47 Amendments of Cornelia ERNST related to 2010/2050(INI)
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16
Citation 16
– having regard to the Vienna Group proposal for transferring Iranian uranium to Russia and France and to the bridging proposal sponsored by the governments of Turkey and Brazil in an attempt to delay the passage of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1929 (2010),
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20
Citation 20
– having regard to the European Union's long-standing commitment to work for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issueessential need to achieve a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, in order to forestall any military intervention or action,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Islamic Republic of Iran (hereafter referred to as Iran) is facing an array of govinternance challenges - from power struggles between competing factions within the country’s ruling elites to a crippling social and economic malaise, a problematic regional security environment and rising popular discontent at home - many of which are products of the Iranian regime’s own makingl and external challenges - social and economic problems, a lack of democratic legitimacy, a rising resistance among the population, in particular against the policies of the government in all fields of home affairs and civil rights, as well as a difficult regional security environment,
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas since the controversial June 2009 presidential elections the reformists have become most commonly identified with the Green Movement, the popular, grass-roots social movement that took shape during the mass protests against President Ahmadinejad's re- electionpolitical developments in Iran following the disputed presidential elections of June 2009 have shown that there is great potential for popular-led, democratic change in the country spearheaded by its vibrant and active civil society,
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the leadership has continuously used the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to suppress internal dissIran’s security forces – the Revolutionary Guard, Basij militia and police – have responded with a severe crackdown, arbitrarily arresting thousands of peaceful protesters and dissidents, including student,s and whereas IRGC intervention in internal Iranian politics has peaked under President Ahmadinejadacademics, women’s rights activists, trade unionists, lawyers, journalists, bloggers, clerics and prominent human rights defenders, in a clear effort to intimidate critics and stifle dissent; whereas the judiciary have staged mass show trials of hundreds of prominent reformers and activists, resulting in the sentencing of some to lengthy prison terms and even to death,
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas Iran, has repeatedly denied access toa party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), has, by ratifying the NPT, foresworn the acquisition of nuclear weapons and is legally bound to declare all its nuclear facilities to IAEA inspectors, hampering the type of unrestricted inspections that would enable the IAEA to fulfill its role ativity, including nuclear material, and place it under IAEA safeguards; whereas Article IV of the NPT notes the inalienable right of all Parties to that Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II of that Treaty; whereas repeated violations of IAEA rules have undermined confidence in Iranian assurances about the purely civil character of its nuclear watchdogprogramme,
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas Iran is subject to many sanctions by the United States and the international community; whereas these sanctions have ever more negative consequences for the Iranian population without leading to a useful result for the solution of the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme,
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas Iran has problematic relations with almost all its neighbours; whereas especiallylives in a difficult regional environment with three nuclear powers which are not members of the NPT, with the difficult internal situation in Israel and the Gulf region feel intimidated by Iran's aggressive rhetoric and its ongoing nuclear programmeq after the war against this country, the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and several international players with their own economic and political interests,
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas Iran has hosted two generations of Afghan refugees in the country, which have benefitted from basic health and education services; whereas in 2010 more than one million registered Afghans are residing in Iran; whereas Iran received only limited international support in this area,
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas Iran ranks among the world' s top three holders of proven reserves of both oil and natural gas,
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas there has been a remarkable deepening of relations between Iran and Turkey, and whereas Iran is using its sTurkey and Brazil, both non-permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, successfully negotiated a nuclear fuel swap deal to break a deadlock over the country’s disputed nuclear activities; whereas the United States and non-state allies Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas, to destabilise the regionthe EU failed to utilise this opportunity to make a fresh start to find a solution to the crisis; whereas, on the contrary, new UN and EU sanctions were introduced,
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that popular discontent and disenchantment withNotes the aspirations for democratic change of the Iranian people, and deeply deplores the fact that the Iranian gGovernment as a result of the grave socio- economic situation combined with an absence of liberty and basic respect for human dignity within Iran represnd Parliament are apparently incapable of responding to the justifiable demands of Iranian citizens, in particular the younger generation, who have seent the main challenge to the regime’s survivalir hopes for economic and social development stifled for too long;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines that democratic changes cannot be imposed from outside or even by military means but has to be achieved through a peaceful democratic process; expresses its admiration for the courage of the tens of thousands of Iranians who continue to risk their professional careers and lives by calling for greater freedom and more democratic rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that although President Ahmadinejad was elected in 2005 on a platform of social justice and economic populism, Iran’s domestic problems have continued to deteriorate despite burgeoning oil prices; deplores, therefore, Ahmadinejad’s aim of