined that the authoritarian and sect type nature of the organisation in itself already rules out official contacts between the Iran delegation and the MKO. Any visits of its members to the European Parliament in the past have been solely the initiative of individual members of parliament.

Friday, 7 December, 14.00-19.30

These meetings took place in the UN headquarters in Tehran.

Present: representatives from UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNODC, IOM, UNSPA, UNOCHA, ISDR.

The UN agencies represented gave an overview of UN activities in Iran and of internal
developments in this country. The Delegation thanked, in particular, Mr. Knut Ostby, UN
Resident Coordinator, for the hospitality and the availability of UN agencies active in Iran.

The Delegation then met representatives of Iranian "civil society"; these included, in particular

- The wives of arrested trade unionists Messrs. Ossanlou, Salehi, Madadi and other Iranian trade unionists. An urgent plea was made to the Delegation for assistance in obtaining the immediate release of the arrested trade unionists, unjustly detained, who had suffered physical harm and were in need of medical treatment. Speedy and open trials should therefore be held in court as soon as possible Contacts with the detainees were very difficult, since the journey to the prison could take, in some cases, up to one day, and meetings were limited to 20 minutes.

Trade union activity in Iran, although legally authorized, was in some sort of "legal limbo": despite the agreement reached in 2004 between the ILO and the Iranian Government on trade union activities, trade unionists could be accused of ill-defined crimes such as "negative propaganda" and arrested.

The Delegation underlined that it had requested to meet Mr Ossanlou in prison (the request had been however denied) and undertook to insist with competent Iranian authorities on the release of the detainees. Ebrahim Madadi, the Vice President of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, has been released on 17 December 2007.

- Women's' rights activists, and in particular representatives of the campaign for "one million signatures". Discussion focused on the following subjects:

* The Family protection bill under discussion in the Majlis. This proposal received a lot of criticism (in particular its art. 23); the bill, if adopted, would "take the situation of women in Iran back 40 years" with regard to polygamy, temporary marriage (mutah), unilateral right for men to arbitrary divorce, custody rights.

* The Children and juvenile courts bill which had been tabled 4 years ago and has to the
grievance of the rights' activists still not been adopted. This bill would minimize the
possibility for death sentences to be meted out to minors: despite Iran being part to the
Convention on the rights of the child, death sentences for "child offenders" are in fact still
executed in Iran, when the sentenced person had reached a minimum of 18 years of age.

*The problem of many children in Iran (and especially the offspring of Afghan refugees and Iranian women) who cannot obtain birth certificates, and have therefore no "legal existence".

*The activists' claim that the "women's movement" was a social, not a political movement; that it was not limited to the rich and instructed, but enjoyed wider social consensus.

The Delegation undertook to sensitize its counterparts in the Majlis on the issues raised during the discussion

- Members of ethnic minorities, and in particular of Kurd and Ahwaz minorities. For reasons of time constraint, the delegation could unfortunately not meet with representatives from the Baluch community.

The situation of arrested Kurdish journalist Adnan Hassanpour was particularly underlined. Mr Hassanpour was sentenced to death on 16 July 2007, convicted of being a "mohareb" (enemy of God) and of espionage. The death sentence had been upheld by the Supreme Court on 22 October 2007. A request for a new trial had been introduced to the Ministry of Justice. The death sentence of Mr. Abdolwahed Butimar, also a Kurdish journalist, had been on the contrary quashed on the grounds of procedural irregularities.

The Delegation considered that the trial against Mr. Hassanpour should be revised, and a stay of execution immediately decided by the competent Iranian authorities.

The position of the Kurdish minority (7-10 million persons) is difficult: discrimination in employment is pervasive (local government, judiciary, army are almost entirely off-limits for Kurds), and little investment is made by the Government in this extremely poor region. Kurds are not separatists, but support a federal solution for Iran; there are no relations between the PKK and Kurdish groups in Iran.

With regard to the Ahwaz minority, it was stressed that the use of the Arabic language is the main issue: there are no newspapers in Arabic, although e.g. up to 70% of the population in Khuzestan is of Arabic mother tongue. Demonstrations and arrests had taken place, in particular in April 2005, and legal proceedings against Ahwaz intellectuals are continuing.

