Az ülések szó szerinti jegyzőkönyve

2005. november 16., Szerda - Strasbourg

17. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad úr, Irán elnökének legutóbbi nyilatkozatai

  Le Président. – L'ordre du jour appelle les déclarations du Conseil et de la Commission sur les récentes déclarations de M. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Président de l'Iran.

  Douglas Alexander, President-in-Office of the Council. Mr President, I am delighted to be able to address the Parliament in this important and timely debate on Iran and I am delighted to be speaking alongside my good friend Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner in this important discussion. During the last debate on this subject in this House on 12 October I used those same words in indicating that discussion on Iran was timely. I now feel that this debate is perhaps even more timely than the debate on 12 October because international concern about Iran’s policies remains high and I believe that Iran is facing crucial choices about its future. It is right, therefore, that the European Union should be active in shaping that debate.

Iran’s decisions about its relations with neighbouring countries can affect the security and prosperity of peoples well beyond the region of the Middle East. It is important for the security of the region and beyond that Iran now makes wise choices.

As all Members of this House will know, Iran elected a new President in June of this year. I believe that the international community, and particularly the European Union, must maintain its dialogue with Iran’s new government. We have a responsibility to encourage those who now hold power to make choices that are in the best interests of that country and the region as a whole. As I said the last time I had the privilege of addressing this Parliament, Iran is a land of genuinely vast potential. It has a young, educated and entrepreneurial population. It has immense natural resources, in particular oil and minerals. I suggested that the combination of these factors should make for a vibrant economy and society in any country if its government can create a culture of opportunity based on the rule of law. Today, more than ever, there is a real need to encourage the growth of such a culture within Iran.

I know that many honourable Members of this House were, as I was, outraged by the recent remarks made by the President of Iran about Israel. These are deeply troubling statements. Moreover, they have been made against the background of mounting concerns about Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, its human rights record and its commitment to countering terrorism.

Let me turn first to those specific comments. As you know, on 26 October, President Ahmadinejad addressed a conference in Tehran on the subject of a world without Zionism. In his speech he is reported to have called for Israel to be wiped from the map and said ‘the Islamic world will not let its historic enemy live within its heartland’. The European Union led the international response which was swift and, I am glad to say, unequivocal.

The Presidency statement issued on behalf of the European Union Heads of Government meeting at Hampton Court on 27 October strongly condemned President Ahmadinejad’s remarks. Josep Borrell said on behalf of this esteemed body that you were ‘deeply shocked, sickened and revolted by this statement’. He spoke of total condemnation by the leaders of your political groups. I know that Hans-Gert Poettering, who will be speaking in a moment, also expressed his concern at these comments at that time.

Today in this debate we are being called upon to discuss these remarks and their implications. Calls for violence and the destruction of any state are manifestly inconsistent with any claim to be a mature and responsible member of the international community. The Presidency summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires in London to protest at these remarks, and many governments across our Union of 25 nations did likewise in their national capacity. I welcome the swift response from the wider international community, including from governments within the Middle East region itself. Saeb Erekat put it eloquently on behalf of the Palestinian authority when he said he hoped President Ahmadinejad will focus on adding Palestine to the map rather than calling for Israel to be wiped from the map.

Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary-General, spoke for the world when he stated that Israel is a long-standing member of the United Nations, with the same rights and obligations as any other. Under the United Nations Charter, Iran, like other members of the organisation, has undertaken to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. I hope that President Ahmadinejad will recognise the damage that these remarks have caused to its standing in the international community and withdraw them unconditionally. His remarks are a further reminder of the imperative for Iran to take steps to address international concerns about its intentions in relation to the nuclear programme.

Iran’s nuclear ambitions were discussed by European Union foreign ministers when we met in Brussels on 7 November. At that meeting the Council reiterated its grave concern at Iran’s resumption of activities at the uranium conversion facility at Isfahan and urged Iran to implement all the measures requested by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board. These include a reinstatement of the full suspension of all fuel cycle activities.

