Oslo: Call for a Firm Policy on Tehran and Immediate Action to Protect Iranian Exiles in Iraq

OSLO, February 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

In two days of conferences in Oslo, Norway, members of the Iranian Diaspora from all the Nordic countries and international dignitaries discussed subjects of interest to them and the world community: Iran's nuclear ambitions, President Hassan Rouhani's human rights record, Iran's meddling in Syria, the status of Iranian refugees in Iraq.

Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), who resides in Paris and was in Oslo upon the invitation of Norwegian parliamentarians, was the keynote speaker of the two events.

Rajavi maintained that Tehran retreated one step from its efforts to attain nuclear weapons only because of social and international pressure. She emphasized that only through a decisive policy by the international community, including tougher sanctions, implementing Security Council resolutions and the additional Protocol, snap inspections and shutting down all of the regime's nuclear sites could one prevent the terrorists ruling Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

While addressing the immediate threats to Camp Liberty, Iraq, Mrs. Rajavi called for immediate action to ensure the protection and security of the residents, who are protected persons under the Geneva Conventions. This said was indispensable to avert the occurrence of humanitarian catastrophe.

Nearly 3,000 members of the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) reside in Camp Liberty. They are in constant fear of more attacks by the government of Nouri al-Maliki acting at the behest of Tehran.

The conferences came on the heels of the interim nuclear agreement of the P5+1 with the Iranian regime, and as the clock is ticking on talks by the same parties to achieve a comprehensive agreement on the regime's nuclear weapons program in 2014; a serious concern for the international community. The issue of Iran and policy vis-a vis the regime has evolved into a focal and immediate issue for the international community.

The meetings also came in the wake of a United Nations report that at least 80 people and perhaps as many as 95 have been executed in Iran already this year, a surge in the use of the death penalty that has dampened hopes for human rights reforms under President Hassan Rouhani.

Speakers at the Monday Oslo conference that was held in the prestigious Nobel Institute, included former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Senator Edward Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy; Kjell Magne Bondevik, the former Prime Minister of Norway,  Geir Haarde, former prime minister of Iceland; Norwegian politicians from various political parties; and Kimmo Sasi, senior member of Parliament from Finland.

The Tuesday event was the first convention of Iranian communities in the Nordic countries.

Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York and the former Presidential candidate, was among the dignitaries who addressed the convention.

In addition to delegates from Iranian communities of the Nordic countries, Christian Norheim, Norwegian lawmaker, and Juku-Kalle Raid, member of parliament from Estonia were some other speakers.