...

Iran needs to play a responsible role in the region European Council

Iran Materials 18 December 2006 16:53 (UTC +04:00)

(Europe.eu) - The European Council expresses its concern about the negative impact of Iranian policies on stability and security in the Middle East. The European Council underlines that Iran needs to play a responsible role in the region.

In particular, the European Council deplores Iran's failure to take the steps required by the IAEA Board of Governors and the UN Security Council, and agrees that this could only have negative consequences for relations between the EU and Iran, reports Trend.

The European Council reiterates its full support for efforts to find a negotiated solution to the nuclear issue and regrets that Iran has not engaged seriously with the far-reaching proposals presented to Iran by the High Representative on 6 June. These could serve as a basis for a long-term agreement, which would give Iran everything it needs to develop a modern civil nuclear power industry while addressing the concerns expressed by the IAEA Board and the UN Security Council.

In the absence of action by Iran to meet its obligations, the European Council supports work in the Security Council towards the adoption of measures under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

The European Council expresses deep concern at the Iranian government's recent statements concerning the EU and individual Member States, as well as its threats towards Israel, and the continuing deterioration of human rights and political freedoms of its citizens. In this context, the European Council regrets that Iran cancelled the meeting of the EU-Iran human rights dialogue scheduled for December 2006.

The EU condemns any denial of the Holocaust as a historical fact, either in whole or in part, and therefore firmly rejects the underlying premise and the objectives of the conference on the Holocaust organized by the Iranian authorities.

The EU will keep all of these issues and its policies under close review and will calibrate its approach in the light of Iran's actions.

Latest

Latest