The European Union’s preferred approach remains the resumption of negotiations within the framework agreed in Paris last November. The European Union has urged Iran to take the steps necessary to make this possible. A satisfactory resolution of the issue of Iran’s nuclear ambitions is of fundamental importance to the international community. A nuclear-armed Iran would add greatly to instability in the region and it could do irreparable damage to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the rest of the international non-proliferation system.

Turning to the field of human rights, we continue to be deeply concerned by the serious and continuing violations by Iran. We continue to hear reports of juvenile offenders being sentenced to death. Iran continues to restrict freedom of expression and to imprison political prisoners, such as the investigative journalist, Akbar Ganji. Iran continues to persecute religious minorities, including the Baha’i Community.

I know from our last debate on this issue that this is a matter of ongoing and profound concern to many Members of this Parliament. We therefore urge Iran to strengthen respect for human rights and the rule of law. It is disappointing that the EU-Iran human rights dialogue has not been held since June 2004, despite repeated attempts – I can assure you – on the European Union’s part to agree dates for the next round. It is important that Iran take steps to resume substantive discussions under the dialogue.

I welcome the resolution on human rights that Canada tabled last week at the United Nations General Assembly. European Union Member States have agreed to co-sponsor it. Iran must demonstrate by its actions that it is willing to improve respect for human rights. Iran can begin to do this by fulfilling its obligations and earlier commitments in relation to juvenile executions and by permanently releasing prisoners of conscience. I hope that Iran’s government does this without delay.

Turning now to terrorism, the Council remains concerned by Iran’s approach to terrorism. The fact that President Ahmadinejad’s comments were made on the same day as the horrific attack at Hadera in Israel, for which Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility, should reinforce for us all the lesson that incitement to violence and the terrorism that it breeds are despicable and unacceptable acts. The European Union has encouraged Iran to join, without reservation, the international consensus on the necessary existence of two states – Palestine and Israel – living peacefully side by side within recognised borders. The European Union stresses that support for Palestinian terrorist groups is unacceptable. All states have a responsibility to work together to combat the threat of international terrorism.

I believe that this is genuinely a crucial time for Iran and for its government. The recent remarks by President Ahmadinejad have focused attention upon Iran and its position in the world. It is imperative that this attention be channelled constructively into effective influence on Iran to address its policies on the nuclear issue, terrorism, human rights and regional and other questions, including the Middle East peace process.

The international community can have most influence when it is united. I believe our united response to President Ahmadinejad’s remarks about Israel has been successful in putting Iranian policy on this issue directly under the spotlight. As foreign ministers of the European Union said on 7 November, the evolution of the long-term relationship between Iran and Europe must depend on action by Iran to address effectively all the European Union’s areas of concern. It is up to Iran to determine through its actions whether its long-term relationship with the European Union will improve or deteriorate.

  Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the Commission. Mr President, even though I am repeating something that has already been said, I would like to do so because I think the matter is so serious that it is necessary to do so. There was indeed a very broad and very speedy reaction from all the different European institutions. President Barroso reacted immediately on behalf of the European Commission by issuing a very firm condemnation in the clearest possible terms. We know that the President of the European Parliament has also condemned this statement very forcefully and, as Mr Alexander has already said, the European Council also issued a very strong declaration from Hampton Court.

I also reiterated in public that Mr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s statement on Israel was shocking and completely unacceptable. It has also rightly been condemned in the strongest terms across the international community. I would also like to thank the Presidency for having associated our heads of delegations in statements made by the Presidency, together with the Commission, especially in the Arab countries. The Foreign Ministers further reiterated this collective condemnation of calls for violence and for the destruction of any state. They also concurred in the fact that ‘such comments cause concern about Iran’s role in the region and its future intentions’.

