Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. Report. Visit to Tehran, Iran January An Comhchoiste um Ghnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádáil

Transcription

1 Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Report Visit to Tehran, Iran 9-14 January 2014 An Comhchoiste um Ghnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádáil Tuarascáil Cuairt ar Tehran, an Iaráin 9-14 Eanáir

2 1. Introduction A delegation from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade visited Iran in January 2014 at the invitation of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Majlis (Parliament of Iran). The delegation consisted of Chairman, Mr. Pat Breen, T.D., Deputies Eric Byrne, Seán Crowe and Maureen O Sullivan and Senator Deirdre Clune. The delegation was accompanied by John Deady, policy advisor and former Ambassador to Iran, and Brian Hickey, Clerk the Committee. The delegation met with Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Dr. Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Parliament; Mr Ahgayi, Deputy Minister for Agriculture; Dr. Mohamad Javed Larijani, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of Judiciary Power; Mr. Gholamhossein Shafei, Chairman of Iran Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. Javad Heravi, Chairman of the Iran-Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Group. 2. Background The delegation was accepting a long standing invitation from the Iranian Pariament to visit Tehran. Central to the Committee s objectives was the re-opening of relations between the Oireachtas and the Majlis in order that, in time, the appropriate conditions for fostering opportunities in respect of business and trade coud be put in place. The delegation was aware of the progress that had been made at the E3+3 talks, in Geneva, on the development of Iran s nuclear programme which had resulted in the limited lifting of sanctions and and it was also conscious that the possible complete removal of sanctions in the future could lead to significant opportunities for business and trade between Ireland and Iran. In addition, there were other issues that the delegation was keen to discuss, namely, the ongoing 2

3 situation in Syria, the continued use of the death penalty and other human rights abuses in Iran, as well as its opposition to Iran s development of a nuclear weapons programme. The delegation was also cognisant of the fact that the closure of the Irish Embassy in Tehran in 2012 would be raised by the Iranians, something that was borne out at all of the meetings. 3. Meeting with H.E. Mr Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee The meeting commenced with brief introductory remarks by the respective Chairs, which acknowledged the merit of fostering parliamentary relations between the two countries. Specifically, Chairman Breen drew attention to the reasons for re-igniting parliamentary visits between Ireland and Iran, namely, the improvement brought about by the interim agreement reached at the E3+3 nuclear talks which has led to greater optimism that a long term deal will be reached (while in Iran the Oireachtas delegation became aware that the parties in Geneva had agreed to a road map for the implementation of the terms of the interim agreement made last November); the hope that sanctions will be lifted as a consequence of the positive developments at the Geneva talks; the wish that Ireland will play a constructive role in developing trade and business links between the two countries; and the need to acknowledge the improvements made in Iran in terms of human rights but, equally, the need to recognise that a lot more still needs to be done and that the situation can be improved through increased dialogue between the EU and Iran. Mr. Boroujerdi responded by drawing attention to the following:- 3

4 the respect that exists for Christians who are specifically represented in parliament and who benefit from a budget line specially set aside for minorities; the fact that it was countries in the West that had been responsible for closing down relations with Iran but that in recent times there have been visits by parliamentarians from Germany, Austria, Britain and Belgium and another due shortly from Italy which demonstrates Iran s interest in fostering such relations; while there are no formal Government - Government relations between Iran and the U.S. there are exchanges at cultural, artistic, academic and scientific levels; the fact that apart from adversely affecting civilians in Iran, sanctions have also negatively impacted on firms from the West that have lost out on winning contracts; the need for Ireland to re-open its Embassy in Tehran; the fact that Iran s development of nuclear power is for peaceful purposes and he stressed that other countries, other than just a chosen few, should be allowed to develop a nuclear capability; and the fact that human rights abuses are not a problem in Iran (he drew attention to the use of the death penalty in some states in the U.S., the prison at Guantanamo Bay and certain rules that adversely affect women in Saudi Arabia to support his assertion). In the dialogue that followed, the Oireachtas delegation stressed the following:- The Irish embassy in Tehran was closed for financial rather than political reasons and that it was a case of when it would re-open and not if ; the hope that the interim agreement reached on the E3+3 talks would eventually lead to the lifting of sanctions and thus the resumption of trade; Ireland s opposition to the death penalty and the need for Iran to develop their human rights; Ireland s opposition to the development by Iran of a nuclear weapons capability; the role and the treatment of women in Iran society, (only nine of 290 parliamentarians are women); the case of an Irish citizen who is in prison in Sri Lanka; and the need to re-ignite a 4

