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Delegation Reports
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO IRAN
10 to 14 JUNE 2006
Report by Kenneth Courtenay
Delegation
Tony Lloyd MP
Labour
Leader of the delegation
Phyllis Starkey MP
Labour
John Mann MP
Labour
Tim Loughton MP
Conservative
Simon Burns MP
Conservative
Ed Vaizey MP
Conservative
Kenneth Courtenay
Secretary, British Group IPU
The delegation arrived in Tehran at 0620 on Saturday 10 June after an
overnight flight from London. We were met by the British Ambassador, His
Excellency Geoffrey Adams, and after a brief rest in our hotel, went to
the embassy for lunch and a briefing and to meet some of the members of
staff.
In the afternoon, we visited a school run by the Association for the Protection
of Child Labourers. The Association is funded mainly by voluntary contributions
with a very small amount from the government, and it caters for 400 children
between the ages of 7 and 15, providing basic education. The British Embassy
pays for some staff. Many of the children are Afghan refugees. The Association
hopes to be able to expand to support 2000 children in a bigger centre.
Later, the delegation had a meeting with a human rights lawyer - in his
office - to discuss problems faced by lawyers working in this field.
We learned that lawyers are reluctant to get into political battles with
the government as they run the risk of imprisonment for acting suspiciously
against the Islamic Revolution or for espionage. Vulnerable groups are:
Bahais, ethnic groups, journalists and students. Bahais are the main targets
for discrimination and cannot get to state universities. There is no persecution
of the Jews.
The constitution guarantees the rights of trade unionists, but only for
state trade unions. The last stoning was 15 years ago. Public executions
are held by public demand, especially for heinous cases. However, the
numbers are exaggerated. Arrests have not increased in Ahmadinejad’s
presidency.
Sunday, 11 June was the first day of the official programme. The first
meeting was with Dr Hossein Nejabat, the Chairman of the Iran-British
Parliamentary Friendship Group. He said that the Friendship Group has
the equivalent status of an NGO, and as such is a formal interested party
in the Majlis on UK issues.
The Majlis is independent of government and wants a closer and more meaningful
co-operation with its UK counterpart and to extend activities beyond the
formal level. Dr Nejabat raised concern that the (terrorist) MKO organisation
has meetings with UK parliamentarians and receives publicity in “official”
(sic) media.
It was put to Dr Nejabat that the organisation is proscribed in the UK
and that its influence is much less than thought in Iran. Also, the Majlis
could play a role in its marginalisation by improving contact with the
UK parliament.
Dr Nejabat accused the UK of blindly siding with the US on the nuclear
issue. He said that it was possible to make a breakthrough and that Iran
has complied with NPT. Uranium enrichment to 3-4 per cent is all that
is needed for the fuel cycle. A good topic for discussion would be the
verification of a limit of 5-6per cent. It would be impossible to go higher
in secret. Other topics raised in this session were the UK’s role
in the 1953 coup, which still rankles, and the unfair branding, as seen
by Iran, of all Muslims in the UK as terrorists after 9/11.
There then followed a meeting with representatives of the Jewish, Zoroastrian,
Assyrian and Armenian minorities in the Majlis. The Chair (Jewish) made
the following points: Minorities can register in public and private schools
and there are no restrictions in higher education; there is complete freedom
of worship and members of the Majlis represent all Iranians. Friendship
Groups can upgrade the quality of relationship between parliaments. Dr
Nejabat repeated the assertion that MKO has close links with UK parliamentarians
and that Iran has an “absolute right” to nuclear power.
Members of the UK delegation responded that Friendship Groups are important.
The right of Iran to peaceful nuclear power is not disputed; the issue
is how to prevent the transition to nuclear weapons. There is a lack of
knowledge of the MKO or the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
in the British parliament. Most MPs are totally unaware of terrorist links;
therefore NCRI is winning the propaganda war. A proactive engagement with
UK parliamentarians is needed to counter it.
In response to questions, the Jewish member said that statements by the
Iranian President, questioning the occurrence of the Holocaust, were an
insult. Bahaiism is not considered an official religion in the Iranian
Constitution.
Dr Allaeddin Boujerdi, the Chairman of the Committee for National Security
and Foreign Policy, told the delegation that improving UK/Iran relations
needs more effort on both sides. The problem is the similarity of UK and
US foreign policies.
The discussion ranged over Afghanistan, Human Rights, the Bahaii, the
MKO/NCRI, the Holocaust, Israel/Palestine, Human Rights and others. On
Afghanistan, he said that there is a common interest and a common programme
is needed. Governments should be urged to take common action.