There is a long, very ugly string of precedents at political rallies, military parades and other events, going all the way back to the early years of the revolution. But when they are made in the current delicate climate, and especially by the Head of State himself in connection with a conference entitled ‘The World without Zionism’, I think it really is time to draw a red line and to remind the Iranian President of the responsibilities that come with being a member of the family of nations.

On the most burning issue, the nuclear track, we still believe that engagement is far preferable to brinkmanship, confrontation and isolation. We therefore support the efforts by the British Presidency, France, Germany, Mr Javier Solana and like-minded partners to bring Iran to a fuller cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and Dr ElBaradei

In this regard the next meeting of the board of the IAEA will be crucial. Clearly we all want to avoid Iran becoming a nuclear weapons state. But this is not the only area where we would expect the Iranian Government to deliver. Iran’s attitude towards the Middle East peace process in particular is very important. Since the launch of our EU-Iran comprehensive dialogue, the successor of the critical dialogue, that has been identified as one of the major issues of concern, along with weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and human rights.

During Mr Khatami’s presidency, we used this channel of engagement to good effect. Even though Iran did not officially acknowledge the existence of Israel, we registered some positive signs and a better appreciation of the whole Middle East equation. In particular, it was stated that Iran would not obstruct the peace process and would not pretend to be ‘more Palestinian than the Palestinians’.

But the intemperate remarks by President Ahmadinejad came as a setback. Among the many condemnations it triggered, I was particularly pleased to note also that the Palestinian Authority representative, the chief Palestinian negotiator, Mr Saeb Erekat, displayed real statesmanship by recalling that the PLO and the Palestinian Authority had recognised the State of Israel, with which they pursued a peace process. Thunderous neo-revolutionary warnings by the Iranian leadership to other Muslim countries not to recognise Israel seem curiously out of step with the modern world and may very well backfire.

Over the past months, the EU has invited Iran to reactivate our tracks of dialogue, by holding sessions of both the comprehensive dialogue and the human rights dialogue. I strongly hope that Iran will recommit itself to these processes and seize the opportunity to clarify its position, dispel misunderstandings and start restoring an overall confidence that has been badly damaged by recent remarks.

Although today is not the occasion, one could speak at length about human rights and the positive expectations that were initially created during the first years of Mr Khatami’s presidency, and then about the subsequent negative trend that has regrettably cemented itself. Improvements are indeed badly needed and the European Union obviously cannot remain silent on the matter.

I believe that we should try to build bridges with the Iranian people and I prefer to think that not all Iranians identify with the remarks and the line taken by their leaders. Freedom of expression and association in Iran are eroding. We should continue to monitor closely, for instance, the treatment of individual cases, such as that of Mr Akbar Ganji.

But as the Council clearly stated last week, ‘the evolution of the long-term relationship, avoiding a deterioration between Iran and Europe, will depend on action by Iran to address effectively all of the EU’s areas of concern’. That includes Iran’s attitude towards the Middle East peace process. The ball is now in the Iranian Government’s court. As a basic prerequisite we expect the Iranian Government to exercise responsible leadership, both domestically and internationally. Iran has remarkable historical, cultural and geo-political assets, as well as immense natural and human resources. This entails special responsibilities in order to foster peace and stability within a particularly volatile neighbourhood.

PRESIDÊNCIA: MANUEL ANTÓNIO DOS SANTOS
Vice-presidente

  Hans-Gert Poettering, im Namen der PPE-DE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, Frau Kommissarin, Herr Vertreter des Rates, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Unsere Fraktion hat diese Debatte beantragt, und ich möchte den anderen Fraktionen herzlich dafür danken, dass sie sofort einverstanden waren, diese Debatte zu führen.

Das, was der iranische Präsident Ahmadinejad am 26. Oktober über das Ausradieren Israels gesagt hat, ist so ungeheuerlich, dass wir es aufs Schärfste verurteilen müssen. Wir wissen, dass der Revolutionsführer Khomeini schon eine ähnliche Politik betrieben hat, aber umso mehr wissen wir heute zu schätzen, dass der frühere Präsident Khatami sich dieser Linie nicht angeschlossen hat.

