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EU hardens position towards Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Brussels, Sept 14, IRNA -- The EU Foreign Ministers` Council has 
called on Iran to suspend all nuclear enrichment activities and also 
decided to support a Canadian resolution in the UN on human rights in 
Iran. 
"Iran would be expected to agree with full suspension of 
enrichment activities," Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot told a 
press conference Monday night at the end of the foreign ministers` 
meeting. 
The Netherlands holds the current EU Presidency. 
"That is a requirement which was voiced in the past, complete 
suspension of enrichment activities and once that is satisfactorily 
complied with, we would be prepared to enter more detailed dialogue 
with Iranian representatives to explore possibilities of future 
increased cooperation." 
He said the Council has decided to co-sponsor a Canadian 
resolution on human rights in the UN, "which is important because we 
are now convinced that the human rights situation in the country has 
deteriorated over the last few years." 
For the last two years, the EU had not tabled any resolution in 
the UN on human rights in Iran. 
Analysts see the move as hardening of EU position towards the 
Islamic Republic. 
"We have appreciation of the efforts made by the EU 3, France, 
Germany and the UK to bring about satisfactory and generally 
acceptable resolution," said Bot. 
"But what is most important is that the cooperation with the IAEA 
will have to be intensified, that international cooperation is 
absolutely crucial to boost and reinstitute international confidence 
that Iran will exclusively use its nuclear programme for peaceful 
purposes," added the Dutch minister. 
NK/2321/1432