EU CIVIL SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAMMING IN IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000666

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2017
TAGS: KDEM EUN KPAO PREL PGOV IR BE EAID
SUBJECT: EU CIVIL SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAMMING IN IRAN

REF: STATE 2659

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Laurence Wohlers for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche Feb. 27 to Francois
Massoulie at the European Commission, who just returned from
Tehran where he said the mood is "gloomy" regarding any
collaboration between Iranian NGOs or individuals and Western
governments. Massoulie, the desk officer for Iran at the
Commission's Directorate for External Relations (RELEX),was
interested in hearing about US programming in Iran, but noted
that the EU views any association with the US in Iran as "the
kiss of death." Because the Iranian government is convinced,
he said, that the US is seeking regime change in Iran, the EU
does not want any public association with US programs. The
Iranian regime also views the EU with suspicion, leading the
EU to funnel most of its programming (which the EU refers to
as civil society programming, not democracy programming)
through UN organizations, primarily UNDP and UNICEF, he said.
One of the most successful programs is one aimed at reducing
the demand for illegal drugs, primarily among prostitutes.


2. (SBU) Separately, Poloff and Development Counselor met
Feb. 22 with Jorg Volker Ketelsen of the European
Commission's Unit for Human Rights and Democratization at
RELEX to discuss the new European Instrument for Democracy
and Human Rights (EIDHR) and its possible implementation
through small grants in Iran (and other countries). The
European Commission currently has no cooperation agreement,
no country strategy paper, and no contractual agreements with
Iran. But the new EIDHR, which will provide USD 1.1B globally
over the next seven years, has a provision for giving grants
to civil society organizations in "difficult situations" such
as Iran. The grants will go specifically to civil society
organizations that work on democracy building or protection
of human rights. Civil society is defined broadly to include
non-governmental organizations, journalists, and even
Parliamentarians doing non-campaign outreach work. The first
calls for proposals are expected to be issued in the fall,
with grants from the new funding awarded late this year. The
current year's EIDHR projects are being finalized, but the EC
has confirmed there will be one project for an Iranian
beneficiary in the category of prevention and rehabilitation
of torture victims. Additionally, the EC funds partnerships
between European and Iranian NGOs, including one between the
British Institute for Comparative Law and an Iranian NGO
called IDVV.


3. (SBU) The European Commission is also interested in
starting a Farsi language broadcast program into Iran
(probably through Euronews, though other proposals will be
solicited). The funding and implementation would be shared
between DG Relex and DG Communications. Ketelsen expressed
interest in coordinating with the US so as not to duplicate
efforts.


4. (SBU) A number of other ideas for engaging Iran through
public diplomacy, human rights, and civil society were
discussed at the Jan. 26 COMEM meeting. While the proposals
are still at the working group level, they provide a roadmap
of areas of possible future EU engagement. The ideas under
discussion include the following:

- Continued "double track" approach to human rights that
combines critical dialogue with public statements
- More European Community action, possibly including the
seconding of a Commission official to a member state Embassy
in Tehran.
- Including Iran in the Erasmus Mundus program to strengthen
support for exchanges of scholars and to increase Embassy
contacts with local universities.
- Increased programming to civil society (particularly
focusing on women's rights) from abroad, for example
web-based NGO training.
- Support for new areas of cooperation that are less
sensitive to the government of Iran, for example organized
crime, narcotics, environment, health, and rescue services.
- Reinforce working through the UN, particularly through
special rapporteurs.
- Increased attention to Iran's regional role, especially in
relation to the Middle East Peace Plan, Iraq, Lebanon, and
Afghanistan.
- Further dialogue on regional security among regional
players, including the Gulf Cooperation Council.
- Further dialogue on involving Iran in the International
Compact for Iraq.

MCKINLEY
.