HL Deb 19 December 1995 vol 567 cc136-7WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they and the European Union will be making to the government of Iran in the light of (i) reports that the German federal prosecutor is investigating the possible role of the Iranian Minister of the Interior in the terrorist murders of Dr. Sharafkandi and three other persons in the Mykonos restaurant in Berlin in September 1992 and (ii) evidence linking the Iranian Government with other acts of international terrorism.

Lord Chesham

The investigation into the possible role of the Iranian Minister of the Interior in the terrorist murders of Dr. Sharafkandi and three other Iranian opposition activists in the Mykonos restaurant in Berlin in September 1992 is a matter for the German Federal Prosecutor and the relevant German authorities. Her Majesty's Government and the European Union remain committed to the engagement of Iran in a process of "critical dialogue" and regularly discuss Iranian sponsorship of international terrorism in European and international fora. By engaging Iran in tough dialogue through the European Union and United Nations machinery we hope to encourage better communication, maintain Iranian awareness of our concerns and, ultimately, to bring about a change for the better in their behaviour within the international community.