ROME - Seeking to break his country's isolation, President Mohammad Khatami of Iran arrived in Italy on Tuesday for a three-day visit...

Human rights organizations say that even under Khatami's presidency, progress has been slow. The State Department's report on human rights for 1998, which was published last month, agreed. "Systematic abuses included extrajudicial killings and summary executions, disappearances, widespread use of torture and other degrading treatment," the report said.

While Khatami had lunch at the presidential palace on Tuesday, a few miles away more than 3,000 Iranian dissidents and some Italian opposition figures demonstrated to protest his visit. In Amsterdam, seven Iranians briefly occupied the Italian Consulate.

"Khatami is not a moderate, even if he said he is," said Perviz Khazai, who was an ambassador under Khomeini and is a leader in the National Council of Resistance of Iran, an Iranian dissident group, who helped
organize Tuesday's rally in Rome. He cited assassinations of Iranian dissidents abroad and public executions and stonings.

Khazai accused Italy of courting Khatami for its own economic ends. "They should call a spade a spade and say they want to deal with this regime because they want oil," he said.

This accusation was echoed by Italian protesters.

"Khatami made Rome his first visit because Italians are always open to business," said Marco Taradash, an opposition member of Parliament.
 
 

"Business in Exchange For Human Rights...", The Washington Post, March 10

ROME - ... Mohammed Khatemi began the first visit to the West by an Iranian leader in two decades today...

... several thousand Iranian exiles staged a peaceful rally at the Coliseum to protest the visit and demand an end to human rights abuses in Iran. Security was tight throughout the city, and 320 legislators released a joint statement declaring that they oppose the visit out of fear it could help legitimize the political power of hard-line Muslim clerics in Iran.

... Italian conservative legislators, such as Marco Taradash, a member of the opposition Forza Italia party, have accused the government of "giving credit to [Iran] without asking for anything in return . . . . Nothing has changed there as far as human liberties go. We say business, yes -- in exchange for human rights..."

The Clinton administration has made clear it is not enthusiastic about Khatemi's efforts to use his trip as a way of attracting new investment for his cash-strapped nation...

In congressional testimony last month, CIA director George Tenet gave a mixed assessment of Iran's activities since Khatemi's election in 1997... he said that internal conflicts in Iran are becoming sharper and predicted
the country would face more turmoil this year than any time since the 1979 revolution.

Tenet said also that Iran is accelerating its development of a long-range missile and continuing to work on nuclear-related technology. He... declared: "We have yet to see any significant reduction in Iran's support
for terrorism."
 

Paint Thrown at Khatami's Car in Rome, Reuter, March 10

ROME - Italian police detained 13 people on Wednesday for throwing eggs filled with yellow paint at an official car carrying Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, eyewitnesses said.

Three Iranians carrying banners denouncing Khatami's visit were detained earlier near Piazza Venezia.

Opposition figures living abroad allege that nothing has changed in the field of human rights since Khatami came to power 21 months ago and say abuses are still rife.

At a news conference, members of the Iranian Resistance Council said they "regretted" that Italian officials had welcomed Khatami into the country.

"Khatami does not represent the Iranian population and D'Alema's meeting him will not improve the situation of human rights or end terrorism," said Council member Mitra Bagheri.
 

Khatami Cancels His Meeting with Regime's Agents, Iran Zamin News Agency, March 10

A meeting scheduled for Khatami with the regime's agents and operatives in Italy was canceled at the last minute due to concerns over the presence of Mojahedin sympathizers.

The decision was reached after 5,000 Iranians took part, upon the Mojahedin's invitation, in an elaborate demonstration, condemning Khatami's visit to Italy.

In an unprecedented move, yesterday and today, police arrested any Iranian seen near the routes used by Khatami's entourage or around the hotel where he is staying.
 

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