shoring up his political position at home by embracing a radical international agenda with the expectation that a stridently anti-Western, anti-Israel stance will enhance Iran’s leadership position in the Muslim world;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Observes that previous Iranian mass movements were based on a dual pillar – the quest for both welfare and liberty – and suggests that the Green Movement add to its powerful political call of "Where is my voice?" the socio-economic and anti- corruption call "Where is my oil money?"that these remain unfulfilled promises of the 1979 revolution; whereas economic shortcomings such as inflation, corruption, high unemployment, energy shortages, an inefficient state sector and the waste of public funds have increased drastically over the last years;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Expresses its solidarity with the millions of Iranians who have taken to the streets after the June 2009 presidential elections in the hope of political change in Iran;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Warns that the IRGC is slowly taking over Irdevelopment of an; indicates that despite ideological congruity between Supreme Leader Khamenei and the IRGC leadership, the development of the IRGC into a state within a state is turning Khamenei into a hostage in the hands of his own Praetorian Guardcreasingly greater role for the IRGC in different spheres of Iranian society raises fears of further militarization of the state;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on Iran and those countries in the Middle East which are considering investing in nuclear power not to follow the controversial, and by large parts of citizens rejected way of many EU and other European countries in favouring a dangerous and outdated technology; instead appeals to those countries to develop all options of modern renewable energy technologies, efficiency and conservation methods;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Reiterates its opposition to the death penalty and calls on the Iranian authorities, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolutions 62/149 and 63/138, to institute a moratorium on executions pending the abolition of the death penalty;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran finally to abolish the death penalty for crimes committed before the age of 18 and to amend its legislation to bring it into line with the international human rights conventions that Iran has ratified, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the ICCPR;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Strongly condemns the continuing legal discrimination against women and the persecution of sexual minorities in Iran; denounces the inhumane and medieval practice of sentencing people to death for alleged acts pertaining to the choice of partners or sexual practices; in this context, reiterates its condemnation of the death sentence against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, charged with having had relations with two men; expresses continued concern about the fate of Ebrahim Hamidi, condemned to death by hanging on false charges of sodomy;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Urges the Iranian authorities to eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, and to uphold the due process of law and to end impunity for human rights violations; in particular, calls on the Iranian Parliament and judiciary to abolish such cruel and inhumane punishments as limb amputation, stoning and flogging, which are inconsistent with Iran's international obligations; firmly rejects the notion promoted by the Iranian judicial authorities that such punishments are culturally justified;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is horrified by the fact that shooting into demonstrating crowds was considered acceptable by the security forces from the night of 15 June 2009 on, as shown in video footage; urges the EU institutions to present to the Iranian authorities a detailed list of all known incidents/violent actions against Iranian civilians in the aftermath of the election and insist that there be an honest judicial investigationCalls on the Iranian Government to respect fully the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression; strongly condemns the use of violence by the Iranian authorities against demonstrators who are seeking to exercise freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately free all those detained for peacefully exercising their rights to free expression, association and assembly, and to investigate and prosecute government officials and members of the security forces responsible for the killing, abuse and torture of family members of dissidents, demonstrators and detainees;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Reiterates its calls to the Iranian judiciary to declare a moratorium on capital punishment and to unambiguously prohibit juvenile executions;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Deplores the fact that, in contradiction with the Constitution, members of religious minorities endure discrimination in housing, education and official jobs, which is leading young members of these minorities to opt for emigration; condemns in particular the systematic persecution of the Baha'i community, the wave of arrests of Christians in 2009, and the harassment of religious dissidents as well as Sufi and Sunni Moslems; reiterates its call for the release of the 7 Baha'i leaders and calls on the Iranian Parliament to change Iranian legislation so as to ensure that all adherents of different beliefs in Iran can follow their convictions free from persecution;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Concludes that the position of Iranian NGOs worsened considerably in the wake of the disturbanceprotests following the controversial presidential election of 12 June, 2009; strongly supports the Coucriticizes the fact that all international contacts or financial and the Commission for backing these NGOs in a sensible waysupport for NGOs in Iran are systematically abused by the authorities to try to discredit these organisations and their work;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Expects the CounCalls for the re-establishment of a UN mandate for a Special and the Commission toRapporteur to investigate human rights abuses and encourage accountability for those perpetrating human rights violations in Iran; urges the Iranian authorities to react positively to longstanding requests by several UN Special Rapporteurs (e.g. Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions; Torture; Freedom of Religion or Belief; Independence of Judges and Lawyers) for official visits to Iran;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Urges the Council and the Commission to demandDemands that the Iranian regimeauthorities do not deter human rights activists from making use of their constitutional rights; calls for the immediate release of all those human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience who are still imprisoned;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to sign, ratify and implement the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW);