Again for reasons of time constraints only staff of the delegation met with representatives of the Azeri minority who are mainly struggling for more cultural freedom. (About a quarter of the Iranian population is believed to be of Azeri origin). While the constitutionally tolerated religious minorities such as Armenians and others (see below) have the right to schooling in their own language, this is forbidden for all ethnic minorities, including Azeris despite their great numbers.

- Members of religious minorities, who are persecuted on the basis of their religious believes, namely Baha'is and recently Sufis. Baha'is considered that "suffering had increased Exponentially" in the last 3-4 years. Economic and social pressures were increasing; these ranged from employment restrictions to difficulties in obtaining visas, to harassment of pupils in schools, to expulsions of students. While about 300,000 Baha'is were registered in Tehran, a very large number was unaccounted for: this community constitutes in fact the largest religious minority in Iran besides the Sunnis.

Iranian Sufis are mostly Shiite Muslims, and count up to 700 years of presence and activity in Iran. Problems started about 5 years ago, with accusations against Sufis of being "deviated Muslims". People had since then been injured in attacks by religious militias (basijis), while many practitioners had been arrested and shrines destroyed. These attacks were inspired by "radical ayatollahs" in Qom, and had increased in particular after the recent international Congress on the poet Rumi: the Government had been strongly criticized by hard-liners for having permitted this event to take place. Recently, many young people have taken a hightened interest in the Sufi current of Islam, which is supposedly perceived as a threat to the theocracy in power.

MEETING WITH DR. MOHAMMADI, CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE MAJLIS

Saturday, 8 December, 10.00-12.00

The following Members of the Majlis took part in the dialogue: Dr Mahmoud Mohammadi, Chairman, Ms Bayat, Mr Sobhanya, Mr Talainik, Mr Alikhani The Iranian side thanked the EP Delegation for the invitation to Brussels in October 2006, and stressed the importance of the continuing dialogue. It also remarked that a change in the name of the EP Delegation (to: "Delegation for relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran") would be most welcome.

With regard to the nuclear non-proliferation dossier, it considered that "the emphasis should be on international conventions and international treaties", and requested the EP to "resist sanctions" against Iran. While the recent report by US intelligence agencies had given more time for discussions, Iranians didn't trust the US to change their established policy; the report was simply part of a "psychological war" against Iran. The IAEA was the international body which had the necessary expertise on this subject, and contacts should therefore continue in that forum.

Iran was "ready to disarm", and to participate in the destruction of all armaments in the Middle East. Nuclear armaments, as well as all WMDs, were against Islam, and should be forbidden. It was necessary to create "much more trust", and confidence-building was the primary objective.

The US intelligence report had ascertained that no nuclear military activity had been going on in Iran since 2003: this meant that the situation should go back to the one prevailing before the resolutions adopted by the Security Council in 2005-2007. The EU had to act on this basis, and the EP should take the initiative to this effect. More in general, the EU should adopt a political line more independent from the US: there was the possibility for concluding a security treaty between Iran and Europe, and for developing a "comprehensive cooperation".

With regard to human rights, it should be stressed e.g. that there was considerable press freedom in Iran, including the right to criticize the Government. While Human Rights problems did exist in Iran (especially at local level), efforts for reform were ongoing.

International standards and Islamic standards "had to be reconciled". Execution by stoning didn't take place in Iran and if it was proved that any execution of a "child offender" did take place, the Iranian side would follow-up the issue in the National Security Committee of the Majlis.

A "very negative image" had been created with regard to women's right in Iran, but this
image was caused essentially by "lack of dialogue".

The European side agreed on the importance of this opportunity for a direct dialogue, and thanked the Majlis for the invitation.

With regard to the nuclear dossier, it stressed that a new situation had been created by the
NIE report. What elements could an EU/Iran agreement on nuclear/security issues possibly contain? Time was right for "new, positive ideas", and for "negotiations without preconditions". It was essential to resume discussion within IAEA, on the basis of 100% transparency. While the right of Iran to develop nuclear energy could not be put in question, a viable solution could be to conduct "multilateral enrichment in a neutral place". In due time, both TCA negotiations and the Human Rights dialogue should be resumed.

