Activities of Tunne KELAM related to 2015/2274(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement (A8-0286/2016 - Richard Howitt)
EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement (debate)
Amendments (23)
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2
Citation 2
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran, in particular those of 10 March 2011 on the EU’'s approach towards Iran1[1], 17 November 2011 on Iran – recent cases of human rights violations, 14 June 2012 on situation of ethnic minorities in Iran, and of 3 April 2014 on the EU strategy towards Iran2 , __________________ 2 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0339. Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0339.
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regard to the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy; having regard to the EU Annual reports on Human Rights,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
– having regard to its previous resolutions on EU Annual reports on Human Rights; having regard to its resolution of 8 October 2015 on death penalty,
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that EU-Iran relations should be developed through multi-layered dialogue involving political, technical and people-to-people contacts; supports the opening of EU-Iran relations for the mutual benefit of both parties, based on a realistic assessment of common interests and differences, with a view to encouraging step-by-step expansion of cooperation in a climate of confidence-buildingparticular attention to fundamental human rights, foremost for the benefit of the peoples of Iran and the EU; supports, in this regard, the Commission’s commitment to a renewed engagement with Iran based on ‘a dialogue of the four Cs’: a dialogue that is comprehensive in scope; cooperative in the fields where Iran and the EU have mutual interests; critical, open and frank in areas where Iran and the EU disagree but are looking for common ground; and that is overall constructive in tone and practice;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists on the importance of developing the parliamentary dimension of EU-Iran relations as part of the strategy for re-establishing mutual trust; reiterates its support, in this regard, for the proposal discussed between Parliament and the Majlis for an inter- parliamentary dialogue on counter- terrorism; wWelcomes the renewed political dialogue between the EU and Iran, including on human rights; recognises that while there is suspicion and mistrust on both sides, there is also a long history between many Member States and Iran and that Iran has a strongthe ambition to have good relations with Europe, which provides the potential for a relationship based on mutual trust and respect; reiterates that the EU does not seek to interfere in internal political choices in this country or in any other, but seeks cooperation based on mutual respect for international standards and principles, human rights and rule of law; believes that the full normalisation of relations can only occur when the conditions laid down by Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are fully met within the timeframe agreed and by means of regular and sustained dialogue and that the immediate priority should be to broaden the scope of EU-Iran relations in areas where there is common agreement to do so; believes, however, that the ultimate aim must be one of partnership between Iran and the EU; notes the proposal discussed between Parliament and Majlis for an inter-parliamentary dialogue on counter- terrorism;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recognises that differences exist between the EU and Iran on the use of the death penalty; nevertheless believes cooperation on anti-narcotics programmes andCondemns Iran on the continuous and frequent use of the death penalty, especially death penalty against juveniles; sees ending the application of death penalty as one of the core objectives, especially on the question of juvenile executions, in line with Iran’'s own commitments, could provide a common agenda for addressing this question;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Takes note of the fact that eliminating the death penalty for drug- related offences wcould drastically reduce the number of executions (up to 80 % according to Iranian estimates); calls for EU-Iran cooperation in the fight against drugs as a way of addressing the issue of executions in the country; calls on the Commission to provide technical assistance and administrative capacity- building for Iran to enable it to secure its borders with Afghanistan and Iraq;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for EU-Iran cooperation in the fight against drugs as one measure addressing the issue of executions related to drug offences in the country; calls on the Commission to provide technical assistance and administrative capacity- building for Iran to enable it to secure its borders with Afghanistan and Iraq;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes note of Iran’s stated objective of achieving a yearly growth rate of 8 %; believes that European investments are key for Iran to achieve this goal; stresses that for Iran to realise its economic potential, it will have to take steps to create a transparent economic environment conducive to international investment and take anti-corruption measures, particularly regarding compliance with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force; calls on the EU to fully support Iran’s efforts in this process via, in particular, support for work towards forging a bilateral investment treaty between the EU and Iran; calls for the EU to develop economic cooperation with Ir, and to guarantee that financial flows to terrorists and terrorist groupings are prevented, detected and