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EU sez human rights situation deteriorating in Iran
European Union foreign ministers called on Iran yesterday to show greater respect for human rights, saying the situation in Iran was deteriorating and damaging EU-Iran ties. The EU ministers said they regretted that Iran has failed to hold talks on human rights this year, âdespite the EUâs strong and repeated requests.ââGreater respect for human rights in Iran is essential for progress in EU-Iran relations,â said an annual EU review of human rights, adopted by the foreign ministers. Human rights talks with Teheran were to be held alongside negotiations to draft a free trade pact. However, both have been frozen in the wake of European and US fears that Iran is setting up a nuclear weapons programme. âThe deteriorating human rights situation and the absence of action by the Iranian authorities to reform laws and official practices, which allow human rights violations to occur, cast serious doubtâ on Iranâs intentions to respect fundamental freedoms of their citizens, it said. Posted by: Dan Darling 2005-12-13 |
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