5 memorandum of understanding for students from Iran to attend the Dublin Institute of Technology. 4. Meeting with Dr. Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Parliament The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade delegation pictured with Dr. Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Parliament and with Mr Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee The Speaker expressed, in broad terms, a wish for Iran to increase the level of trade between Iran and Ireland. He added that there was also scope in terms of investment, industry and agriculture, though he stressed that Iran was almost self sufficient in terms of agricultural products. Specifically, he said that there were opportunities for Irish workers particularly those with particular skills. He referred to the negative impact that the imposition of sanctions had on business links and stressed the need for the EU to grasp the opportunities available to it to trade. 5

6 In terms of terrorist/military actions he pointed out that the trafficking of narcotics from Afghanistan had actually increased since NATO had got involved there. Similarly, there had also been an increase in the number of terrorist attacks in the same period which indicated to him that the measures being taken by the Western powers to curb such activities were ineffective. He added that the situation in Syria is critical and that he had knowledge as to who was supporting the terrorists there. He also stressed the importance of getting consensus on the way in which terrorism could be stopped in order that it didn t spread from Syria to other countries in the region around the Mediterranean. The Speaker expressed his satisfaction that the nuclear E3+3 talks were progressing and drew attention to the probable, in his view, revival of the proposed gas pipeline from Iran to Europe. Chairman Breen for his part reiterated the points he had made at the earlier meeting with Chairman Boroujerdi. The remainder of the delegation drew attention to the importance of dialogue at a parliamentary level; the hope that trade sanctions would be removed; the need to grant rights to prisoners; the treatment to which practicioners of the Baha Í faith are subjected; the need for the EU to be more proactive and to give leadership in endeavouring to end various conflicts in the Middle East region; the need to stop the trafficking of drugs from Afghanistan, (the negative effects of which are felt in Ireland); the need for Iran to actively get involved in order that aid can be got to refugees of the Syrian conflict including those in Camp Yarmouk outside Damascus; and the fact that Ireland opposed the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. The Speaker, while acknowledging the issues raised by the Oireachtas delegation, responded in a robust manner. In his view the position in Syria is very complex and many problems are being caused by the actions of terrorists, a fact being 6

7 compounded by various countries arming those terrorists. He did agree that Iran would speak to the authorities in Syria in an attempt to aid the refugees. As regards Camp Yarmouk, he said that the issue of humanitarian corridors was being exploited politically and that aid delivered would go mainly to terrorist groups. It was his contention that the practitioners of the Baha Í faith are members of a cult or a political movement rather than a religious organisation. He added that Iran has well established principles in terms of human rights, that rights given to women are greater than those given to women in other countries such as Saudi Arabia. He further added that essentially there was a need for legal experts on both sides to examine and discuss the subject of differences in human rights in the Islamic state of Iran and in the West. In terms of the Palestinian issue he expressed doubts as to whether the actions taken by the U.S. would result in a lasting solution. 5. Mr. Javad Heravi, Chairman of the Iranian-Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Group. This meeting was seen, in the first instance, as a stepping stone in relations between the Majilis and the Oireachtas. Both sides agreed that this was the appropriate time to commence dialogue between representatives of the two parliaments. Notwithstanding the cementing of inter parliamentary relations, some substantive issues were discussed, namely, the way in which Iran developed ways that students approached science subjects and the supports given to them through their respective educational establishments; the need for the EU to be more proactive in giving a lead in terms of trying to find a solution in various trouble spots in the region; the need to increase the percentage of women actively involved in politics in both 7

8 Iran and Ireland; the need to continue to foster parliamentary links between the two countries; and, as an acknowledgement of the fact that both Iran and Ireland have considerable diasporas, the idea of fostering cultural and artistic links between the two countries. 6. Lunch hosted by Mr. Boroujerdi While the setting for lunch was less formal than for the earlier meetings, there was, nonetheless, some lively discussion across the table on matters such as the development of nuclear power (Ireland s opposition to it and Iran s right to develop it); the situation in Syria, and as the Oireachtas delegation saw it, the harsh regime administered by President Assad; the low number of women parliamentarians in both Iran and Ireland; the problem of youth unemployment, particularly in countries like Ireland and Iran that both have young populations; the drug trafficking problem; and the need for both countries to attract more tourists to their respective shores. 8