Wir sagen an die Adresse Israels – und ich selbst habe Israel in diesem Parlament häufiger kritisiert: In einer solchen die Sicherheit, Stabilität und Integrität Israels betreffenden Frage stehen wir ohne jede Einschränkung an der Seite Israels, und jede Infragestellung und jeder Angriff auf Israel ist eine Infragestellung der westlichen Zivilisation, es ist eine Kriegserklärung auch an Europa und an die gesamte Welt. Dies muss die iranische Führung wissen.

Mich enttäuscht die Entwicklung im Iran deswegen so sehr, weil ich gerade zu dem Zeitpunkt für eine ganze Woche im Iran war, als Ahmadinejad die Regierung übernommen hatte, und ich damals noch die Illusion hatte, dass ja vielleicht doch nicht alles so schlimm kommt, wie es aussieht. Aber weil alles so schlimm kommt, müssen auch diejenigen, die mit sehr viel gutem Willen der neuen Regierung eine Chance geben wollten, heute ein klares Wort sagen: Wehret den Anfängen; das muss unsere Position sein.

Das Tragische ist, dass dieses Verhalten des neuen iranischen – man muss ja sagen – Regimes im Grunde genommen auch denen nicht hilft, denen man vorgeblich helfen will, nämlich den Palästinensern. Nicht nur die Israelis haben ein Recht darauf, in sicheren Grenzen zu leben; als EVP-ED-Fraktion haben wir immer das Recht der Palästinenser anerkannt, in sicheren Grenzen zu leben. So, wie sich der iranische Präsident verhält, stellt er den gesamten Friedensprozess im Nahen Osten in Frage, und das ist nicht nur schlimm für Israel, es ist auch schlimm für die Würde des palästinensischen Volkes.

Nachdem wir Ahmadinejad kritisiert hatten, habe ich im deutschen Fernsehen gesehen, dass es in Teheran Demonstrationen gab, bei denen Männer mit Selbstmordgürteln zu sehen waren. Das ist doch schon ein Aufruf zum Terrorismus. Als ich im Iran war, habe ich ein Magazin gesehen, in dem junge Leute aufgefordert wurden, sich zu melden als Selbstmordattentäter oder Freiheitskämpfer – wie immer man es bezeichnen will, aber es ist ein Aufruf zum Terrorismus. Ich habe gestern gehört, dass im iranischen Kinderfernsehen palästinensische Kinder mit diesen Selbstmordgürteln gezeigt wurden, um sozusagen ein Beispiel für iranische Kinder zu sein, sich für diese Selbstmordaktionen zur Verfügung zu stellen. Und gestern sagte mir ein britischer Kollege, dass zwei Personen im Iran wegen gleichgeschlechtlicher Beziehungen gehängt worden seien. All dies zeigt, dass es ein Rückfall in das tiefste Mittelalter ist, und wir müssen die iranische Führung auffordern, zur Einsicht zu kommen.

Sowohl der Vertreter des Rates als auch die Kommissarin haben von dem zivilen Nuklearprogramm gesprochen. Darauf hat der Iran natürlich ein Recht. Aber der Iran hat nicht unser Vertrauen, und deswegen sind wir nahezu sicher, dass man die zivile Nuklearentwicklung eines Tages auch für Nuklearwaffen nutzen wird. Und Nuklearwaffen in den Händen von Leuten, die dem Mittelalter zugerechnet werden können, ist etwas, was wir als europäische und Weltzivilisation nicht verantworten können.

Ich habe heute Morgen einen Repräsentanten der russischen Regierung aufgefordert, alles der russischen Regierung Mögliche zu tun – sie hat ja einen gewissen Einfluss auf den Iran –, damit in all diesen Fragen der Entwicklung von Nuklearenergie endlich Transparenz entsteht, so wie dies auch die Kommissarin, so wie dies auch der Vertreter des Rates gefordert haben.

