During Ireland's Presidency of the EU we have continued with the negotiations with Iran during the last three Presidencies on this issue and have worked to arrive at a satisfactory resolution with the Iranian Government. While some progress has been made and Iran now understands the EU's position better than ever, we have not reached the stage where we could claim there has been any breakthrough. As Presidency, we have also availed of other opportunities to raise the issues — for example, the critical dialogue session which took place here on 29 November provided an opportunity for us to put forward the Union's view to the Iranian side in a full and frank way.
The meeting in New York in September with Foreign Minister Velayati focused predominantly on other aspects of EU-Iran relations. However, I know from the meetings I have had with Foreign Minister Velayati over the past three years that he remains fully aware of our concerns on the matter and the priority we attach to it. The Government also regularly raises the matter in our bilateral contacts with the Iranian authorities, such as during the visit of the Speaker of the Parliament, Natek Nouri, to Dublin in November of last year. More recently I raised the question with Deputy Speaker Rohani during his visit last month.
I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Rushdie in Dublin yesterday. He naturally remains extremely concerned at the continuing threat to his safety posed by the fatwa. I reiterated to him the European Union's firm view that it was unacceptable that a threat is made against the life of an EU citizen in this way and that the fatwa remained an obstacle to the development of relations between the EU and Iran. I stressed to him Ireland's and the Union's commitment to the pursuit of a resolution of the issue through negotiations with Iran. I hope that if it remains impossible to resolve the matter during the remainder of the Irish Presidency the work we have done will help bring a solution closer during the Dutch Presidency.