On the morning of Wednesday, May 24, 1995, a group of seven members of Parliament gave a joint letter, on behalf of the Italian parliamentary majority, to the President of the Council of Ministers, urging revision of the Italy's policy on Iran.

The honorable representatives Settimi, Cecchi (head of the special committee on joint policies), Malan (secretary of the directorial board of the Parliament and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee), Melandri (head of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee), Giacco, Incorvaia (secretary of the Foreign Affairs Committee), and Boffardi (member of the Foreign Affairs Committee) submitted a statement signed by 317 of their colleagues.

In their joint cover letter, the representatives wrote: "In light of the rapid developments in the political and social situation in Iran, and while the International Community faces serious problems in its hopes for the democratic evolution of the Ira nian regime, we thought of an initiative on behalf of the Italian Parliament condemning the flagrant violations of human rights and continued suppression of popular demonstrations. It also supports the democratic alternative to this regime in its struggle for freedom, peace, and stability in Iran and the region."

The Italian representatives called on the President of the Council of Ministers to step forward to "open a new phase in approaching the regime in power in Tehran."

In the afternoon of Wednesday, May 24, at 2:30 pm, a press conference was held in the press hall of the Parliament where the honorables Settimi, Malan, Incorvaia, Boffardi and Gaiotti were accompanied by the representative of the National Council of Re sistance in Italy. They announced adoption of a statement which was signed for the first time by the majority of the Italian parliamentary representatives.

Among signatories of this statement are representatives D'Alema, Secretary General of the Democratic Left Party and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Bossi, Secretary General of the Northern League and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Be rtinotti, Secretary General of the Communist Revival Party and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Bianchi, President of the Italian Popular Party and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Berlinguer, President of the Progressive Party's parliamen tary group, Crucinelli, head of the Communist Revival group, Di Muccio, Vice President of Forze Italia parliamentary group, Vietti, Vice President of the Moderate Christian Democrats, Bolognese, Whip of the Parliamentary Board of Directors, Selva, Preside nt of the Constitutional Affairs Committee, Maiolo, Head of the Justice Committee, Tremaglia, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Cecchi, Chair of the Special Committee for Joint European policies.

The Honorable Malan emphasized on the need to support the National Council of Resistance. "I also believe that the Iranian Resistance's views on the embargo is completely correct," added Mr. Malan. "We, the Liberal Democrats, will propose a resolution in support of a complete embargo of the Khomeini regime in the first possible opportunity in the Parliament." The Honorable Incorvaia elaborated on the regime's conduct in human rights and state-sponsored terrorism. He underscored the need to consider imposing an embargo on the regime and actively support the Iranian Resistance.

The Honorable Boffardi pointed to the popular uprisings in Iran, particularly the recent demonstrations of Tehranians and elaborated on the recent resolution adopted by the European Parliament. He underlined the need for wide breadth and active solidar ity with the popular uprisings in Iran and the Iranian Resistance. The Honorable Gaiotti spoke on the role of women in the Iranian people's struggle against the mullahs and declared readiness to give them every possible support, including in the Beijing Conference. "We deeply believe in the adoption of the policy of firm ness vis-a-vis the Khomeini regime."

The majority of the Italian Parliament, that is 317 representatives, signed a National Council of Resistance's statement to the United Nations, in which they urged appropriate and necessary measures to counter violations of human rights in Iran.

In a press conference where the officials of all of Italy's political forces and representatives of the Iranian Resistance were present, the failure of some western countries' policy of dialogue with Tehran was discussed.

According to the opponents, suppression of women, religious minorities and political opponents were stepped up after Khomeini's death.

317 members of the Parliament of Italy Sign a Resistance Document Rome- Yesterday in the Parliament, the National Council of Resistance of Iran introduced a statement signed for the first time by 317 members of the Parliament.

In light of the tragic situation of human rights in Iran, the document demands that "the International Community revise its position on the mullahs' regime and the democratic alternative."

Among those addressing this press conference were Gaiotti, Boffardi, and Malan. The signatories included D'Alema, Bossi, Bertinoti and Rusa Berlino.

In this document, the execution of more than 100,000, stoning and hanging and the flagrant violations of human rights particularly of women, also Iran's suspicious involvement in international terrorism was condemned.

Rome - In a press conference today in Monte Citorrio (The Parliament), a statement of the National Council of Resistance which had been signed for the first time by 317 members of the Parliament was presented....

