Vol. 521 No. 3
105 Mr. Moloney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the Iranian Government has been made sufficiently aware of the high level of international concern over the trial of 13 Jewish nationals on charges of espionage. [17036/00]
The deep concern of the international community at the trial in Iran of 13 Jews on charges of espionage has been impressed on the Iranian Government on numerous occasions. The Iranian Government is well aware of this concern.
Numerous démarches have been carried out by the EU and its member states, including Ireland. The former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrews, raised the issue with his Iranian counterpart when they met at the UN last September. The issue has also been raised repeatedly with the Iranian Ambassador at official level.
We have insisted, in particular, that the trial should be public and open. In the event, the trial has taken place in camera on the grounds that it involved security matters.
The verdict in the trial is now awaited and we hope that the outcome will reflect the very deep concern repeatedly expressed by Ireland, the European Union and member states and more widely by members of the international community.
