topic by
John Calvin
7/23/2002 (22:08) |
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Russia, EU Oppose Inclusion of Iran on 'Axis of Evil' List
By Our Staff Writer
TEHRAN -- Ever since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the United States has been trying to isolate Iran, but in practice it has been lashing a dead horse in its endeavors. The U.S. measures to isolate Iran included sanctions, military and economic measures against Iran and putting pressure on its allies to cut their ties or stop trade with.
Due to changes in the international arena as well as positive developments in Iran, not all allies of Washington have agreed to comply with Washington's demands or yield to its pressures.
During the ongoing visit of European and Russian delegations to Tehran, the U.S. received yet another negative answer from Russia and its strategic ally, European Union, when they sided with Iran and rejected the U.S. idea of including Iran in an 'axis of evil'.
Russia is opposed to Iran's inclusion on a U.S. list of countries said to form an 'axis of evil,' Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov said Sunday during a visit to Tehran.
'Russia is categorically opposed to the inclusion of Iran in the 'axis of evil' denounced by U.S. President George W. Bush last January, since Tehran 'is an active participant in the international campaign against terrorism,' the envoy said following talks with Iranian officials.
Iran 'made a very positive contribution to the Bonn Conference (on Afghanistan) and the Loya Jirga (last month's tribal council to establish a transitional government in Afghanistan),' Trubnikov told Ria Novosti news agency.
Trubnikov discussed Afghanistan, terrorism, South Asia and a variety of other bilateral and international issues with Iranian officials in Tehran, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In the envoy's talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohsen Aminzadeh, both sides stressed the importance of the UN role in coordinating the fight against terrorism, and warned that anti-terrorist actions should 'conform strictly with international law,' the statement said.
Russia has expressed concern over media reports that Washington is preparing an invasion of Iraq which it views as a key member of the 'axis of evil' held to be attempting to build an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.
Referring to U.S. concern over a Russian-built nuclear power plant at Bushehr, in western Iran, Trubnikov told reporters that there was 'no reason to doubt the peaceful nature of the project,' Ria Novosti said.
Washington alleges that some of the technology being transferred for use in the Bushehr plant can be diverted to military uses.
In talks with Iranian Security Chief Hassan Rowhani, Trubnikov noted that the two countries shared similar views on Iraq and the Middle East, stressing notably that 'a solution of the Iraqi crisis by force is unacceptable,' the ITAR-TASS news agency said.
'We must continue to work with Iraq to convince it to allow the UN (weapons inspection) mission to continue,' Trubnikov said.
Russia is strongly opposed to U.S. military action against Iraq but favors the return of UN arms inspectors to the country -- after they pulled out in December 1998 -- in exchange for lifting UN sanctions imposed on Baghdad since its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
Meanwhile, the head of a visiting European parliamentary delegation said here Sunday the EU 'did not agree' with the U.S. stand on Iran and that stronger EU-Iranian ties could help resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict.
'We do not agree with the Americans on Iran, we do not accept their views on this country,' Elmar Brok, head of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, told AFP.
'On the contrary, we want to strengthen and expand relations with Iran,' the German Euro MP said.
In a January speech, U.S. President George W. Bush denounced Iran as part of an 'axis of evil' along with Iraq and North Korea, while a State Department report has since branded Iran as the biggest state sponsor of terrorism. Brok, visiting Iran following a decision in mid-June by EU foreign ministers to open talks for a trade and cooperation pact with Tehran, said expanded bilateral ties could 'help solve the conflict in the Middle East.'
He added that he had urged Iranian officials to 'moderate' contacts with radical Lebanese and Palestinian groups like Hizbollah and Hamas.
The European MPs arrived in Tehran for a five-day visit on July 16, at the invitation of the reformist-dominated Parliament, and have held talks with President Mohammad Khatami.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=7/22/02&Cat=4&Num=004
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