Baku, Azerbaijan, April 11
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iranian parliament has rejected to send a delegation to Europe after the invitation was sent for the second time, by senior European lawmaker.
The head of Iran and Europe Parliamentary Friendship Group, Kazem Jalali said that he has rejected the invitation which was sent by the chair of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with Iran, Tarja Cronberg, the country's Mehr news agency reported on April 11.
Jalali went on to note that Cronberg has called him on April 10 and renewed her earlier invitation.
Iranian media outlets reported on April 8 that visit of Iranian parliamentary delegation to Europe has been cancelled in protest to European Parliament's disputed resolution which included the situation of human rights in Iran.
The Iranian parliamentary delegation was to travel to Strasburg on April 27-28 upon an invitation by Cronberg.
The European Parliament passed a resolution on the EU strategy towards Iran on April 3, expressing concern over the human rights violations in Iran.
The resolution criticizes human rights abuses in Iran and calls for a more active role of the EU in addressing the problems related to human rights in the country and supporting civil society. It also advises EU members to focus on human rights in their ties with the Islamic republic.
Cronberg, during her phone call emphasized that the members of European Parliament delegation for relations with Iran have had a significant role in modifying of the resolution, which was heavily criticized by both Iran's administration and some hardline MPs.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on April 4 that the European Parliament's measure was "baseless and unacceptable," adding that not only does the resolution run counter to all political and international criteria, but it is also reminiscent of "discriminatory and racist" approaches.