Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-11-21-Speech-4-216"
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"en.20021121.11.4-216"2
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"Mr President, I disagree with Mr Markov. Iran is a complex society. There is evidence of some progress towards an Islamic society that is in tune with the modern world. President Khatami and his reformist allies are a symbol of that modernisation. However, President Khatami is being constantly frustrated by the more fundamentalist elements of Iranian society. That is why the EU is currently engaged in negotiating a trade and cooperation agreement with Iran. This is not currently in doubt, though it must be clear to the Iranian authorities that at the same time we will expect and require an agreement on human rights.
The death sentence on Dr Hashem Aghajari for apostasy on the basis of some obscure theological dispute is incomprehensible to the West. We welcome President Khatami's intervention, the action of lecturers and students in protesting and Dr Aghajari's own appeal for calm. We welcome the threat of resignation by President Khatami, the cabinet and dozens of MPs, should the Council of Guardians veto legislation that is being proposed to limit its current absolute power.
However, we have to make it clear to the government of Iran that we will be watching the outcome of this and similar cases with close interest, in terms of our future relations with that country."@en1
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