With regard to human rights, the recent execution of a "child offender" was strongly criticized. Did Iran intend to abide to its commitment to a moratorium on execution of "child offenders" as well as on stoning? In its legal procedures, was Iran following "Islamic values" or "cultural values"? What were the possibilities for raising the age of criminal responsibility in Iran to18? Women in Iran were concerned by the new family bill being discussed in the Majlis (in particular with regard to polygamy, temporary marriage, custody of children, divorce provisions) while the bill aimed at instituting juvenile courts and prisons, introduced 4 years ago, was making no progress.

Saturday, 8 December, 15.00-16.00

Dr. Mohammad Bayat, Director for international relations, introduced the discussion. He stressed the fact that, due to its position, Iran played a "buffer role" against drug traffic from Afghanistan to Europe. Narcotics production in Afghanistan had increased by 34% in the last year, and despite protective measures adopted by Iran (such as construction of fences, concrete barriers e.a. on the Afghan-Iranian border) traffic had also sharply increased.

The cost of producing 1 Kilo of heroin could be estimated at 3,000 euros, and the selling price at 100,000 euros. This left a huge profit for the trafficking mafia, while there was "no will and determination by the US and the West to combat drug production in Afghanistan". Afghan soil was extremely productive (up to 42.5 kilos of opium per hectare), but each producing family ended up with, on average, about only 1,965 USD per year. With 1 billion USD, it was possible to buy up the entire Afghan crop, which could then be used (at least in part) for legal purposes. International aid to Iran for fight against drugs was about 6 million USD, while damages to Iran were around 600 million USD. This was, of course, widely insufficient.

The Delegation enquired about two projects supported by the EU in this sector, and stressed the importance of long-term projects, as well as the possibilities offered by partial drug legalization for medical purposes. Perhaps, also, the effects of recent droughts offered some opportunity for offering alternatives to poppy producers.

Saturday, 8 December, 16.30-18.00

The Deputy President for International Affairs of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines, Mr. Seyed Shamseddin Kharegani, and the Director General for Specialized Agencies and International Organizations, Mr. Abdolreza R. Hanjani, welcomed the Delegation and introduced the discussion.

Among items discussed : Iran's orientation for trade and investment; the impact of sanctions; the privatization programme; the structure and property of the Chamber of Commerce; the Iranian fiscal system; the structure of Iranian employment, in particular with regard to gender issues.

Iranian participants underlined that sanctions "were not very effective" but still contributed to orienting Iranian economic and trade relations away from Europe, towards China and Asia in general.

"600 years old relations were breaking down" and the EU "had not responded to Iranian requests". TCA negotiations were blocked, and a "real dialogue" should take place.

Sunday, 9 December, 11.00-12.45

This meeting, originally scheduled for one hour, lasted in fact for almost two hours. Dr Mottaki gave a comprehensive introduction, and then answered questions by Members.

The Delegation, in particular, stressed the case of the 32 arrested students whose place of
detention was still unknown, and asked for rapid release, as well as for information to be
given to families and lawyers.

On Afghanistan: the Minister considered that, because of the mistakes of the coalition, the situation was deteriorating fast; at least 6 provinces could easily fall in the hands of the Taliban. There was an alarming increase in opium production which was accelerating the political disintegration. Iran had, by now, learnt how to live with "restless neighbours" and was therefore "not really worried". Serious international cooperation should however take place. Mr. Mottaki had spoken to that effect to the UNSG special Envoy.

On the Middle East: the US President had declared in Annapolis that the Israeli-Arab conflict would be solved by end 2008, but the Israeli Government had contradicted him straight away. If the "root causes" were not treated, no solution was possible.

Iran had agreed to hold a fourth round of talks with the US on Iraq, but the US had not
maintained its commitments undertaken in the three previous rounds.