Meine Damen und Herren, lassen Sie uns sehr wachsam sein, was den Iran angeht. Der Iran muss selber wissen, dass er seine große geographische und strategische Rolle verspielt. Der Iran spielt eine große Rolle beim Friedensprozess in Afghanistan, beim Friedensprozess im Irak, im Verhältnis zu Syrien, Israel, Libanon, Palästina. Das iranische Volk ist ein großes Volk; viele haben sich an der Wahl nicht beteiligt, weil sie das Schlimmste befürchteten und es nicht verhindern konnten. Doch wir sollten diejenigen im Iran, die guten Willens sind, nicht vergessen. Der Iran braucht eine gute Zukunft, und hoffentlich hat der Präsident ein Einsehen, dass er sich zivilisiert verhalten möge im Ungang mit den Menschen und den Staaten in der Welt.

  Pasqualina Napoletano, a nome del gruppo PSE. – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, anche noi abbiamo condiviso la necessità di sostenere questo dibattito, perché vogliamo che le gravi dichiarazioni pronunciate dal Presidente iraniano Ahmadinejad nei confronti dell'esistenza dello Stato di Israele trovino una risposta ferma e unanime del Parlamento europeo.

Il gruppo socialista ritiene che non si debba sottovalutare la gravità dell'accaduto, poiché queste parole sono state pronunciate in un momento estremamente delicato della situazione mediorientale. A onor del vero, nei giorni successivi abbiamo per fortuna potuto ascoltare le dichiarazioni del leader Khatami, che vanno in tutt'altra direzione. Egli si è infatti espresso contro le crociate di qualsiasi tipo, contro la guerra e conto la violenza, definendole immorali.

Per tornare al Medio Oriente, da una parte si sono riaperte le speranze per un processo di pace che porti alla nascita dello Stato palestinese accanto allo Stato di Israele, che per noi non è mai stato e mai sarà messo in discussione, ma dall'altra parte sappiamo che sono molti i nemici di questo processo e che il terrorismo è di fatto alleato con chi non vuole che si arrivi alla fine di questo dramma.

La pace, la democrazia, la libertà e la giustizia sociale sono i valori che vogliamo si affermino in Medio Oriente e vogliamo che l'Europa abbia un ruolo crescente in questa prospettiva. Accogliamo pertanto con favore la responsabilità che l'Unione europea ha assunto nel controllo del confine di Rafah, che speriamo possa costituire nel prossimo futuro uno dei confini dello Stato palestinese.

L'Iran è un grande paese e non vogliamo che si isoli dalla comunità internazionale. Al contrario, riteniamo che le sue scelte, a partire da una chiara e incontrovertibile rinuncia all'armamento nucleare, potranno contribuire alla stabilizzazione pacifica dell'intera area.

Israele e Palestina sono legate da uno stesso destino e cancellare Israele equivale a cancellare la Palestina. Dico questo perché è ora di smascherare coloro i quali, in nome della difesa dei diritti dei palestinesi, contribuiscono ad alimentare il loro dramma. A differenza del presidente Ahmadinejad, noi lavoreremo per aggiungere un nuovo Stato alla carta geografica del Medio Oriente.

Facciamo infine presente a Israele che l'Europa non può dimenticare l'Olocausto, perché ciò equivarrebbe ad annientare le ragioni stesse della propria esistenza come progetto politico.

  Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, namens de ALDE-Fractie. – Voorzitter, mevrouw de commissaris, collega's, ik zal voor een deel hetzelfde zeggen als mijn collega's, maar ik geloof dat het belangrijk is dat wij bewijzen dat alle fracties in dit Parlement eensgezind zijn in onze veroordeling van de recente gebeurtenissen in Iran. Iran is een bakermat van beschaving en heeft een onschatbare bijdrage geleverd tot het culturele, artistieke, religieuze, intellectuele en wetenschappelijke patrimonium van de mensheid. Nadat Iran zich omvormde tot een islamitische republiek werd het decennia lang geïsoleerd. De Europese Unie heeft het voortouw genomen om dat isolement te doorbreken en is een veelomvattende dialoog gestart, onder meer over de economische relaties, internationale samenwerking en mensenrechten.

