IRAN: DIALOGO INUTILE CON AUTORITA', SERVE CON OPPOSIZIONE
(ASCA) - Roma, 16 feb - ''Di fronte agli ultimi eventi in corso nelle piazze iraniane, in cui ancora una volta il popolo iraniano dimostra il suo profondo antagonismo nei confronti di un governo che ne viola tutti i diritti umani; di fronte alla violenza delle forze di sicurezza iraniane, di fronte alla sconcertanti immagini, oggi su tutti i quotidiani, del parlamento iraniano che richiede
l'impiccagione dei leader dell'opposizione, nel mio ruolo di Vicepresidente della Commissione Esteri, devo annunciare che non prendero' parte domani all'incontro in Commissione con
una delegazione di parlamentari iraniani''. E' quanto afferma Fiamma Nirenstein (Pdl), vicepresidente della Commissione Esteri della Camera, intervenendo in Aula.
''Non penso sia utile la discussione con i rappresentanti ufficiali iraniani. Penso sia invece utilissimo esprimere solidarieta' e incontrare le sue opposizioni - continua Nirenstein -. Infatti parlare con le autorita' iraniane sulle questioni relative ai diritti umani, o alle strutture nucleari, non e' servito a nulla finora. L'Iran e' determinatissimo finora nella sua scelta aggressiva, imperialista e antisemita, come dimostrano anche le ultime dichiarazioni di Ahmadinejad di incitamento allo sterminio. Invece l'opposizione ha seguitato, nelle more di una spietata repressione, a esprimere il desiderio di liberta' e di pace che merita tutto il nostro appoggio''.
Italian deputy rebukes fellow deputies for Iran meeting
By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL, Jerusalem Post
20/02/2011
http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=208970
BERLIN – Fiamma Nirenstein, Vice President of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Italy’s Chamber of Deputies, sharply criticized last week her fellow legislators serving on the committee for meeting with a group of Iranian members of parliament.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate last Wednesday, Nirenstein said “I announce that, in my capacity as Vice President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I will not participate in tomorrow’s meeting of my committee with a delegation of Iranian parliamentarians, headed by the President of the Iranian Foreign Affairs Committee.”
She continued that, “Given the recent demonstrations in Iranian cities, with the Iranian people once again proving their profound enmity towards a government that violates all their human rights; given the violence perpetrated by the Iranian security forces, and given the disconcerting images, in all today’s newspapers, of the Iranian parliament demanding the hanging of the opposition leaders, I feel that a dialogue with Iran’s official representatives is completely pointless.
“On the contrary, I think it’s extremely useful to express and give concrete solidarity meeting its oppositions. Indeed, until now, international meetings with Iran’s representatives on human rights or nuclear facilities, have served no useful purpose. They have only helped to give more time and legitimacy to the regime of the ayatollahs. Iran has to date proven its extreme determination to pursue its aggressive, imperialist and anti-Semitic course, as proven by [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad’s latest declarations de facto inciting to genocide.
The opposition, on the other hand, notwithstanding the fierce repression it faces, still continues to express a desire for freedom and peace which deserves all our support.”
Italy was last year the largest EU trade partner of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Critics charge Italy with undercutting EU sanctions aimed at isolating Iran and courting Iranian politicians at a time when Tehran is ignoring UN, EU and American sanctions to end its nuclear program.
According to Italian investigative journalist, Giulio Meotti, who writes for the Italian daily Il Foglio and is the author of A New Shoah (Encounter, 2010), “during a recent conference in Rome titled ‘Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Italy: Shared Responsibilities and Differences in an Evolving World,’ Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Stefania Craxi declared that ‘Iran has the right to possess and use nuclear energy.’”
Meotti also revealed that “former prime minister Romano Prodi recently paid a personal visit to the Ayatollahs where he participated in a press conference with Iranian officials, including Alaeddin Boroujderdi, the president of Iran’s committee on national security who a few days before Prodi’s visit had threatened to “destroy Israel.’”
According to the Italian Institute for For Foreign Trade, Italy purchased Euro 3.744 billion worth of Iranian goods in the first three quarters of 2010, an increase of 167 percent from the Euro 1.401 billion it imported in the parallel period in 2009. Italy’s import of Iranian oil mushroomed by 90% last year, according to Italy’s petroleum association, Unione Petrolifera. Italy’s energy giant Eni told Reuters last December that it will continue to buy Iranian crude for another three years. Experts believe that increased pressure to restrict the purchase of Iranian crude oil could play a decisive role in changing Iran’s behavior.
Dialogue with Iranian authorities is pointless; it is necessary to talk to the opposition
Statement by Hon. Fiamma Nirenstein, Vicepresident of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, during Parliamentary Assembly debate, February 16, 2011:
“Given the recent demonstrations in Iranian cities, with the Iranian people once again proving their profound enmity towards a government that violates all their human rights; given the violence perpetrated by the Iranian security forces; and given the disconcerting images, in all today’s newspapers, of the Iranian parliament demanding the hanging of the opposition leaders, I announce that, in my capacity as Vicepresident of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I will not participate in tomorrow’s meeting of my Committee with a delegation of Iranian parliamentarians, headed by the President of the Iranian Foreign Affairs Committee.
I feel that a dialogue with Iran’s official representatives is completely pointless. On the contrary, I think it's extremely useful to express and give concrete solidarity meeting its oppositions. Indeed, until now, international meetings with Iran's representatives on human rights or nuclear facilities, has served no useful purpose. They have only helped to give more time and legitimacy to the regime of the ayatollah. Iran has to date proven its extreme determination to pursue its aggressive, imperialist and anti-Semitic course, as it is proved by Ahmadinejad’s latest declarations de facto inciting to genocide. The opposition, on the other hand, nothwistanding the fierce repression it faces, still continues to express a desire for freedom and peace which deserves all our support”.
Support Mrs. Nirenstein and stop being hypocritical.
Bernice Dubois , Paris, France
You are one of the rare honest voices in Europe today.Congratulations and...thank you.
Paulo Casaca , Portugal
Very well!
David Masci , Viareggio(Lu)/ITALIA
Stimata Dott.ssa, Complimente per il suo pensiero e spero che questa volta sia quella buona per dare finalmente un po' di meritatissima tranquillità ad Israele ed ai suoi abitanti e naturalmente anche ai miei tanti amici ebrei che mi hanno accettato senza riserve facendomi partecipe anche se non ne sono degno delle loro sofferenze e preoccupazioni.