halted; calls on the EU to support Iran’s efforts in this process; calls for the EU to develop economic cooperation with Iran once the FATF has concluded after its twelve months review confirming that Iran would have had implemented the Action Plan; takes note that Iran is the world’s largest economy outside the WTO; supports, in this regard, Iran’s bid to join the WTO after it has been removed from the FATF black list;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Is worried about the extensive control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps over the Iranian economy, urges the Commission to find mechanisms for EU companies to be able to verify before signing contracts with Iranian partners that the money will not be transferred to the war zones in the region;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls the impact that extraterritorial US sanctions, in particular US-related sanctions on banks, have on businesses willing to invest in Iran; insists on the need to address this and other financial matters in line with FATF recommendations to create the necessary conditions for businesses to prosper in Iran and contribute to Iranians feeling relief from sanctions in their everyday lives;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Takes note of the June 2016 U.S. State Department annual report on global terrorism listing Iran as the top state sponsor of terrorism;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Expresses concern about growing militarisation in the wider region and supports efforts towards greater arms control, while recognising legitimate defence concerns, but within a context of seeking to promote full respect for sovereignty of all countries in the region itself; leads attention to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) interferences in the region, particularly in supporting the Syrian regime; remains concerned about Iran's financial and arms support for Hezbollah;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. BelievNotes that the nuclear deal could opens the possibility for cooperation in resolving the region’s security crisis; believes that Iran can and should play a stabilisation role in the region; believes that the whole region can benefit from a normalisation of relations with Iran;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Believes that there can be no solution to conflicts in the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf region as long as there is an on-going military interference by various countries; calls therefore on Iran as a gesture of good will and building confidence to withdraw all its military forces particularly from Syria and Iraq to let the people of those countries to have a chance to find long term solutions;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes Iran’s readiness to support the current efforts to bring stability to Iraq, this should include withdrawing its military forces from Iraq, and calls for additional efforts to bring all the militias operating in the country under the authority of the Iraqi army; welcomes Iran’s contribution to the fight against ISIS/Da’esh; notes the agreement between Iran and Australia to share intelligence on the fight against ISIS/Da’esh;
Amendment 363 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Notes that the February 2016 parliamentary elections in Iran did not meet the standards free and fair elections, as the opposition was banned and thousands of candidates were filtered by the 'Guardian Council' under orders of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei;
Amendment 369 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Notes that the situation of women has been deteriorating in recent years with new laws that further restrict their rights; is alarmed about reports of recent deployment of 7000 plain-clothes 'morality police' in the capital Tehran to repress women for 'improper veiling';
Amendment 384 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Notes with concern that Iran has the highest level of death-penalty executions per capita in the world; is alarmed by reports that the number of executions have continued to rise since the beginning of the nuclear negotiations with almost 1000 people hanged during 2015; stresses that eliminating the death penalty for drug- related offences wcould dramaticallyhelp to decrease the number of executions; welcomes, in this regard, the possibility that the newly- elected Majlis is considering legislation to exclude some drug-related offences from the list of crimes punishable with the death penalty;
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Welcomes the fact that the adoption of the 2013 Islamic Penal Code and Iran’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibits child executions and allows all juvenile offenders sentenced to death prior to 2013 to seek retrial; calls on Iran to ensure this prohibition is fully implemented and that all relevant offenders are made aware of this right; notes with concern that Iran still remains a leading executioner of juvenile offenders; calls on Iran to declare a moratorium on the death penalty, at least for juvenile offenders;
Amendment 413 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Is deeply concerned about the rising number of individuals imprisoned from religious minority communities due to their beliefs, including Sunnis, Sufi Muslim dissenters, Baha'is, Christian converts and Jews, since President Hassan Rouhani took office in 2013; deplores that religious minority activists have been sentenced to death for "enmity against God";
Amendment 417 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Believes that EU should use its improving relations with Iran to urge the country to grant access to the UN special rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran to visit Iran;