IRAN/SABERI CASE: UK LEADING CHARGE ON IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000859 E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2019 TAGS: IR JA PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PROP PTER UK SUBJECT: IRAN/SABERI CASE: UK LEADING CHARGE ON IMMEDIATE EU STATEMENT ON THE ESPIONAGE CHARGE: HMG RECOMMENDS USG SIGNAL SUPPORT TO EU PRESIDENCY REF: A. A) EMB LONDON (GAYLE) 4/9/09 TELCON AND EMAILS WITH NEA/IR ¶B. B) LONDON 731 Classified By: Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs Greg Berry, Reasons 1.4 (b,c,d) ¶1. (C) The UK is asking the Czech EU Presidency to issue a public statement April 9 on the Saberi case, but believes that a direct, informal USG signal to the Czechs is needed to ensure a speedy EU statement, according to Iran Watcher (Poloff) contacts in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Iran Coordination Group. ¶2. (C) FCO Iran Bilateral Team Leader Jaime Turner told Poloff April 9 that the EU Presidency statement would urge Tehran to "reconsider" its espionage charge against Saberi and would focus, not on the regime's "bad acts" in arresting Saberi, but on the legal protections and due process which Saberi should in EU's view enjoy under the international Declaration of Human Rights, which has been incorporated by reference into Iran's constitution. ¶3. (C) Both Turner and Acting FCO Coordinator Will Gelling pointed out that Western European governments are shutting down early April 9 for a four-day Easter weekend; they commented that delay until April 14 or 15 in making an announcement on Saberi may look to Iranian authorities like Western acquiescence to the IRI's harsh charge against Ms. Saberi of espionage. Gelling also offered the view that an immediate EU statement on Saberi was in every way consistent with the April 8 P5 1 communique on engagement. ¶4. (C) Poloff, per ref a, urged FCO to press the EU Presidency to make a statement as soon as possible, but Turner stated it is unlikely Czechs will move quickly without a direct indication of USG's support for an immediate EU statement on Saberi. Turner said speed, simplicity of message, and USG support are keys to quick Czech action. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom LEBARON