Sedert het aantreden van president Ahmadinejad echter, is er een duidelijke verstrakking merkbaar. Veroordelingen van minderjarigen, hernieuwde vervolgingen van journalisten en mensenrechtenactivisten en het terugroepen van 40 ambassadeurs wijzen hierop. De recente verklaringen van de president die zelfmoordterroristen feliciteerde en stelde dat Israël van de kaart moet worden geveegd, zijn volkomen strijdig met het Handvest van de Verenigde Naties en zijn zowel uit politiek en internationaalrechtelijk, maar bovenal uit menselijk en moreel oogpunt absoluut te veroordelen en totaal onaanvaardbaar.

Het bestaansrecht van Israël binnen internationaal erkende grenzen en in veiligheid naast een leefbare Palestijnse staat is onaantastbaar. Iran zou er beter aan doen bij te dragen tot een oplossing in het Midden-Oosten en op te houden het internationaal terrorisme te steunen. De jongste presidentiële verklaringen dreigen Iran, dat inderdaad een groot land is, opnieuw in een isolement te dringen en verhinderen alleszins dat dit belangrijke land in zijn regio een leidende rol zal gaan spelen.

  Angelika Beer, im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, verehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Auch meine Fraktion der Grünen ist froh, dass wir eine einstimmige Entschließung verabschieden werden, in der auch das Europäische Parlament deutlich macht, dass jemand – egal ob eine Organisation oder ein Staat –, der das Existenzrecht Israels in Frage stellt oder selbst Hassreden dagegen schwingt, hier keinerlei Akzeptanz findet und eindeutig zurückgewiesen wird.

Auch Kommission und Rat haben deutlich gemacht, vor welch schwierigen Problemen wir stehen. Durch die Reden von Präsident Ahmadinejad ist klar geworden, dass wir Europäer einen Hassprediger, der durchs Land zieht und Tausende mobilisiert, nicht stoppen können. Das ist nicht unsere Aufgabe und auch nicht unser Bereich. Aber ich appelliere trotzdem an die iranischen Verantwortlichen, zu überprüfen, ob sie nicht doch eine positive Rolle in der internationalen Staatengemeinschaft einnehmen und für ein Existenzrecht Palästinas und Israels eintreten wollen, anstatt diesem Präsidenten die Möglichkeit zu geben, dieses reiche Land Iran in die internationale Isolation zu treiben.

Deshalb appelliere ich an die Europäer und an uns: Wir müssen differenzieren. Iran ist ein faszinierendes Land mit einer jungen, gut gebildeten Gesellschaft. Iran ist eine Gesellschaft mit aktiven Frauenorganisationen, die um ihre Rechte kämpfen. Iran ist auch ein Akbar Ganij, der in seinem Leben bedroht ist, weil er sich weigert, sich der Zensur zu beugen. Iran ist auch die Gesellschaft der Weblogger und der Journalisten, die versuchen, mit uns Kontakt aufrechtzuerhalten und dieses Regime dort zu entlarven. Iran ist die Friedensnobelpreisträgerin Schirin Ebadi, die hier bei uns gesprochen hat. Iran ist auch Rechtsanwalt Soltani, den wir eingeladen hatten und der jetzt im Gefängnis sitzt.

Deshalb sollten wir versuchen, diesem anderen Iran die Hand zu reichen. Wir sollten nicht den Fehler machen, jetzt die Kontakte zur Zivilgesellschaft abzubrechen, die Tür zuzuschlagen. Genau das ist es, was ein Präsident Ahmadinejad erreichen will; dem sollten wir nicht folgen.

