Among the other issues addressed at the session, there were discussions on a recent visit by an EU parliamentary delegation to the Islamic Republic of Iran. At the session which was held in the presence of the members of Iran-EU Parliamentary Relations Commission, EC representatives, EP members, and the head of the MKO, one more time the terrorist nature of that anti-Iranian organization was stressed.
He said the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) exposed the US lies about Iran. Haddad Adel also criticized the EU’s double standard approach to the issue of terrorism. The Iranian official said while the EU claims that it is fighting terrorism, the bloc is citing the misinformation provided by terrorist groups like the Mojahedin Khalq Organization
The MEK continues to operate in Europe with its headquarter in Auver-sur-oise Village in Paris. The MEK refer to its former members as the agents of the Iranian Information Ministry in order to justify its violent attacks. The truth is that the MEK has used this tactic to smear its critics, a well-known practice by almost all violent cults.
The diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been formally announced, said EU governments rejected the group’s arguments that it should be removed from the list. Maryam Rajavi, head of The National Council of Resistance — the Paris-based political wing of the PMOI — condemned the decision.
The EU removed three Italian groups, Nuclei Territoriali Antimperialisti (Anti-Imperialist Territorial Units); Nuclei di Iniziativa Proletaria Rivoluzionaria (Unit for Revolutinonary Proletarian Initiative); Nuclei di Iniziativa Proletaria (Units for Proletarian Initiative) and added the Greek group Epanastatikos Agonas (Revolutionary Struggle).
According to EU sources, the new list which remains unchanged from last December will be published Friday in the EU’s Official Journal. The European Court of Justice last December annulled the decision by the EU to put the MKO on the terror register in 2002.
The Council has made up its mind a few months ago. A letter written by Christoph Heusgen, advisor to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Vice President of European Parliament Vidal-Quatras, states that there has been an unanimous agreement on this issue since last February. In February 2007, the Council reached an agreement that the reasons for the inclusion of Mojahedin in the list still apply.
The EU Council is determined to keep MKO on its terrorist list regardless of Mojahedin-run media advertising exaggerated numbers of European supporters calling its removal from the list. In one instance, Mojahedin claimed that in a petition, 30,000 Canadians demanded from their government ..
The EU claims it has secret evidence that justifies keeping Iran opposition group PMOI on its terrorist register but cannot reveal the content for security reasons, in a situation stoking anger among some MEPs. “The council [EU states secretariat] is not in a position to give you access to other documents in the file, since
Calling it a continuation of appeasement of Iranian regime, MKO condemned the decision taken by the EU and said: “In defiance of EU Court ruling, the EU Council intends to maintain the PMOI on the terror list”. The Council intends to designate MKO because the group has failed to provide any convincing document that would justify its deproscription. Although MKO claims it has forsworn terrorism since June 2001, there are countless evidences that the group was actively plotting and carrying out terrorist operations until 2003 when it was disarmed by the coalition forces in Iraq