On Human Rights, all in Iran have equal rights (while making critical
references to Saudi Arabia and Guantanamo). A new definition of Human
Rights is needed. The Bahai religion does not have a divine basis and
it has links with Israel, therefore it is not recognised. Dr Boujerdi
did not believe that a change of name from MKO to NCRI changes the nature
of a terrorist organisation. Some members of the UK delegation responded
that MKO is illegal in the UK but the NCRI is not. NCRI peddles untruths
and needs to be rebutted with accurate arguments.
UK delegates said that Iranian statements questioning that the Holocaust
took place cause great offence. Dr Boujerdi responded that a new definition
is needed, otherwise accusations will continue. There are doubts about
the precise number killed. The Iranian President didn’t dispute
the overall question. But he asked why should others (i.e. Palestinians)
pay for what happened in Europe? He thought it would be a good idea if
the proposed Iranian conference on the Holocaust should go ahead.
On Palestine, Dr Boujerdi’s opinion was that the present situation
is a result of the Israeli occupation. Many UNSC resolutions have been
ignored. The UK is a permanent member of the UNSC, yet has done nothing
about it. Past agreements have come to nothing and there has been no response
to Iranian proposals. Palestinian refugees must be allowed to return home.
Members of the UK delegation urged that Iran supports a Two State solution
to the Palestine situation.
In a brief discussion on Iraq, Dr Boujerdi supported attempts to improve
democracy and security but felt that foreign forces prevent stability.The
Iraqi government must be supported. Iraq must not give the impression
of being occupied. Co-operation of all security services is essential.
Throughout the friendly discussion, the UK delegation stressed that it
would be possible for Iran and the UK to work together, given trust on
both sides.
The delegation, accompanied by Mr Dave Parker, the Drugs Liaison Officer
at the British Embassy, then met Dr Fada Hossein Maleki, the Head of the
Presidential Drug Control HQ.
Dr Maleki said that the visit was very significant. During the discussion,
he praised the recent successful operations by British troops in Afghanistan.
Bin Laden and Al Qaeda were tied up with narcotics trade, he said. Narco-trafficking
is the most profitable business in the world. Bin Laden has influence
over the tribes engaged in it. Iran is working hard on demand reduction.
He proposed that efforts are made to prevent poppy planting and that other
parliamentarians come to Iran to talk about the problem.
It was pointed out that the UK takes this very seriously. The UK Drugs
Liaison Officer is the only one from any other country in Iran. The UK
is the largest donor to the UN anti-drugs operation. An MOU was due to
be renewed, and it was hoped that Dr Maleki will come to London. Iran
is a transit country and therefore a double victim.
There was further discussion on the link with HIV/AIDS and money laundering.
Opening the meeting with Dr Said Jalili, the Deputy Foreign Minister for
Europe and America, the Leader of the UK delegation, stressed the need
to manage problems from the past for the sake of the future. Significant
issues were: the drugs trade, the nuclear programme and UK’s relations
with neighbouring countries. Co-operation makes more sense than confrontation.
It was hoped that this exchange will bring new understanding.
Dr Jalili agreed that face-to-face meetings were better and that this
visit was a good gesture by British parliamentarians. Political differences
should not mean that there should be no co-operation.
After a long monologue provoked by a question on a Human Rights issue,
Dr Jalili said that it is essential to stop poppy-planting in Afghanistan.
Although the MKO has changed its name, it is still a terrorist group and,
furthermore, members of the UK parliament meet them. People in Iran think
the BBC represents the British government. Interviews with the MKO on
the World Service go down badly.
In answer to a question why the Canadian/Iranian Ramin Jahanbegloo had
been arrested, would he be charged and could he be visited, Dr Jalili
eventually responded that Jahanbegloo was an Iranian citizen. He had never
requested a change of nationality. It is the duty of any state to defend
the rights of citizens and the general rights of society. There was a
legal process.
There then followed a long discussion on Palestine and related issues.
In response to a comment from the UK side that Iranian statements suggesting
that the Holocaust did not happen, Mr Jalili said that the Second World
War was a European war that caused suffering for the whole of mankind.
One holocaust does not justify another. He agreed that dialogue can produce
results and that democracy and Human Rights should be applied fully. However,
the Iranian President wants the return of all Palestinian refugees. If
this means the end of Israel, so what? That would not be against democracy
or Human Rights, Dr Jalili said. He added that the UK does not protest
at Israeli actions. Britain’s Ambassador countered by offering to
provide details of instances when the UK had done so.
Dr Jalili said that the Second World War was a good example of when resistance
to occupation was justified. The threat posed by Israel was far worse
than Iran’s nuclear programme. There should be a joint approach
on Palestine.
