US-EU take firm stance against Iran, together

Joint statement warns on human rights violations

Author: Alia Papageorgiou
9 February 2010 - Issue : 872

In a surprise move the European union and the United States have issued a joint statement on soemthign they feel strongly about - Iran

In a rare joint effort, the European Union and the United States have sought to underline what must remain basic and fundamental the world - Human Rights, or do they?

Transatlantic relations are a hotbed of polemics at the best of times with complacency seen as suspicious by EU actors whereas the same is more often than not viewed as partnership from the American side, therefore the surprise move to issue a joint statement on anything should have transatlantic speculators more excited than the German Marshall Fund’s Brussels Forum.

In a week where Iran is said to have maintained that it will increase uranium refining, it will commemorate the anniversary of 30 years since the Islamic Revolution, the US, Russia and France have spoken out about the possibility of sanctions yet at the same time reports were leaked that French and Iranian officials were supposedly talking co-operation behind closed doors at Davos the European Council High Representative for foreign Affairs and then the US Mission to the EU release one and then a joint statement.

The joint statement outlined it’s “fears” for the upcoming manifestations on 11 February and said that "The United States and the European Union condemn the continuing human rights violations in Iran since the 12 June election," says a joint statement issued by the United States and the European Union on 8 February. "The large scale detentions and mass trials, the threatened execution of protestors, the intimidation of family members of those detained and the continuing denial to its citizens of the right to peaceful expression are contrary to human rights norms.

“Our concerns are based on our commitment to universal respect for human rights. We are particularly concerned by the potential for further violence and repression during the coming days, especially around the anniversary of the Islamic Republic's founding on 11 February. We call on the Government of Iran to live up to its international human rights obligations, to end its abuses against its own people, to hold accountable those who have committed the abuses and to release those who are exercising their rights," the 8 February statement by the US mission to the EU said jointly with the European Union.

In no uncertain terms framing this as a pivotal matter.

At the same time according to a 28 January translation from BBC Monitoring Middle East, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke on official Iranian television, saying that this year’s “Ten Days of Dawn” celebration, marking the anniversary of the country’s Islamic Revolution, would see the “demise” of the American system.

“I believe that 22 Bahman [ 11 February in the Persian calendar] this year marks the demise of the liberal capitalist system.” Ahmadinejad said.

The controversial Iranian president explained that, 30 years ago, Iran was merely trying to consolidate its newly minted revolution. Today, however, the country was quickly moving to overtake what he claimed was a declining United States, CNS news reported.

Barroness Ashton on her part said that "Iranian authorities declared on 2 February that 9 individuals sentenced in recent mass trials on various charges including mohareb, or 'taking up arms against God', would be executed soon. This announcement is part of a disturbing trend to intimidate opposition protestors.

The European Union is opposed to capital punishment under all circumstances and calls on Iran to institute an immediate moratorium on executions. The European Union is deeply concerned by this announcement. It urges Iran to respect minimum standards in capital cases, including the right to a fair trial and to seek clemency, in accordance with international human rights obligations that Iran has subscribed to."

On 4 February the Iranian Embassy and Mission to Brussels released a statement outlining the democratic and legal means by which these arrests had taken place, how some protesters have been released and others awaiting judgment.