Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS1740
2009-12-31 14:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
DEMARCHE TO EU ON AMCIT CASES IN IRAN
how-toVZCZCXRO9026 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHBS #1740 3651412 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 311412Z DEC 09 FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001740
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PASS TO NEA/IR, CA AND P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2019
TAGS: CASC EUN IR PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PROP PTER
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO EU ON AMCIT CASES IN IRAN
REF: A. STATE 129480
B. USEU BRUSSELS 1244
Classified By: USEU Political M-C Chris Davis for reason 1.4 (b) and (d
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001740
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PASS TO NEA/IR, CA AND P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2019
TAGS: CASC EUN IR PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PROP PTER
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO EU ON AMCIT CASES IN IRAN
REF: A. STATE 129480
B. USEU BRUSSELS 1244
Classified By: USEU Political M-C Chris Davis for reason 1.4 (b) and (d
)
1. (C) On December 21, 2009, USEU Senior Consular
Representative delivered ref A non-paper and talking points
to Giorgio Porzio, Head of the Consular Communication Unit at
the EU Council's Joint Situation Center. Porzio promised to
relay the non-paper to Ambassador Maria Victoria Morera
Villuendas, Director of the Consular Emergency Unit of the
incoming Spanish presidency after January 1, 2010. Porzio
stated that he would notify conoff with Spain's response.
2. (C) On December 22, 2009, USEU PolOff delivered the same
to Candido Creis Estrada, a Spanish diplomat who will chair
the EU,s working group handling Iran under the incoming
Spanish Presidency, effective January 1. Creis promised to
relay the non-paper to Madrid immediately. He described the
U.S. and EU approaches to Iran over the past year as fully
synchronized and said the Spanish Presidency wants to
continue the close collaboration. From Foreign Minister
Moratinos to the working level, Spain is committed to a close
policy relationship with Washington on Iran, he added.
3. (C) Turning to the issue of detained American citizens,
Creis said unity and discretion have been the keys to the
EU,s limited success in securing the release of some
detained EU citizens and EU member-state embassy employees.
Keeping the same message across the EU had been important in
particular for the UK, he said. He noted, however, that
Belgium recently secured the release of three of its citizens
without using EU channels.
4. (C) Creis said Spanish FM Moratinos calls his Iranian
counterpart periodically, and has previously raised the issue
of detained EU citizens during those calls. Creis did not
speculate on whether Moratinos would make a similar appeal on
behalf of American citizens. He did, however, use this
example to illustrate his point that handling these issues
quietly can be more productive than public statements.
Nonetheless, he said Iranian tactics can be frustrating. The
Iranian MFA often plays the good cop in discussions of
detained EU citizens, while Iranian security services counter
with a bad cop routine to try to exact concessions for the
release of EU citizens and employees.
5. (C) Comment: The EU has been increasingly pointed in
criticizing the state of human rights in Iran and in calling
on Iranian authorities to release those detained for
political offences. The Swedish EU Presidency has this month
issued four statements criticizing Iran variously for the
sentencing of Kian Tajbaksh, its use of the death penalty --
especially against minors -- and its violent suppression of
the recent demonstrations. According to Creis, the EU's more
assertive messaging is largely due to French pressure. End
Comment.
MURRAY
.
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PASS TO NEA/IR, CA AND P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2019
TAGS: CASC EUN IR PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PROP PTER
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO EU ON AMCIT CASES IN IRAN
REF: A. STATE 129480
B. USEU BRUSSELS 1244
Classified By: USEU Political M-C Chris Davis for reason 1.4 (b) and (d
)
1. (C) On December 21, 2009, USEU Senior Consular
Representative delivered ref A non-paper and talking points
to Giorgio Porzio, Head of the Consular Communication Unit at
the EU Council's Joint Situation Center. Porzio promised to
relay the non-paper to Ambassador Maria Victoria Morera
Villuendas, Director of the Consular Emergency Unit of the
incoming Spanish presidency after January 1, 2010. Porzio
stated that he would notify conoff with Spain's response.
2. (C) On December 22, 2009, USEU PolOff delivered the same
to Candido Creis Estrada, a Spanish diplomat who will chair
the EU,s working group handling Iran under the incoming
Spanish Presidency, effective January 1. Creis promised to
relay the non-paper to Madrid immediately. He described the
U.S. and EU approaches to Iran over the past year as fully
synchronized and said the Spanish Presidency wants to
continue the close collaboration. From Foreign Minister
Moratinos to the working level, Spain is committed to a close
policy relationship with Washington on Iran, he added.
3. (C) Turning to the issue of detained American citizens,
Creis said unity and discretion have been the keys to the
EU,s limited success in securing the release of some
detained EU citizens and EU member-state embassy employees.
Keeping the same message across the EU had been important in
particular for the UK, he said. He noted, however, that
Belgium recently secured the release of three of its citizens
without using EU channels.
4. (C) Creis said Spanish FM Moratinos calls his Iranian
counterpart periodically, and has previously raised the issue
of detained EU citizens during those calls. Creis did not
speculate on whether Moratinos would make a similar appeal on
behalf of American citizens. He did, however, use this
example to illustrate his point that handling these issues
quietly can be more productive than public statements.
Nonetheless, he said Iranian tactics can be frustrating. The
Iranian MFA often plays the good cop in discussions of
detained EU citizens, while Iranian security services counter
with a bad cop routine to try to exact concessions for the
release of EU citizens and employees.
5. (C) Comment: The EU has been increasingly pointed in
criticizing the state of human rights in Iran and in calling
on Iranian authorities to release those detained for
political offences. The Swedish EU Presidency has this month
issued four statements criticizing Iran variously for the
sentencing of Kian Tajbaksh, its use of the death penalty --
especially against minors -- and its violent suppression of
the recent demonstrations. According to Creis, the EU's more
assertive messaging is largely due to French pressure. End
Comment.
MURRAY
.