Wir haben uns den Menschenrechten, dem Frieden und der friedlichen Konfliktlösung verpflichtet. Dies ist unser Weg. Das ist nur der Dialog ...

(Der Präsident entzieht der Rednerin das Wort.)

  Eva-Britt Svensson, för GUE/NGL-gruppen. – Herr talman! Irans regim förhindrar all opposition inom landet. Man bryter mot de mänskliga rättigheterna, man dömer barbariskt människor till döden genom hängning osv. Listan över regimens brott kan göras lång, men detta är tydligen inte nog för denna regim. Nu har Irans president gjort fruktansvärda uttalanden om en annan stat. Han har talat om att utplåna staten Israel. Detta är naturligtvis fullständigt oacceptabelt och måste fördömas av alla. Jag utgår ifrån att vi är ett enat parlament som står bakom fördömandet av detta uttalande, liksom fördömandet av iranska regimens brott mot mänskliga rättigheter. Det finns en risk för att presidentens uttalande ytterligare försvårar arbetet för fred i Mellanöstern.

Vi måste också samtidigt kräva att staten Israel lever upp till FN:s säkerhetsråds resolutioner, att Israel omedelbart lämnar de ockuperade områdena, att Israel tar sitt ansvar för en tvåstatslösning och därmed äntligen accepterar en palestinsk självständig stat med östra Jerusalem som huvudstad. Vi måste i detta sammanhang också kritisera staten Israels byggande av en mur på de palestinska områdena, en mur som hindrar bönder att nå sina odlingsmarker, en mur som skiljer skolelever från deras skolor, en mur som hindrar sjuka att nå sjukhus osv. Denna mur måste också bort.

  Gerard Batten, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group. – Mr President, Iran is developing a nuclear programme that it does not need since it is sitting on a sea of oil. It is clearly intended to provide the country with nuclear weapons. The President of Iran thinks that Israel should be wiped off the map. The ability of the West to deal with the threat posed by Iran has been severely restricted by the war in Iraq, a war Britain entered into because of the lies and deceit of our Prime Minister, Mr Blair. We all hope that the situation in Iran can be resolved peacefully, and this is certainly one of those cases where the West needs both to speak softly and to carry a big stick.

Unfortunately Britain’s big stick – its armed forces – is being merged into the euphemistically named European Defence Identity, i.e. a European army. If accomplished, this will prevent Britain from being able to embark on any independent military actions in the future. But once again, the EU assumes the attributes of a political state in order to address this problem and its pretensions are fully supported by a minister of Her Majesty’s Government. Meanwhile, this Parliament continually calls on both France and Britain to decommission their independent nuclear deterrents. If they did so there would not be the big stick that might ultimately be needed in any negotiations with Iran.

  Cristiana Muscardini, a nome del gruppo UEN. – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, le esternazioni di odio e violenza rilasciate dal Presidente iraniano, tendenti a cancellare dalla carta geografica lo Stato di Israele, rappresentano un pericolo per tutto il mondo civile.

L'Iran è un paese che conta sessantotto milioni di abitanti, esteso per un milione e settecentomila chilometri quadrati e grande produttore di petrolio, che il suo attuale presidente sta tentando di trasformare in uno Stato espressione del fondamentalismo islamico più profondo, sostenendo o non condannando azioni terroristiche e adoperandosi per produrre energia nucleare senza l'avvallo della comunità internazionale. Se il presidente iraniano non modificherà in maniera chiara la propria posizione, rappresenterà una minaccia non solo per Israele e per la regione, ma anche per tutti noi, per la pace e per la democrazia.

A tale minaccia bisogna rispondere nella maniera più forte. Il riarmo nucleare unilaterale dell'Iran deve essere impedito in linea con la nostra risoluzione del 13 ottobre 2005 e con le conclusioni del Consiglio "Affari generali" del 7 novembre. Dobbiamo inoltre trovare una soluzione diplomatica che dissipi le legittime preoccupazioni sul programma nucleare iraniano.

