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French-Iranian Dialogue on Elections and Human Rights
By ELAINE SCIOLINO
Published: January 15, 2004
PARIS, Jan. 15 — With Iran embroiled in an internal political struggle, Hassan Rowhani, the head of Iran's National Security Council, and Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin of France clashed today over Iran's upcoming parliamentary elections and human rights.
Mr. Rowhani criticized France's decision to ban the Islamic veil from public schools.
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In blunt language unusual in diplomacy, Mr. de Villepin demanded that Iran's elections later this month be free and fair and that people who had been arrested for their political beliefs be released.
"We are following with close attention and interest the parliamentary elections coming in Iran," Mr. de Villepin told a news conference after the two men met at the Foreign Ministry.
He called the elections "an important marker of democracy" and urged the Iranian authorities to give their people freedom of choice, adding, "We hope that a page will be definitively turned with the upcoming legislative elections."
Mr. de Villepin also broached the sensitive issue of the continuing arrests of student demonstrators and other political activists, telling reporters, "I expressed our vigilance on the human rights situation in Iran, especially concerning prisoners of conscience, and I asked for a gesture of clemency."
With parliamentary elections scheduled for Feb. 28, Iran is mired in one of the most serious political battles in the 25-year history of its Islamic Republic.
In broadest terms, the confrontation reflects a brutal ideological and power struggle between conservatives who preach adherence to a vision of an Islamic state in which order and security are the priority, and reformers who are determined to inject more freedom and openness into all aspects of political, social and economic life.
Coincidentally, the battle comes at a time of stock-taking in Iran, as the country is poised to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its revolution next month. Twenty-five years ago today, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi fled to Egypt with hundreds of pieces of luggage and a box filled with Iranian soil on what was officially announced as a "vacation." He never returned, and died 18 months later.
Mr. Rowhani, who is on a three-day visit to France, strongly defended Iran's electoral process, saying, "In the course of the last 25 years, Iran has accumulated enough experience concerning the democratic process."
Without singling out France, he rejected what he called "the interference of any country in the internal affairs of our county."
Instead, he focused on criticism coming from Washington. "The United States never speaks uniquely out of its concern for the future of the Iranian people," Mr. Rowhani said. "It pursues its own interest and tries to show hostility towards the Iranian people."
He also questioned the legitimacy of George W. Bush as president, saying, "The last American presidential elections, which took place in truly catastrophic and dramatic conditions, do not allow the United States to talk about elections in other countries."
On Monday, the State Department spokesman J. Adam Ereli called on Iran's government to disavow efforts by hard-liners to shape the outcome of the election.
As head of Iran's National Security Council, which is responsible for Iran's security, intelligence, military and strategic policies, Mr. Rowhani, a cleric, has emerged as one of the most influential political figures in Iran. He reports directly to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader and the most powerful political figure in the country.
Mr. Rowhani negotiated an accord last October with Mr. de Villepin and his British and German counterparts that commits Iran to agree to more intrusive international inspections of its nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency and a suspension of its activities to enrich uranium.
The need for Iran to fully comply with its promises was the main subject of discussion in Mr. Rowhani's meeting with President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday and figured prominently in the meeting with Mr. de Villepin today.
French-Iranian Dialogue on Elections and Human Rights
By ELAINE SCIOLINO
Published: January 15, 2004
PARIS, Jan. 15 — With Iran embroiled in an internal political struggle, Hassan Rowhani, the head of Iran's National Security Council, and Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin of France clashed today over Iran's upcoming parliamentary elections and human rights.
Mr. Rowhani criticized France's decision to ban the Islamic veil from public schools.
Advertisement
In blunt language unusual in diplomacy, Mr. de Villepin demanded that Iran's elections later this month be free and fair and that people who had been arrested for their political beliefs be released.
"We are following with close attention and interest the parliamentary elections coming in Iran," Mr. de Villepin told a news conference after the two men met at the Foreign Ministry.
He called the elections "an important marker of democracy" and urged the Iranian authorities to give their people freedom of choice, adding, "We hope that a page will be definitively turned with the upcoming legislative elections."
Mr. de Villepin also broached the sensitive issue of the continuing arrests of student demonstrators and other political activists, telling reporters, "I expressed our vigilance on the human rights situation in Iran, especially concerning prisoners of conscience, and I asked for a gesture of clemency."
With parliamentary elections scheduled for Feb. 28, Iran is mired in one of the most serious political battles in the 25-year history of its Islamic Republic.
In broadest terms, the confrontation reflects a brutal ideological and power struggle between conservatives who preach adherence to a vision of an Islamic state in which order and security are the priority, and reformers who are determined to inject more freedom and openness into all aspects of political, social and economic life.
Coincidentally, the battle comes at a time of stock-taking in Iran, as the country is poised to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its revolution next month. Twenty-five years ago today, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi fled to Egypt with hundreds of pieces of luggage and a box filled with Iranian soil on what was officially announced as a "vacation." He never returned, and died 18 months later.
Mr. Rowhani, who is on a three-day visit to France, strongly defended Iran's electoral process, saying, "In the course of the last 25 years, Iran has accumulated enough experience concerning the democratic process."
Without singling out France, he rejected what he called "the interference of any country in the internal affairs of our county."
Instead, he focused on criticism coming from Washington. "The United States never speaks uniquely out of its concern for the future of the Iranian people," Mr. Rowhani said. "It pursues its own interest and tries to show hostility towards the Iranian people."
He also questioned the legitimacy of George W. Bush as president, saying, "The last American presidential elections, which took place in truly catastrophic and dramatic conditions, do not allow the United States to talk about elections in other countries."
On Monday, the State Department spokesman J. Adam Ereli called on Iran's government to disavow efforts by hard-liners to shape the outcome of the election.
As head of Iran's National Security Council, which is responsible for Iran's security, intelligence, military and strategic policies, Mr. Rowhani, a cleric, has emerged as one of the most influential political figures in Iran. He reports directly to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader and the most powerful political figure in the country.
Mr. Rowhani negotiated an accord last October with Mr. de Villepin and his British and German counterparts that commits Iran to agree to more intrusive international inspections of its nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency and a suspension of its activities to enrich uranium.
The need for Iran to fully comply with its promises was the main subject of discussion in Mr. Rowhani's meeting with President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday and figured prominently in the meeting with Mr. de Villepin today.
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