§ Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What issues concerning Iran they intend to raise at the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleMy Lords, the European Union is again sponsoring a resolution on Iran at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, which is currently taking place until 30th April. The Government are ensuring that it will cover the EU's concerns about human rights in Iran, for example, on freedom of expression, women's rights and the situation regarding the Baha'is as well as the recent improvements under President Khatami.
§ Lord AveburyMy Lords, I acknowledge, as does the special rapporteur, that some progress has been made towards President Khatami's goal of a civil society based on the rule of law. However, will the Minister ensure that, apart from the matters she has mentioned, which certainly ought to go into any resolution before the commission, the resolution also deals with the recent murders of intellectuals, the need for open trials of those who have been charged as responsible for those crimes by the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, the killing of peaceful demonstrators—14 people in Sanandaj and one in Orumiyeh—in the recent demonstrations in Iranian Kurdistan, and the point the special rapporteur makes on the rights on minorities?
§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleMy Lords, yes, I mentioned only two or three of the well known, long-standing and outstanding issues with Iran. We shall be addressing the issues mentioned by the noble Lord. We were encouraged that in relation to the recent 1414 murders of intellectuals and dissidents, 10 officers of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security have been arrested. We shall watch the outcome of that most carefully.
§ Baroness RawlingsMy Lords, what progress have the Government made in halting the torture, amputations and stonings condemned by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights last April? What specific discussions on that subject has the Foreign Secretary had with his Iranian counterpart, Dr. Kharrazi, and what action do the Government intend to take at this year's Human Rights Commission to protest against human rights abuses in Iran?
§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleMy Lords, as I indicated, the European Union is drafting a resolution to put before this year's United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The noble Baroness mentioned last year's resolution. We have taken every possible opportunity in dialogue at every level with the Iranians to express our strong disapproval of the use of the death penalty and the inhumane treatment of those arrested or not that we know has been taking place in Iran.
Under President Khatami and his government, elected in May 1997, there have been small improvements and we must all do everything we can to encourage them. However, we admit that there is a long way to go.
§ Baroness Williams of CrosbyMy Lords, I fully recognise what the Minister said about the serious failures in human rights which still continue in Iran However, does she agree with these Benches that the: recent local government elections in Iran, which brought a substantial number of women and minorities into elected positions, are an encouraging step forward and that it is in the interests of Her Majesty's Government to support the proposals of President Khatami, given that he faces strong opposition within his country to carry them out?
§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleMy Lords, I agree wholeheartedly with the noble Baroness, Lady Williams. She was right in everything she mentioned. The local elections, which took place on 26th February and brought an encouraging representation from successful candidates among women and ethnic minorities, were the first ever local elections in Iran. That is definitely a step in the right direction.
§ Lord Pearson of RannochMy Lords, the Minister twice mentioned the European Union in her answers. Can she tell the House to what extent the United Kingdom still has an independent foreign policy in this matter, if indeed it does?
§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleMy Lords, we have a completely independent foreign policy on all our bilateral relations with countries such as Iran. I am sure that the noble Lord is aware that since 1992 the EU has followed a common foreign policy towards Iran, using a combination of critical engagements and trading links 1415 to try to influence Iranian behaviour. Any grouping which can increase the power of influence on events such as those in Iran is surely good.
§ Lord AveburyMy Lords, did the noble Baroness observe that the special rapporteur noted with deep regret the increase in the bounty offered by the XV Khordad Foundation for the murder of Salman Rushdie? Does she believe that that is contrary to the spirit of the Cook/Kharrazi agreement, and should be characterised as such in the resolution of the commission?
§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleMy Lords, yes. Dr. Kharrazi made his government's position on that bounty very clear; he dissociated them from it completely and they do not support it.