9 7. Meeting with Iran Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif The delegation meet with Iranian Foreign Minister, Doctor Mohammad Javad Zarif Following a brief welcome from Dr. Zarif, Chairman Breen made opening remarks similar to those that he had made during the meetings with the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee and with the Speaker. In this instance, however, given the role of Dr. Zarif in the E3+3 talks he was even assertive in his comments on the need for a lasting resolution to be found to the nuclear issue. The resolution of the issue would, in the view of the Oireachtas delegation, offer significant opportunities for business and trade. He also urged the Minister to work towards a resumption of the EU-Iran dialogue on human rights which has been in abeyance since Dr. Zarif, for his part, emphasised the need for the visiting Oireachtas delegation to meet what he referred to as the ordinary people of Iran in order to understand the popular view. While he acknowledged some human rights shortcomings in Iran, he stressed the need for continuous dialogue in order that misunderstandings and 9

10 disagreements could be comprehensively discussed. He also pointed out that the last four presidents of Iran had transferred authority via the ballot box which was a positive development in his opinion in terms of human rights and political harmony. He also emphasised the need for the EU to re-evaluate its view of Iran, particularly in light of recent developments at the E3+3 talks in Geneva. He acknowledged, given that Iran was an important player in both Iraq and Afhanistan and the fact that terrorists don t recognise borders, that Iran can be a big influence in helping to bring stability to the region and he intimated that this was a course on which he would attempt to lead his country. Dr Zarif said that illicit drugs originating in Afghanistan had quadrupled in the past three years and that Iran wanted to work with other states to curb the trafficking of these drugs. The Oireachtas delegation again raised the issue of human rights abuses and in particular the continued use of the death penalty. Minister Zarif was also informed of the delegation s views of the importance of granting rights to prisioners. In addition, the plight of the, mainly, Palestinian refugees in Camp Yarmouk near Damascus and the urgent need to get food to them, particularly given Iran s influence with the Assad regime, was robustly put to him. The Oireachtas delegation further emphasised the importance of non violent dialogue as a way of solving difficulties in democracies. In this way the rights of workers and the adverse effect of conflict on women and children had to be both noted and acted upon. In this respect Iran s influence was seen as critical in terms of the provision of food for those refugees in Syria. The delegation raised the issue of the women in the Jazmine tent and further stressed the crucial influence that can 10

11 be exerted by Iran in ensuring that a safe space is provided for women, especially those that have been raped, and that those in need of counselling will be catered for. In response, Dr Zarif was adamant that Iran had a right to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes. He also made the point that on occasions the U.S. and the E.U. don t understand, appreciate or respect the long history of Iran and the way that it governs its people. He also suggested that food corridors in Syria would not work as they would impinge on national sovereignty but he did suggest that discussions were ongoing that might see Iran and Turkey get humanitarian assistance to groups on both sides and that it could be done with the co-operation of Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. 8. Mr. Aghayi, Deputy Minister for Agriculture This meeting concentrated on trade, particularly trade in agriculture and food products, rather than on political matters. The Oireachtas delegation stressed the superb quality of Irish meat and dairy products and emphasised that they are positively affected by the fact that cattle and sheep are fed in the main on grass, that no artificial hormones are used on livestock in Ireland, that there is traceability from farm to fork and that comprehensive records are kept of all animals from their birth to the day they are slaughtered. The high quality of food research and food science was also emphasised which led to the potential that exists for developing co-operation between Ireland and Iran in this sphere. The prevalence of farmers markets, food fairs and whether or not fisheries came under the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture in Iran were also raised. 11

12 In response Mr. Aghayi expressed a willingness to avail of Irish expertise in respect of the development of fisheries and he paid tribute to the excellent work done by Irish vets in conjunction with their Iranian counterparts in ensuring that the Iran market was re-opened for Irish beef following the BSE crisis. Mr. Aghayi acknowledged the high standard of Irish food and in particular the quality of Irish beef. However, he pointed out that Irish beef was disadvantaged in Iran by its high price, a problem he maintained that could be solved by giving subsidies to producers. Mr Aghayi was also keen to stress the role of the private sector in developing trade links. All in all the Oireachtas delegation was conscious that Iran is a market consisting of 70 million consumers and that while Ireland has a difficulty with competing on price, the high quality of Irish produce should ensure that our producers and processors have a realistic chance to compete in, the mainly higher priced, niche markets. 9. Meeting with Dr. Mohamamd Javad Larijani, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of Judiciary Power The meeting commenced with brief introductions by Dr.Larijani and Deputy Eric Byrne. The members of the Oireachtas delegation in their contributions stressed:- The independent nature of Ireland s thinking in spite of our membership of the EU and our adherence to the policies of the union; the need for robust debate in a mature democracy; the need to have a rights based society in which prisoners are treated fairly including access to proper medical care, due process and a fair trial 12

