MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
8.2.2006
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Lilli Gruber, Pasqualina Napoletano, Véronique De Keyser and Christa Prets
on behalf of the PSE Group
on the confrontation between Iran and the international community
B6‑0102/2006
European Parliament resolution on the confrontation between Iran and the international community
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions of 13 October 2005 on Iran and of 17 November 2005 on recent statements of the President of Iran, Mr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
– having regard to the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 30 January 2006,
– having regard to the resolution of the IAEA Board of Governors of 4 February 2006 on the implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran,
– having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Iran decided on 8 August 2005 to resume uranium conversion activities in contravention of its Paris Agreement obligations and took further steps on 10 January 2006,
B. whereas Article IV of the NPT states that ‘Nothing in this Treaty shall be interpreted as affecting the inalienable right of all Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II of this Treaty’,
C. whereas the IAEA has reiterated its concern about the continuing gaps in its understanding of many proliferation-sensitive aspects of Iran’s nuclear programme,
D. whereas the IAEA has reaffirmed its intention of continuing to work for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue which would contribute to global non-proliferation efforts and to a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, including their means of delivery,
E. whereas, in its resolution of 24 September 2005, the IAEA Board of Governors found that concerns related to Iran’s nuclear programme fell within the competence of the UN Security Council,
F. whereas EU relations with Iran have been based on a threefold approach characterised by negotiations on a trade and cooperation agreement, political dialogue and a human rights dialogue and whereas the political dialogue has been suspended owing to the current crisis,
G. whereas the last Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2005 failed to strengthen a multilateral initiative against the threat of nuclear proliferation and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
H. whereas the situation in Iran regarding the exercise of civil rights and political freedoms has deteriorated further since the presidential elections of June 2005 despite several undertakings by the Government of Iran to promote universal values,
I. whereas there is an increasing number of reports of executions and death sentences, especially against juvenile offenders and members of minorities, which violate internationally recognised criteria and standards,
On the nuclear issue
1. Expresses its deep concern regarding the present attitude of the Iranian authorities to Iran’s nuclear programme, notably to the removal of seals at several nuclear installations, and its decision to resume enrichment-related activities;
2. Endorses the conclusions of the resolution adopted on 4 February 2006 by the IAEA Board of Governors, criticising Iran for non-compliance with the IAEA’s Recommendation and underlining the resulting absence of confidence that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively meant for peaceful purposes;
3. Considers that, in accordance with the IAEA resolution, it is necessary for Iran to re‑establish full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, to reconsider the construction of a research reactor moderated by heavy water, to ratify promptly and implement in full the Additional Protocol and, in general terms, to implement the transparency measures requested by the IAEA Director General;
4. Reaffirms that Iran has the right to develop a nuclear programme in conformity with Article IV of the NPT and supports the initiatives and proposals of the EU 3 (France, Germany and the United Kingdom) and other international partners for cooperation with Iran in the nuclear field for peaceful purposes; at the same time reiterates its call on the Government of Iran to refrain from any threat against any state and to act with respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter;
5. Considers that the involvement of the UN Security Council, as proposed by the IAEA, constitutes a necessary step in order to assess the present situation and agrees with the Council’s conclusions which call for a strengthening of the role of the IAEA; takes the view that this move should prevent a further aggravation of the present situation; calls on the EU Member States to coordinate closely their initiatives in the IAEA and the UN;
6. Stresses the importance of cooperation with the USA, Russia, China and non-aligned countries in order to consider complementary concepts with a view to achieving a comprehensive agreement with Iran on its nuclear facilities and their use which takes account of Iran’s security concerns;
7. Invites Iran to consider seriously the Russian uranium enrichment process proposal, shared by the EU-3, which would offer it the possibility of advancing in its nuclear programme in a multilateral framework; considers that such a solution must be taken into consideration as a proposed improvement to the present rules, under IAEA control, for any interested countries;
8. Reaffirms that only dialogue, negotiation and compliance with international law, in the framework of a genuine multilateralism, can contribute to reaching a peaceful solution; takes the view, therefore, that no military options or preemptive actions of any kind should be taken into consideration;
9. Considers that a comprehensive agreement such as this, for which the United States, the European Union and other international partners must assume their responsibility, would help to achieve a sustainable regional security system comprising all nuclear powers in the region; believes that Iran should therefore act as a responsible regional player and contribute to a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction;
On the human rights issue
10. Strongly reiterates its condemnation of the death sentences passed against, and the execution of, juvenile offenders and minors, which in many cases constitute punishment of sexual acts and orientations not considered crimes on the basis of international legal standards, and calls upon the Iranian authorities to respect internationally recognised legal safeguards, inter alia with regard to minors;
11. Condemns the arrest and imprisonment of cyberjournalists and web loggers and the parallel censorship of several online publications, as well as the recent arbitrary arrests of journalists and severe restrictions on the media in Iran, and therefore calls on the Iranian authorities, especially the Iranian Parliament, to fulfil their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and notably to allow the free expression of opinion;
12. Urges Iran to sign the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and condemns the increasing arrests and punishment of women on grounds of ‘improper veiling’;
13. Calls on the Commission to implement all actions that are to be taken in the framework of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, in order to intensify contacts and cooperation with Iran’s civil society and independent media, and furthermore to support, together with the European Parliament, democracy and respect for human rights in Iran;
14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative for the CFSP, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and other countries referred to in this resolution, the IAEA Director General, the UN Secretary General and the Government and Majlis of the Islamic Republic of Iran.