Lawmakers from 15 countries —including 225 Americans— have signed statements supporting the Iranian opposition's umbrella organization, whose largest faction has been declared a terrorist group by the United States.

Several of the 2,000 lawmakers said they were surprised Wednesday at Washington's action against a group that they argue is fighting to end Iranian repression at home and terrorism abroad -- and to institute democratic government and human rights.

One of them, Lennart Frieden of Sweden's Liberal Party, said he believes the Clinton administration has softened its position against dictatorial regimes in Iran, China and elsewhere to promote U.S. trade.

"That's the sad thing -- you start with good principles and good foreign policy, and you end up with a trade policy and no ethical principles," he said.

Support from the lawmakers for a global initiative against Iran's Islamic government was announced at a seminar sponsored by the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, an umbrella body uniting Iran's diverse opposition groups….

Mohammad Mohaddessin, chairman of the National Council's foreign affairs committee, said the 2,000 parliamentarians who support the Iranian resistance "have shown that principles come before trade."

Support for the National Council's campaign against Iran came from more than half the lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as from Britain's House of Commons and parliaments in Italy, Norway, Switzerland and Luxembourg, British Labor Party lawmaker Jeremy Corbett said.

Lawmakers from Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, France, Belgium, Egypt and Jordan also backed the campaign, along with deputies from the Palestinian Authority and the European Parliament.

Western Parliamentarians Urge Tougher Policy on Iran, Reuter, October 29 

A group of parliamentarians from Europe and the Middle East called on Wednesday for the West to adopt a tougher policy towards Iran because of its human rights record.

The MPs —from Britain, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg, and Jordan— also gave their backing to the exiled Iranian National Council of Resistance (NCR) in its efforts to overthrow the government in Tehran….

The MPs said they could not detect any change in the nature of the Iranian government since the election of President Mohammad Khatami five months ago, despite his being put forward as being a moderate….

Lannart Friden, a member of the Swedish parliament, said a policy of "silent diplomacy" was having no effect in bringing about change in Iran. Decisive actions was needed in support of the NCR….

In Washington on Tuesday a majority of House of Representative members sent a statement to President Bill Clinton rejecting any rapprochement with the Iranian government and supporting the exiled opposition.

Last week, about 250 members of the European Parliament urged the EU to keep its ambassadors out of Iran, back the opposition and prevent Tehran obtaining nuclear weapons….

2,000 Parliamentarians from 16 Countries Call for Support for Iranian Resistance, Iran Zamin News Agency, October 29 

2,000 members of parliament from Europe, the United States and the Middle East issued declarations emphasizing the need to adopt "a decisive policy" against the Iranian regime and support the National Council of Resistance and its President-elect, Maryam Rajavi. The initiative was made public at an international seminar today in London.

In a message to the seminar, Mrs. Rajavi said: "That 2,000 elected representatives of hundreds of millions of people in Europe and the United States have underscored the need to reject placating policies, to adopt a firm approach against the clerical regime and to support the Iranian Resistance, reflects the aware and enlightened conscience and the resolve of the people around the globe and their elected representatives to defend human rights and democracy."

2000 European Lawmakers Call for Tougher Policy on Iran, Voice of America, October 29 

About two-thousand European lawmakers have signed a Statement calling on the European union to harden its position on Iran.

For almost five years now, the European union has been engaged in what policy makers call "a critical dialogue" with Iran….

However British lawmaker Robin Corbett —one of the signers of the statement— says the so-called "critical dialogue" with Iran has achieved nothing.

[Parliament member Robin Corbett Says:] "This is a regime which sponsors terrorism abroad and totally ignores human rights at home. And we are calling now for a trade and arms embargo on Iran to prevent the regime from engaging in terrorism worldwide and for suppressing its own people…."…

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