UK delegates responded that neither Israel’s nor their opponents’
policies in Palestine had worked. All need to accept a two-state solution.
Palestine is at the heart of most problems today. It has de-stabilised
Lebanon and had allowed Saddam to stay in power in Iraq. US support of
Israel is a reaction to threats of the country’s annihilation.
In the evening, HM Ambassador arranged an informal discussion at the embassy
with representatives of some companies operating in Iran: Shell, Air Com
Telecoms, Case International, HSBC, BP and Animal Healthcare Products.
The points that emerged were: Foreign banks can only have representative
offices; Lloyds and Standard Chartered had gone. HSBC was not marketing
for new business. However, overall the banking sector was doing well and
HSBC was confident in the long term.
Iran is potentially the most important economy in the region. It has a
very large informal sector. The government dominates 80 per cent of the
economy. It has a very large budget deficit. BP is seeking engagement.
The economy is growing at 5-6 per cent with many products produced in
country. It is a very big country; if there were a free market place there
would be a lot more growth a lot sooner. The recent downturn was due to
political effects. Telecoms are growing rapidly, and there is a technically
advanced workforce.
UK companies perform well, but it is very difficult to do business. The
country is not very corrupt. Change will come with development of a middle
class and joining the WTO.
Much of the high oil revenues are being used to pay subsidies, especially
on the cost of energy. Oil production was 4m b/d.
On Monday, 12 June, two women members of the Majlis met the delegation.
They said that there were twelve women in the parliament as specialists;
introducing family and child-oriented legislation.
When asked how the role of women was changing, they said: Women attend
football matches without legal prohibition, but society rules prevail;
the young generation has to comply with legal restrictions. About 60 per
cent of university entrants are women. More women are needed in parliament,
but most go to managerial, medical, and legal careers. There is no prospect
of a woman president. Wearing the Hijab or mixing with men is controlled
by religious instructions. Religious law requires that child care is mainly
provided in families.
Moving to a wider political agenda, they said that they wanted more dialogue
between parliamentarians; they were concerned at the MKO access to UK
parliamentarians; trade and cultural relations should be upgraded and
the UK should not persecute Muslims.
At a meeting with nine professors at the Shahid Beheshti University, the
discussion, which seemed to be constrained possibly by the presence of
government officials, produced the following: All universities have three
MPs; 65 per cent of the intake is women, and there were 10,000 students
in undergraduate courses.
Economic growth is good and advances have been made since the Islamic
Revolution. The economy is based on Islamic ideology.
Co-operation with foreign universities can be extended in three areas:
joint courses at PhD level; Student/professor exchanges and student scholarships.
All graduates are in employment unless they are in military service. Graduate
salaries are low.
All citizens are eligible to enrol in the university, including religious
minorities. Everyone has to pass an entrance exam. There is no religious
tag on exam papers; therefore they didn’t know of any Bahaii students
in the university. They had no knowledge of problems with US universities
or any concerning Iranian students in US.
A member of the group of Iranian academics said that the Holocaust is
an historical illusion which needs to be clarified. The crimes were committed
in Europe by Europeans; why should Palestinians suffer for them? Why not
have a free referendum in the Middle East on the Two State solution? The
British delegation responded that we must try for what is achievable.
The delegation was honoured by a lunch in the spectacular surroundings
of the parliament building, hosted by Dr Nejabat. In his address, he said
that visits of this kind can improve relations between the two countries,
and he hoped that there would be further co-operation at the parliamentary
level. Iran’s nuclear programme is a major political issue and at
least it must be made understandable.
In response, Tony Lloyd MP, the leader of the British delegation, said
that open dialogue can lead to proper trust and both countries have much
to gain by co-operating.
In the afternoon, the delegation flew to Isfahan for a brief visit. The
programme included a call on the mayor, visits to the cultural sites and
the memorial site to those killed in the Iran-Iraq war.
On return from Isfahan on Tuesday, 13 June, the delegation held a press
conference at the British Embassy’s Gholak compound. Reuters and
nine Iranian news agencies or papers were represented.
The questioning ranged from Iran’s nuclear programme, the lack of
mutual confidence in relations between the UK and Iran, Human Rights and
many Irano-British issues from the past that still have resonance in Iran
today. The British delegates stressed the need to move on and move to
a co-operative relationship.
There followed a meeting arranged by British Council staff with Chevening
Scholars and Fellows which underscored the high regard in which the scheme
is held by those who have taken part in it.
The final event of the visit was a buffet supper attended by a group of
Iranian analysts, academics and journalists including the former Iranian
ambassador to London.
After a very early departure, the delegation returned to London on Wednesday,
14 June.
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