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that representatives of EU institutions should include in the programmes of their official visits to Iran meetings with opposition leaders/representatives of the Green Movement and prominent Iranian human rights dissidents; stresses also that official mutual contacts between theUnderlines the importance of civil society dialogue between the EU and Iran; welcomes all the grassroots activities which exist in particular in the cultural sector; calls on the Commission and the Member States to give more support to such initiatives; stresses that representatives of EU institutions should include in the programmes of their official visits to Iran meetings with representatives of civil society; stresses the importance of dialogue at all levels, including parliamentary dialogue, to overcome mistrust and to exit from the current deadlock in the Iran crisis; insists that the interparliamentary delegations of the EPuropean Parliament and the Majlis should be conditional on concrete improvements in human rightscontinue the work started during the 2004-2009 legislative period, without conditions; calls on the Iranian side not to impede contact between the EP delegation and civil society;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Urges official representatives of the EU and its Member States, when meetingCondemns the repression by the Iranian authorities of the independent media, including the censorship of video and photo materials; calls on their Iranian counterparts, to insist onauthorities to respect the freedom of the media and to allow for the re-opening of the many dailyforcibly closed newspapers; closed down in recent years, as well as the release of political prisoners, by presenting lists of names in both cases; ondemns the practice of expulsion of foreign correspondents by the Iranian Government, including reporters from major European newspapers such as El Pais and the Guardian; believes that the censorship imposed by the Government is leading Iran into increasing isolation;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. SupportsNotes that the European Council’s twin-track approach has faimled at finding a negotiated solution to the nuclear stand- off and commendnd that a policy of conditioned negotiations in an atmosphere of mutual mistrust cannot bring results; calls, therefore, for a logical policy in relations wit on its new Common Position of 26 July 2010 introducing new and far-reaching autonomous measures applicable to Iranh Iran; takes the view that sanctions and isolation of the country should be replaced by constructive dialogue and unconditional negotiations on all matters of mutual interest;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission, the Council and EU Member States to strengthen all enforcement mechanisms for the implementation of the EU Common Position - especially with regard to export licensing, custom and border controls, air cargo and shipping – in order to prevent Iran from evading the sanctions regime through third parties and locally registered front companiesWelcomes the recently concluded agreement between Turkey, Brazil and Iran, and calls on the EU to use the mediation capacities of the two non- permanent members of the Security Council to facilitate a fresh restart of the dialogue with Iran;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Believes that renewed efforts are needed worldwide to rid the globe of the threat of nuclear weapons; welcomes President Obama's appeal for nuclear disarmament and calls on High Representative Catherine Ashton to make this issue one of her priorities both in her dealings with Member States and in her contacts with governments in the Middle East and Asia;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Rejects fiercely the desire expressed by the Iranian leadership to "wipe out" Israel; also fiercely rejectCondemns the anti-Semitic rhetoric of the Iranian president, especially his denial of the Holocaust and his underlying agenda of delegitimizing the Israeli state; calls on the EU institutions to safeguard the existence of the Jewish statreaffirms its full support for the existence of Israel and a two-state solution for Palestine;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph – 20 a (new)
Paragraph – 20 a (new)
-20a. Calls on Israel and the United States - in their relations with Iran as with any other country - to refrain from the threat or use of force against territorial integrity and political independence; takes the view that confidence building measures, such as granting a negative security assurance to Iran, would promote the stabilization of the region;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Reminds the countries in the region of Article 105 of the Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference which underscores the importance of a nuclear-weapon free zone in the Middle East; calls on Israel, India and Pakistan to take an active part in the process of the establishment of such a zone, which should start with the conference planned for 2012;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Stresses that the solution to the Middle East problem - the withdrawal of Israel from the territories occupied since 1967 and a final, just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which can only be the two-state solution, the establishment of a Palestinian State on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a comprehensive settlement for all Palestinian refugees on the basis of UN Resolution 194 - is the key to a solution to many of the problems in the region;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Stresses that all the regional problems - in Iraq, Afghanistan and in Kashmir - cannot be solved by military means and non-regional players; calls for the establishment of a permanent regional conference on security and cooperation as a forum for dialogue and negotiation between the regional and international actors on all matters of mutual interest - regional security, confidence-building and disarmament, economic cooperation and human rights;
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Council and the Commission to closely attune their policies towards Iran with WashingtoEU and its Member States to take a reasonable, independent and internationally responsible position and to exercise their influence in transatlantic relations with a view to cooperating with the Obama Administration in such a way that only through dialogue and diplomacy will it be possible to find a realistic, long-term solution to all the problems in relations with Iran;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)