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AIC
UPDATE - June
2005 | Vol. 2 | No. 21
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2005 Conference on NPT -
statement by Dr. M. Javad Zarif
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TERRORISM, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THE MEDIA
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The
Presidential Election: An Open Letter
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AIC Update is an information resource for US-Iran
relations and the efforts of the American Iranian
Council to promote dialogue and understanding
between the United States and Iran.
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| Terrorism, Human Rights, and the Media |
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Excerpts from
TERRORISM, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THE MEDIA
Andrew Whitley
US-Iran Relations: Areaseof Tension and Mutual
Interest (1994)
"First, that the Iranian government is conducting an
undeclared war against its active opponents abroad
and is taking the battle to the enemy in a vigorous
fashion."
"Second, that the Iranian government feels
constrained by international politics to state publicly
its adherence to the concept of human rights."
"My third basic premise is that it bears reminding
even this audience that there remains an enormous
culture clash between Americans and Iranians, one
that contributes to the different views in Tehran and
Washington about the importance of human rights
problems."
"It is true that there are elections of a sort. They
are precooked elections, but they happen
periodically, and there is an opportunity for Iranians
to engage in political debate."
"While private clubs and associations and private
voluntary organizations are formed in Iran under the
watchful eye of the local branch of Etelaat,
particularly in western provinces and in the
southeast, the intelligence ministry in conjunction
with the Revolutionary Guards really runs the country
in such a way that there is very little opportunity for
any genuine association."
"A third charge which has been made against the
country, and in my view is a valid one, is the high
rate of judicial execution, one of the highest in the
world. Often these executions take place after trials
that are blatantly lacking in due process guarantees."
"There is also the issue of persecution of religious
minorities, particularly of the Bahai'is and syncretic
sects like the Ahl-e al-Haqq."
"We could spend a lot of time discussing
discrimination against women. It is a complex issue
that often is overstated in the West, particularly in
the United States where female equality in all
spheres is taken as an article of faith, as a litmus
test of a civilized society, but conveniently
overlooked how novel and controversial even this
concept is in our own society."
"There is the issue of terrorism. There are three
main categories of issues with respect to terrorism.
One is support for radical groups outside the
country. Two is combat against armed Iranian
opposition organizations, mostly in Iraq and in
Turkey, but in some cases in the West. And thirdly
is terrorism against individuals, usually Iranian
individuals abroad."
"In conclusion, the hook that Iran is on over human
rights is the enduring uncertainty over the nature of
government and society in Iran, over relations
between the spiritual and lay leadership, and the
social contract that any legitimate government must
have with its citizens. Until these fundamental
issues that were thrown up by the revolution are
settled to common satisfaction, human rights abuses
will continue to proliferate."
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| Iran's View on 2005 NPT Conference |
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Excerpts from
Concluding Statement
By
H. E. Dr. M. Javad Zarif
Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of
Iran to the UN
At the 2005 NPT Review Conference
New York, May 27, 2005
"2005 could and should have been a turning point
towards a world free from the scourge of nuclear
threat."
"That the 2005 Conference ended without result
despite the sincere efforts and good intentions of
you and a great majority of States Parties from all
corners of the world is not by itself detrimental.
Serious is the intentions and actions rigorously
pursued by the presumed remaining super power
without the slightest regard for the concerns of the
rest of the international community."
"The NPT remains the cornerstone of nuclear
disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the ability
to develop and pursue nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes. The United States wished for this
representative body encompassing all parties to the
Treaty to fail so that it could pursue its own
unilateral initiatives and priorities through other more
exclusive bodies and groups."
"The three pillars of the Treaty, nuclear
disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and ability to
pursue peaceful use of nuclear energy are
intertwined. They need to be followed together
without diminishing the significance and effectiveness
of any one pillar against the others."
"Allow me to conclude by emphasizing that the NPT
must be preserved and strengthened. Its longevity
must be guaranteed. No consideration is worth
undermining the Treaty. Iran is committed to the
NPT and the non-proliferation regime and will spare
no effort in this regard."
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| About Us |
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Vision
The vision of the American Iranian Council is that the
United States and Iran will work together, since their
common interests far outweigh their differences. AIC
also envisions the Iranian-American community
playing an increasingly significant role in American
society, and Iran becoming a democratically
developed member of the global community with full
respect for human rights.
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Mission
The mission of AIC is to be a constructive force, in
cooperation and partnership with other organizations,
in bringing the United States and Iran together,
involving the Iranian-American community in the
dialogue, and bringing attention to social and political
conditions in Iran.
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Goals
The three
interrelated goals of the American Iranian Council
are:
1.
To serve as a platform for sustained dialogue on U.S.-
Iran relations.
2. To serve as a catalyst to educate all Americans,
including Iranian-Americans, regarding this
dialogue.
3. To serve as a forum for discussion of issues of
importance in Iranian society.
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Copyright © 2005 American Iranian Council. All
rights reserved.
American Iranian Council | 20 Nassau Street, Suite
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On May 24, 2005, the
Guardian Council approved only
eight candidates to stand in the June 17 Presidential
election. During the lead up to this process, some 15
to 20 candidates were acknowledged by national and
international media as being serious candidates. Dr.
Hooshang Amirahmadi was discussed as a serious
contender by worldwide media. The following is Dr.
Amirahmadi's open letter to the Guardian Council and
the Iranian people protesting the rejection of his
candidacy by the Council. Dr. Amirahmadi indicates
that the decisions by the Guardian Council are
against the interests of the Iranian people. To
substantiate this claim, he outlines his background
and achievements as an academic and political
leader, his motivations for running, and an outline of
his platform. He
awaits an explanation for his disapproval. This letter
seeks that explanation, as well. An English version of
the
letter will be
available via AIC Update soon.
