IRAN NEWS 
EDITORIAL 
APRIL 23, 1997 
                  A Test for EU States

In an ironic turn of events the politicized ruling of a Berlin court on April 10 against Iran is now proving a dilemma for the 15-nation European Union (EU). The scratch on the EU image has been further deepened following the mounting pressure from the United States that calls for a firm anti-Iran stand. 

The U.S. State Department Undersecretary Peter Tarnoff is now in Europe to `explore with the allies practical steps which the international community could take to change Iran's objectionable behavior.'

Iran explained in clear-cut terms its position on the Berlin court trial where fugitives, terrorists and criminal were witnesses and the so-called accused party was absent. For Iran such a ruling has no legal value at all. For the moment the situation is as follows: The EU states have summoned their ambassadors from Iran for `consultation' without doing necessary homework. And April 29 is the day when their foreign ministers will meet again in Brussels to make a decision on their ties with Iran. 

Apparently the critical dialogue between Iran and the EU is at stake.
Holland is now the rotating head of the EU, and Amsterdam's role becomes important in the decision regarding the future course of Irano-EU relations. 

As far as the so-called critical dialogue is concerned, several EU officials admitted that the Iranian response to these parleys remained satisfactory. Here we would like to remind the Iranian Foreign Ministry that revolutionary changes are needed for the future course of Iran's relations with the EU states. 

The following points have to be taken into consideration by the authors of the foreign policy; 

A. Negotiations with the EU states in the name of the so-called `critical dialogue' are meaningless. The process for negotiations should be reviewed if the EU states are serious on this issue. These negotiations should take place without prior conditions. 

B. The present framework of Iran's contacts with the EU states allows others to take undue advantage. For example, a special envoy of the United States is currently touring Europe to dictate and fashion a policy against Iran. The envoy is pursuing a policy that will force the EU to ignore its own interests and follow the dictates of the U.S. Washington wants to eradicate the influence of the EU states from Iran's lucrative market, while U.S. has also plans to capture the regional market. 

C. We should also take note of the fact that Germany's recent stances on Iran may have a direct connection with Bonn's desire to get a seat in the U.N. Security Council. It is but natural that Germany should need American `blessing' before getting a seat in the Security Council.
Observers here do not rule out behind-the-scene blackmailing by the U.S.
in the Berlin court's ruling. 

D. The present crucial juncture is the best time to keep a record of the behavior of the EU states. This record should provide the criteria for Iran's future relations with Europe. 

F. Following hasty and immature actions by the EU states in summoning their ambassadors from Iran, the Majlis has also taken some retaliatory actions. It has dropped some agreements with certain countries from its working agenda. These agreements were due to be tabled in the Majlis for approval.