Contrasts between Sunnis and Shias were underlined by people who were neither Sunni nor Shia. Iran, in fact, maintained excellent economic, security and strategic relations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries. Bilateral trade with e.g. the UAE had risen from USD 9 billion in 2005 to USD 14 billion in 2007.

On the nuclear issue: Iran demanded nothing more but would settle for nothing less than its full rights under the NPT. The NIE report had "exposed Bush's lies". IAEA reports confirmed that Iran's current activities were peaceful, that ambiguities only concerned the past and the "work plan would provide the necessary answers. Mr ElBaradei had acknowledged that the most important outstanding questions on centrifuges had been answered. It was time to restore the "centrality of the IAEA" . Iran expected the EU to "draw the right conclusions": building confidence was a reciprocal effort. Iran had always kept its commitments, but most EU countries hadn't. Iran therefore, justifiably, didn't fully trust the EU.

The EU should take advantage of the NIE and work on a framework agreement which would recognize Iran's rights and peaceful intentions; the resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council on the basis of false information should be repealed, and the case moved back to IAEA.. This would be welcomed by Iran, and "positive steps" would follow. Iran was strongly in favour of non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament: it had supported the UN General Assembly resolution on this subject adopted the previous week despite US opposition.

With regard to Human rights, the Minister underlined the extraordinary stability of Iran, despite being "a multi-secular, multi-ethnic, multi-religious" country.. All types of minorities enjoyed protection, even "unrecognized religious sects" derived from Islam (i.e. the Baha'is). While the death penalty was enforced, legal proceedings for its implementation were very long and offered all necessary guarantees. Dialogue on Iran's implementation of Islamic law could be conducted, but with reciprocal respect. The EU/Iran Human Rights dialogue had been very useful, but the fact that the EU had supported Canada's resolution in the UN General Assembly had blocked the bilateral dialogue. The situation of Human Rights in the EU gave also rise to concern, in particular with regard to discrimination of minorities and CIA activities.

The US influence on the EU: the US "pushed the EU forward" in order to pursue its own
policies, but did not hesitate to "circumvent the EU" if it was in its interest. The EU was
therefore paying (e.g. by higher oil prices) for errors committed by the US. The EU was
also losing huge business opportunities because of sanctions adopted following US pressure. The EU should engage in strategic discussions with Iran, in particular on regional issues, such as Afghanistan.

Sunday, 9 December, 16.00-17.00 hours

Present to the meeting, Members of Majlis: Mr Robert Beglarian (Armenian Christian), Mr Younatan Betkolia Googtapeh (Assyrian Christian), Mr Maurice Motamed (Jewish), Kurosh Niknam (Zoroastrian).

A discussion on the situation of religious minorities in Iran took place. Representatives of
recognized religious minorities explained their Constitutional role, as foreseen by the
Constitution of 1906, confirmed in 1979, as well as the system of their designation.

They stressed that, while designated by their respective communities, as Members of the
Majlis they represented the whole Iranian people. They considered that the issue of religious minorities had been adequately solved in Iran, and that recognized minorities enjoyed total freedom of expression and worship, while each religion respected all other religious denominations, as prescribed by Islamic Shariah.

Holocaust denial, as expressed in the recent Conference organized by IPIS in Tehran, did
constitute however a problem, and an insult to citizens of Jewish religion.

It was considered as normal that religious minorities such as the Baha'is had no comparable representation in Parliament, since they were not 'recognized' minorities.

Sunday, 9 December, 18.00-19.30 hours

The Speaker of the Majlis, Dr Haddad Adel, conducted a comprehensive dialogue with
the Delegation, which also went beyond the scheduled time-frame.