Se questa minacciosa tendenza della politica iraniana non dovesse fermarsi, dovremo parlare in termini decisi di conseguenze diplomatiche ed economiche, perché le dichiarazioni di incitamento alla violenza contro uno Stato democratico e sovrano rappresentano un pericolo per tutta la comunità democratica. Come Istituzioni dovremmo invece continuare a incentivare i rapporti con la popolazione.

Esprimiamo la massima solidarietà allo Stato di Israele che ha avuto attestazioni di sostegno anche da quella parte del mondo islamico che rifiuta il terrorismo e che ha avuto il sostegno spontaneo dei cittadini di molti dei nostri paesi. Il perseguimento di una pace duratura passa da una ferma condanna e dalle necessarie e conseguenti azioni contro tutti coloro che sono istigatori di odio e di violenza.

Chiediamo che le nostre Istituzioni siano anche più attente ai movimenti di opposizione in Iran che denunciano i sistemi di un regime violento e liberticida anche contro il proprio popolo.

  Douglas Alexander, President-in-Office of the Council. Mr President, it has once again been a high-quality debate on an important subject, similar to the last time we had an opportunity to debate these issues in this Chamber.

A number of speakers including the Commissioner and Mr Poettering have underlined the significance of the Iranian President’s statement for the wider Middle East peace process, and with that I would concur. President Ahmadinejad’s comments caused concern about Iran’s role more widely within the region and indeed about its future intentions. The fact that these comments were made on the same day as a horrific attack on Israeli citizens should reinforce for all of us the lesson that incitement to violence and to the terrorism that it breeds are despicable and unacceptable.

Frankly it is clear what Iran must do. It must renounce groups using terror and violence, including the kind of sickening propaganda that was referred to by Mr Poettering, and support a solution to the Palestinian question based on the principle of two states living side by side in peace and in security.

There is no reason why an Islamic political system such as Iran’s should deny fundamental democratic rights such as freedom of choice and freedom of expression and there can be no excuse for any system abusing human rights, as a number of speakers have made clear in the course of their contributions to this debate.

On the wider nuclear issue, Iran must provide objective guarantees that its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes. The governments of the European Union are now in close consultation with each other and key partners such as the United States, Russia, China, India and South Africa about the next steps. We all look to Iran to reinstate the suspension of uranium conversion activity which it agreed to last year and which the IAEA board itself has said is essential for confidence to be rebuilt and we urge Iran to come back to talks on long-term arrangements on the basis of the Paris agreement.

On 7 November, as speakers have mentioned, European Union Foreign Ministers reaffirmed the Union’s support for a diplomatic solution to international concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme which should include an agreement on long-term arrangements. Such a solution would help create the climate we believe to be necessary for a better relationship with Europe generally and the international community as a whole. Working and engaging with Iran is of course a challenge, but we must do our best to meet that challenge in the important weeks and months ahead.

Our preference remains to aim for a mutually beneficial relationship based on cooperation and our shared interests, in that Europe wants to see Iran realise its potential and to grow and prosper. That is certainly what its young population deserves and that is, as Ms Beer said, why it is important to keep open the links so that the other Iran, as it was described – the more open Iranian society to which speakers have addressed themselves today – can welcome the efforts which are being made to maintain that dialogue, certainly by the Commission and by others.

But a relationship of this sort will also need to address the European Union’s main concerns, including, of course, nuclear proliferation and human rights.

In conclusion, on behalf of the Presidency, let me say simply this: Iran stands at a critical juncture. The world is watching to see how its new government faces up to the very important choices that it has to make in the weeks, months and years ahead. We from a European Union point of view will continue to encourage Iran to address international concerns about its policies and about its statements. I hope that Iran does this and that its relations with the wider world and the European Union in particular are therefore able to evolve in the direction in which I believe this House wants them to develop.

(Applause)

  Presidente. O debate está encerrado.

A votação terá lugar na quinta-feira, 17 de Novembro de 2005.