@ MAY 1980
PRESS SERVICE
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VERBATIM SERVICE 044780.
TUESDAY
22ND APRIL 1980
ONDON
FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY EC FOREIGN MINISTERS TODAY 22 APRIL:
DECISION BY THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE NINE ON IRAN
1. THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE NINE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG ON 22 APRIL DISCUSSED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE RECENT EVENTS IN IRAN IN THE LIGHT OF THE REPORTS BY THEIR AMBASSADORS FOLLOWING THE DEMARCHE TO
THE PRESIDENT OF IRAN DECIDED UPON BY THE FOREIGN MINISTERS AT THEIR MEETING IN LISBON ON 10 APRIL.
2. THE FOREIGN MINISTERS EXPRESSED THE SOLIDARITY OF THE NINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES AT THIS TIME OF TRIAL.
3. WHILE WELCOMING THE VISIT BY THE ICRC TO THE HOSTAGES ON
14 APRIL AND NOTING THE ASSURANCES GIVEN BY PRESIDENT BANI SADR AS TO THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE HOSTAGES THE FOREIGN MINISTERS EXPRESSED THEIR PROFOUND REGRET THAT THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GIVE PRECISE ASSURANCES ABOUT THE DATE AND METHODS BY WHICH THE HOSTAGES WOULD BE RELEASED. THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE CLEAR CALL OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE TO BRING TO AN END A FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES.
4. SINCE THE HOSTAGES WERE FIRST DETAINED, THE NINE, IN FULL
RESPECT OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF IRAN AND THE RIGHT OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN FUTURE, HAVE INSISTED THAT THEY MUST BE RELEASED. THE FACT THAT AFTER SIX MONTHS THEY ARE STILL DETAINED, DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF THE NINE AND THE CLEAR CONDEMNATION BY THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS, IS INTOLERABLE FROM A HUMANITARIAN AND LEGAL POINT OF VIEW.
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5. THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE NINE, DEEPLY, CONCERNED THAT
A CONTINUATION OF THIS SITUATION MAY ENDANGER INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY, HAVE DECIDED TO SEEK IMMEDIATE LEGISLATION WHERE NECESSARY IN THEIR NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON IRAN. DATED 10 JANUARY 1980, WHICH WAS VETOED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TENETS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW..
THEY BELIEVE THAT THESE LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY 17 MAY, THE DATE OF THEIR INFORMAL MEETING IN NAPLES. IN THE ABSENCE OF DECISIVE PROGRESS ON THE RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES, THEY WILL THEN PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO THE COMMON IMPLEMENTATION OF SANCTIONS.
MINISTERS CONSIDER THAT, PENDING THE ENTERING INTO FORCE OF THE MEASURES MENTIONED ABOVE, NO NEW EXPORT OR SERVICES CONTRACT WITH PERSONS AND ORGANISATIONS IN IRAN SHOULD BE
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