The Speaker concentrated on the following issues:

- Europe had not understood "the reality of Islamic democracy". Iran enjoyed a stable democracy, unique in this particular region of the world, despite ethnic and religious diversities. Iran was interested in peace and economic development and in constructive dialogue with all European friends

- the NIE report was a positive development, it proved that Iran had "never lied before the
world"

- the death penalty was prescribed in Iran for certain crimes, but its "philosophy" was
prevention, rather than repression. No "child offender" had been condemned to death: the
EP Delegation, if it maintained the contrary, should "send proof" of such executions

- the MKO was simply pretending it had quit terrorist practices. In Ashraf, it was still "carrying out war games". The EU relied, for information on Iran, on intelligence from the US and from the MKO, but "none of these two sources are reliable"

- while, before the revolution, there were in Iran more than 10,000 political prisoners, there were now in Iran "20 to 25 true political prisoners"

Sunday, 9 December, 19.30-20.30

Also present at the meeting, the following Members of the Majlis: Dr. Mahmoud Mohammadi, Mr Soleiman Jabarzadeh, Ms Elham Aminzadeh Chairman Mr Buroudjerdi stressed the importance of the visit by the Delegation of the European Parliament. Parliamentarians directly represent the people, and are "free to talk". The EP Delegation had lots of questions about Iran, just like Iranian Members had lots of questions about what was happening in Europe.

With regard to the MKO, he underlined that this organization had murdered many
representatives of the people, and had also taken part in the massacre of Kurdish populations.
With regard to the death penalty, he stressed that laws and regulations were similar to those prevailing in the US. Legal proceedings leading to executions were long and complicated, and the law was respected scrupulously.

The Iranian Majlis believed in exchanges of views and dialogue in a calm atmosphere of mutual respect, and considered it was important to continue the regular dialogue with the European Parliament.

The EP Delegation agreed with these last remarks; in particular, the issue of the death penalty for "child offenders" was of great importance, and should be exhaustively discussed.

A link had been established during the Delegation's mission, and contact should be maintained: a Delegation from the Majlis should travel to the EU in 2008, and the EP Delegation would reciprocate the visit, in the framework of a regular, open dialogue.

The European Parliament Delegation thanked the Majlis of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its kind hospitality.

2nd EP/ Iran Interparliamentary meeting between the European Parliament and the Majlis of the Islamic Republic of Iran Tehran, 8-9 December 2007

Joint Statement by the Chairs Members of the European Parliament and of the Majlis of the Islamic Republic of Iran held their 2nd interparliamentary meeting in Tehran on 8-9
December, 2007.

Both Delegations stress the importance of regular dialogue, which affords an opportunity for engaging in constructive discussion of a range of political, social and economic issues.

We agreed to report to our Parliaments the content of our discussions, particularly in the areas where efforts should be deployed by both sides in order to achieve positive results.

We examined a wide array of issues of common interest, including the situation in the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan, EU/Iran political and economic relations, human rights issues, combating terrorism and drug trafficking, nuclear non-proliferation and the possibilities for developing satisfactory, peaceful solutions to nuclear issues, under NPT and IAEA regulations.

The two Delegations renew their commitment to improve the effectiveness of their dialogue, which should be put on a permanent, regular basis so as to deliver the full potential of the interparliamentary relationship.

Dr. Mahmud Mohammadi

Angelika Beer

EP Delegation to Iran addresses human rights, nuclear non-proliferation

11/12/2007 The European Parliament's Delegation for relations with Iran travelled to Tehran
from 7 -10 December, for the 2nd EP/Iran interparliamentary meeting. The 11-Member
Delegation was led by its Chair, Angelika Beer (Greens/EFA, DE).

The Delegation met its interlocutors in the Majlis (Parliament) of the Islamic Republic of Iran
(including the Speaker, Haddad Adel), members of government (in particular, Foreign Affairs
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki) and senior officials, as well as officials of the UN agencies active in
Iran. It also held a dialogue with members of Iranian "civil society," including representatives of
trade unions, women's organizations, ethnic and religious minorities, and met Members of the
diplomatic and business communities. It visited associations of victims of MKO terrorism as well
as of former Members of terrorist organizations.