13 without the threat of the death penalty and where there is a free and independent judicial system; the need to recognise, and if necessary, promote the role of women; and the need for EU Iran dialogue to recommence for the first time since 2004; the need for an improved system of due process; and the need to end the discrimination shown against those who practice the Baha Í faith. Dr. Larijani explained that, in his view, the political system in Iran was a mixture between the U.S. and European systems and that problems within the system could, in the main, be traced back to the actions of various colonial powers. He emphasised strongly the point that democracy in Iran was, essentially, in its infancy and was therefore still developing. He added, however, that in his view the ways of a liberal democracy were not compatible with the fundamentals of Muslim state. He expanded by saying that the objective of the body that he chairs is to act as a barometer for civility and to build society from within. Its principles included a respect for minorities, inclusion of women, a good standard of education for everyone and freedom of speech. Specifically, Dr Larijani said that he was opposed to the death penalty but that others in the administration disagreed with this view; that Iran s policy on homosexuality was not contrary to the principles of the EU; that, currently, there is a good legal process with fair checks and balances; and that capital punishment is only enforced in respect of the most serious crimes. Specifically in relation to women, he stressed the higher levels of education gained by female students relative to their male counterparts; the revision of laws to increase their involvement in society; and the need for the authorities in Iran to embark on a publicity campaign to show that women can participate fully in society and at the same time be good muslims. He 13

14 concluded by saying that even though Baha Í, under the laws of the State, is considered a cult rather than a religion there was nobody in prison due merely to the fact that they are members of Baha Í. 10. Meeting with Mr. Gholamhossein Shafei, Chairman of Iran Chamber of Commerce Mr. Shafri opened the meeting by expressing hope that the successful progression of the E3+3 talks would lead to an increase in business between Ireland and Iran. The Oireachtas delegation emphasised Ireland s expertise in certain activities, such as food processing, green technology, engineering and health care products. The delegation also stressed that Ireland is a business friendly country, with a welleducated work force and that while parliamentarians and governments may hold discussions, and put in place suitable conditions, it is up to the private sector to actually get business and trade up and running. While the Oireachtas delegation pointed to activities in which Ireland had expertise such as high quality food products and our expertise in engineering work as examples of the types of business opportunities that could possibly be explored in the future the Chamber of Commerce representatives were content to make broad references about the general benefits to be gained by continuing and increasing the level of dialogue between both nations. 11. Conclusions The principal purpose of the visit by the Oireachtas delegation was to re-ignite dialogue between Ireland and Iran at a parliamentary level. 14

15 The benefit to be gained from such contact was to increase the level of trust and appreciation between members of the respective parliaments in order that, in time, the level of business between the two countries will grow. The hope is that if and when the sanctions imposed on Iran are relaxed and possibly removed altogether the level of trade between the two countries will flourish. The delegation was, therefore, keen to emphasise the importance of reaching a successful conclusion to the E3+3 talks currently ongoing in Geneva. The delegation also expressed concerns at what it considered significant human rights abuses in Iran. Although it recognised that the situation in relation to human rights in Iran is continuing to improve there are significant steps that still need to be taken. At all of the meetings it was clear that the Iranian side wanted the Irish Embassy to be re-opened, a fact acknowledged by the Oireachtas delegation which expressed confidence that the re-opening would occur as soon as financial circumstances permitted. Other positive outcomes, included, the fact that Iran will seek to play a positive role in attempting to resume the EU-Iran dialogue on human rights; that it will make efforts to get assistance to refugees currently suffering in Syria; that the authorities in Tehran are interested in taking steps to lead attempts to increase the level of stability in the region; that it will take proactive steps to seek the release of an Irish citizen in prison in Sri Lanka; and its relevant authorities will seek to re-activate a memorandum of understanding in respect of a student exchange programme with the Dublin Institute of Technology. In all its actions and meetings both official and unofficial both with the Iranian people and their representatives the delegation was met with a friendly, warm and 15

16 hospitable people who want to do business and build relationships with the people of Ireland. 16