Iran (Hansard, 20 November 2003)

§ Angus Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions(a) he and (b) members of his Department have had with representatives of the Russian Government on recent developments in Russian-Iranian negotiations concerning the repatriation of spent nuclear fuel; what impact an agreement will have on UK policy toward Iran; and if he will make a statement. [131529]

§ Mr. Rammell
This issue was most recently addressed in a wide-ranging discussion which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had with the Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
Every opportunity is used to raise our concerns, both in ministerial and official contacts, about the negotiations between Russia and Iran on the return of spent nuclear fuel.

§ Mr. Best
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with Iran about bi-lateral relations. [132240]

§ Mr. Rammell
Ministers are in regular contact with Iranian leaders. The Foreign Secretary visited Tehran most recently on 21 October. Our policy towards Iran is one of constructive but critical engagement. We support reform in Iran, while continuing a robust dialogue on 1311W matters of concern such as Iran's nuclear programme, and policies on human rights, terrorism and the Middle East Peace Process.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the two UN working groups referred to in his 2003 Human Rights Report as planning visits to Iran to make them. [139705]

§ Mr. Rammell
The UN Human Rights Commission's Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression visited Iran from 4–11 November The visit of the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances is currently scheduled for February 2004.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the Government of Iran has made to the recommendations of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions. [139707]

§ Mr. Rammell
The Government of Iran has so far offered no formal or public reply to the recommendations of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the EU to evaluate the outcome of the dialogue with Iran on improving human rights; and what assessment he has made of changes since the publication of his Department's Human Rights Report 2003. [139762]

§ Mr. Rammell
The EU regularly evaluates progress on the EU/Iran Human Rights Dialogue at both ministerial and official levels. At the October 2003 General Affairs and External Relations Council, EU Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their concern "about the human rights situation in Iran, including violations of civil and political rights, in particular the freedom of expression and the freedom of association, and systematic discrimination against women and girls, as well as against minorities". In the period since the FCO Human Rights Report was drafted, we assess that there has been some deterioration in the overall human rights situation in Iran.