The Delegation would like to thank all those who took part in this dialogue, and in particular those who attended the meetings held "under the UN umbrella" in the UN headquarters in Tehran, and who in many cases ran personal risk in order to meet the Delegation and inform it on the situation in Iran. They asked the Delegation to transmit to the European Parliament and to the wider international Community a series of urgent requests:

-the immediate liberation of arrested trade unionists, including the leaders of the bus drivers'
union, Mansour Osanlou and Ebrahim Madadi as well as Mahmoud Salehi (bakery workers'
union); the Delegation met the wives of these detainees who also stressed the need for them to
receive adequate health care

-a stay of execution for Kurdish journalist Adnan Hassanpour, who was condemned to death, as
well as a revision of his trial

-improvements in the area of women's rights and family law, such as important amendments to
the proposed "family protection bill" and the quick adoption of the "children and juvenile courts
bill"

-end to the discrimination and harassment suffered by religious and ethnic minorities, in particular with regard to education and public employment; this request was expressed to the Delegation by representatives of Bahais, Sufi, Kurdish and Ahwaz minorities.

The Chair of the Delegation and the representative of the EP subcommittee on human rights met
the families of students arrested in the first days of December in a nation-wide police action
against student organizations. A list of 28 names of students (whose whereabouts and conditions
were still unknown) was transmitted to the Iranian Majlis, with a call for immediate action in view of their liberation. The Chair of the Iranian Delegation, Dr. Mahmoud Mohammadi, undertook to raise this issue with the competent Iranian authorities. The list was also forwarded to the EU Presidency, with a call for rapid action.

With regard to the interparliamentary meetings, the Delegation warmly welcomed the establishment of a regular dialogue with its counterparts in the Iranian Majlis. A "joint statement" was issued by the two Chairs, which you can consult as an attachment.

In light of the recent report by the US intelligence agencies, nuclear non-proliferation was
discussed extensively. The Delegation stressed the importance of seizing the favourable political
moment in order to make progress towards a satisfactory, peaceful solution to this problem, in
accordance with NPT and IAEA regulations.

Human rights were also discussed, particularly in the light of possible reform of Iran's legislation
on the death penalty, the age of legal responsibility and the execution of "child offenders". Other
items of particular interests were the problem of the impact of economic sanctions and
developments in EU/Iran economic relations, the situation in the Middle East, and the fight
against drug trafficking and consumption as well as international terrorism. The Delegation
underlined the continuing status of the MKO as a terrorist organization, on the basis of the list
adopted by Council.

The Delegation thanked the Iranian Majlis for the warm hospitality enjoyed, and extended an
invitation in order to continue the dialogue at the next meeting, to be held in the EU in the course of 2008.

The other Members of the Delegation were: Vice-Chair Romano LARUSSA (UEN, IT), Vice-Chair Christa PRETS (PES, AT), Vittorio AGNOLETTO (UEL/NGL, IT), Iles BRAGHETTO (EPP-ED, IT), Agustin DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP-ED, ES), Baroness Emma
NICHOLSON OF WINTERBOURNE (ALDE, UK), Tobias PFLÜGER (EUL/NGL, DE), John
PURVIS (EPP-ED, UK), Vicente Miguel GARCES RAMON (PES, ES), and Libor ROUČEK (PES,
CZ).

DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH IRAN
2nd Interparliamentary meeting
Tehran
7-9 December 2007
PROGRAMME
Friday 7 December 2007
01.25 Arrival of the delegation from Frankfurt on the flight LH 600 and transfer
to
Laleh International Hotel
Dr. H. Fatemi Avenue, Tehran, Iran
Tel: (+98-21) 8965021-9, 8966021-9, 8967021-9
Fax: (+98-21) 8965517, 8965599
11.00 Staff meeting - Hotel lobby
12.00 Entire Delegation meets in Hotel Lobby.
12.15 leave by mini-van for
13:00-13.45 Briefing by EU Presidency
Embassy of Portugal, 13 Rouzbeh Alley, Hedayat Ave. Darrous
Tehran
Tel 0098 21 22582760, 22764060, 22764061l
14.00- 19.00 Meetings at the UN building n.5
Sharzad Boulevard, 30
Tehran

