Richard Bruton
Question:101 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give an outline of existing and proposed agreements with Iran. [9982/03]
Written Answers. - International Agreements.
Agreements relevant to the Deputy's question that are within the remit of my Department would normally be made in conjunction with our EU partners. The European Union does not yet have any formal agreements with Iran. Co-operation with Iran has remained limited to efforts to combat illegal drugs trafficking and issues related to assistance with refugee flows. In addition, a working group on energy was established in May 1999. It has identified six major sectors for dialogue and potential co-operation. The group held its third meeting in Tehran in October 2002, and added energy-related transport issues to its agenda. However, negotiations are now under way between Iran and the EU on a number of other issues on which agreement is sought.
The European Union, at the General Affairs Council on 17 June 2002, agreed in principle to put its cooperation with Iran, particularly in the areas of trade and economic cooperation, on a contractual basis. The speed of progress in this area will depend on the pace and success of economic reforms in Iran and developments in the area of human rights. Negotiations on a trade and co-operation agreement between Iran and the EU began on 12 December 2002. The agreement will be accompanied by parallel agreements on political dialogue and on co-operation in the fight against terrorism. As is customary, the trade and co-operation agreement itself will include provisions on respect for human rights. By consensus, EU partners accept that progress both of negotiations and subsequent implementation should be dependent on Iran's compliance with internationally accepted norms in relation to human rights, the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Ireland supports the idea of a trade and co-operation agreement. The EU considers it indispensable that the agreement and political dialogue proceed in parallel. The next round of negotiations on the agreement will take place this week.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council, on 21 October 2002, decided to proceed with a human rights dialogue following a positive recommendation from an exploratory visit by experts at the beginning of that month. The first session of this dialogue took place on 16-17 November 2002, focusing on torture and discrimination, and another session followed on the 14-15 March. There are significant areas of disagreement between the European Union and Iran on this issue but discussions are continuing.
A number of memoranda of understanding exist between Ireland and Iran. The memorandum on the establishment of an Ireland-Iran joint commission on economic, commercial and scientific and technical co-operation was signed in 1990 by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gerard Collins MEP. Four meetings of the joint commission have taken place, the most recent was held in Dublin, 9-10 December 2002. At the conclusion of this meeting a memorandum of understanding was signed outlining areas of future co-operation. A memorandum on further training of Iranian doctors in Ireland was signed in 1993 by the then Minister for Health, Deputy Howlin. A memorandum of understanding on marine matters was signed by the then Minister for Marine, David Andrews in 1994.
A memorandum of understanding between Ireland and Iran on English language training and third level education has been finalised but has not yet been signed. The Minister for the Education and Science, Deputy Dempsey, has been invited to Iran to sign the memorandum.
An air transport agreement between Ireland and Iran was initiated in 1995. The final text was agreed in 1998. The agreement is still to be approved by the Government.