Mohsen Nadi, representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran said: "It is necessary that a firm position be adopted against the Khomeini regime, because the policy of dialogue and appeasement have completely failed. This regime tries to pr olong its survival through a policy of terror and by intimidating foreign countries, particularly in Europe." Nadi concluded, "We must fight the common enemy."

Italian parliamentary representatives: Change of Iran Policy Rome-The majority of representatives in the Parliament signed a statement in which they called on Italy to change the policy it pursues on Iran. The statement puts in prospect the possibility of imposing an embargo on the Tehran regime for its inclination to nuclear arms, violation of human rights, and of terrorist operations against the opponents in Europe. Two years ago, Mohammad Hossein Naghdi, former Ambassador and one of the leaders of the National Council of Resistance was assassinated in Rome.

Sources in Iran - In mid-May, girl students of Tehran University's School of Health staged a picket in front of the Ministry of Health and protested disturbances and harassment on campus by the regime's agents. They demanded security and independence i n their work and education environment.

Students of the University of Technology in Oroumieh, West Azarbaijan Province (northwestern Iran) staged a strike early in May. The provincial governor rushed to the site to prevent the strike from spreading. Latest reports, however, indicate that the situation continues to be tense at the university and students are restless.

At the same time, group of professors and employees of Ferdowsi and Medical Sciences universities in Mashhad (northeastern Iran) staged a demonstration and protested corruption and bribery in the government.

Sources in Iran - Ismael Khalefi, a conscript soldier from the northern city of Babol, committed suicide on May 13, at 2:00 pm, in the courtyard of the headquarters of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He used a G-3 automatic rifle to shoot himself in the che st. Officials tried unsuccessfully to prevent the news from leaking out.

Sources in Iran - Reports from Some'Sara (northern Iran) say body guards of Ehsan-Bakhsh, the Friday prayer leader, clashed in a shooting confrontation last Friday night. One of the body guards was killed and another wounded.

Agence France Presse, May 22 - Iran's Disciplinary Forces shut down 120 shops in various districts of Tehran for violating "Islamic norms and standards," Kayhan newspaper reported Monday.

Most of the shops sold "clothings which did not conform to Islamic norms." The statment said women are not allowed to ride in front of public or private taxi cabs... Sources concurred that the Disciplinary Forces had arrested several dozen women in Tehran for wearing too much make-up or not complying with the Islamic dress-code...

Agence France Presse, May 22 - Tehran press reported that the Iranian Disciplinary Forces closed down some 60 shops in Mashhad for selling goods to nationals of Central Asian countries.

Agence France Presse, May 20- Iran's decision to impose a fix exchange rate for the dollar and forbidding all exchanges made other than in the system of the national Melli Bank, led Saturday to an anarchy in the foreign currency exchange market in Iran .

All official centers (of exchange) in Tehran either practically closed or stopped all dealings until noon. Contrarily, in the Central Bank's vicinity, petty money dealers illegally sold their currency in rates far above what had been officially announc ed.

In the hope of stopping the drop in the value of Rial, the Iranian government announced on Thursday a ban on all exchanges of foreign currency out of the Melli Bank's system and at the rate of 3,000 rials for a dollar. The allowed rate is therefore two fold lower than the free market rate.

"We do not know what we shall do now. No one is willing to sell his foreign currency at the rate decided by the government," one foreign exchange dealer specified in response to the question of AFP reporter. "The true value of dollar is more than 3,00 0 rials and I suppose that from now on, deals will be carried out in secrecy and the free market will turn into a black market."...

Elimination of the free market, announcement of a fix exchange rate of 3,000 rials for a dollar, and compelling the exporters to turn in their foreign currency revenues to the government has stunned many industry and trade owners who import and export goods. One exporter of food stuff said, "Many of the contracts in recent weeks were signed at a 5,000 to 6,000 rials exchange rate. Many of the foreign exchange dealers will lose big wealth if forced to sell their currency to the Central Bank at 3,000 rials."

When asked, an expert commented, "This move will lead to increased rigging, and dealings with forged receipts will take place extensively. There might be tremendous anarchy in the private sector of non-oil exports such as carpets and pistachio."

The increase in the value of dollar and the drop in the value of rial, since the beginning of the New Year, have lead to increasing inflation and two and three fold increase in the prices of basic staples in recent months.

Simultaneous with these measures, officials decided to punish with death sentence the "economic crimes" related to illegal financial dealing.

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