14.00-14.45 Meeting with UN Agencies
14.45-16.00 Meeting with Trade Unions
16.00-16.45 Meeting with Women's Rights Activists and Juvenile Defenders
16.45-17.30 Meeting with ethnic minorities
17.30-19.00 Meeting with religious minorities

evening free

Saturday, 8 December
8.30 Depart from Hotel forMajlis and
9.00 Meeting with HE Dr. Mahmoud Mohammadi, Chairman of Subcommittee for Foreign relations and other Members of the Majlis
11.30 Depart for Hotel Laleh
(Lunch free)
14.30 Leave Hotel Laleh for
15.00 Meeting with Drugs control organization
President, Dr. Mohammed Bayat
16.00 Leave for Chamber of Commerce of Iran
16.30 Meeting with Mr. Kharegani, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of
Commerce for International affairs
18.00 Leave for Residence of the Ambassador of Portugal
Qeytarieh, N.12, Alizadeh st. North Bahar, Sadr Highway tel +9821
22202460
19.00 De-briefing with EU Ambassadors and
20.00 Dinner hosted by the Embassy of Portugal
Sunday, 09 December
8.30 Leave Hotel for Nejat Organisation
9.00 Meeting with former Members of MKO
10.30 Leave for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, call on HE Dr. Manoochehr
Mottaki, Minister of Foreign Affairs-
12. 30 Depart for Laleh Hotel
Lunch free
14.15 Leave for
14.30 Meeting with victims of terrorist organizations
16.00 Meeting with Iranian MPs representing religious minorities
17.00 Press Conference
18.00 Meeting with HE Dr. Haddad Adel, Speaker of the Majlis of the Islamic
Republic of Iran
19.00 Meeting with the Chairman of the Committee on National Security and
Foreign Affairs of the Majlis, HE Mr. Alaeddin Buroudjerdi and other
Members
20.00 Dinner Reception hosted by HE Mr. Mahmoud Mohammadi, Chairman of
the Foreign relations Subcommittee of the Committee for National
Security and Foreign Affairs
22.00 Leave for Hotel Laleh
Monday, 10 December
01.30 Depart Hotel for Imam Khomeini International Airport
03.05 Return flight to Frankfurt
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH IRAN
European Parliament and the Majlis of Iran
2nd Interparliamentary meeting
7-9 December 2007
Tehran
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Members (10 + 1) Group Country Committees
Angelika BEER, Chair Greens Germany Committee on Foreign Affairs
Romano LARUSSA,1st Vice-Chair UEN Italy Committee on Industry, Research and
Energy
Christa PRETS, 2nd Vice-Chair PES Austria Committee on Culture and Education ;
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender
Equality
Iles BRAGHETTO EPP-ED Italy Committee on Employment and Social
Affairs , Committee on Fisheries
Agustin DÍAZ DE MERA
GARCÍA CONSUEGRA
EPP-ED Spain Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and
Home Affairs
John PURVIS
EPP-ED United
Kingdom
Committee on Economic and Monetary
Affairs , Vice Chair
Vicente Miguel GARCES
RAMON
PES Spain Committee on the Internal Market and
Consumer Protection
Libor ROUČEK PES Czech
Republic
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Vice Chair
Baroness NICHOLSON OF
WINTERBOURNE
ALDE United
Kingdom
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Tobias PFLÜGER GUE Germany Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Human rights:
Vittorio AGNOLETTO GUE Italy Subcommittee on Human Rights
Abbreviations:
EPP-ED Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats
PES Socialists Group in the European Parliament
ALDE Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats of Europe
GUE/NGL Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left
UEN Union for Europe of the Nations Group
GREENS Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH IRAN
European Parliament and the Majlis of Iran
2nd Interparliamentary meeting
7-9 December 2007
Tehran
LIST OF STAFF
Secretariat (3)
Mr Jean Louis BERTON
Mr Carlo CHICCO
Ms Germana CARNAZZA
European Commission (1)
Mr François MASSOULIE
Political Groups Advisors (3)
Mr Vassilis MYLONAS PES
Ms Sabina MEYER Greens
Mr Rino TROMBETTA UEN
Interpretation:(8)
Ms Patricia QUIGLEY (EN)
Ms Karen TWIDLE (EN)
Mr Stefano CASTIGLIONI (IT)
Mr Francesco PICCARDI (IT)
Mr Francisco ALVAREZ WIESE (ES)
Mr E. QUIJANO (ES)