H.E. Mr. Javad Kachoueian:

I thank the members for their questions. First, President Rouhani has introduced a charter of citizens' rights in which the rights of all minorities have been mentioned and emphasised. Like other governments, we have a duty to promote human rights in our country. We believe that human rights must be promoted in all countries. Human rights dialogue should be based on mutual respect and can be a universal subject when only human rights are considered rather than political considerations. The people of my country say that those who do not allow the purchase of medicine needed for patients in Iran have no right to comment on human rights. The western attitude towards the human rights issue has become political behaviour and is based on double standards. I have many examples I can show the committee. In respect of the worst violator of human rights in the Middle East, the Israeli regime regularly violates human rights in Palestine. Some of the rules and regulations in our country are based on Islamic law and cannot be changed. We are not happy about the number of executions in Iran. Most capital punishment in Iran is performed in respect of major drug traffickers who are not only a threat to Iran but to the whole world. We could reduce the number of executions by 90% by allowing the transit of drugs into Europe. Until now, more than 4,000 Iranian soldiers were killed by the drug traffickers trying to traffic drugs into Europe from Iran.

Recently, our foreign Minister told EU High Representative Ashton that we are ready to resume dialogue on human rights. We all always ready to talk about human rights with all countries, particularly the EU. Unfortunately, after that, a resolution issue was issued by the European Parliament to postpone this negotiation.