EU distances itself from Slovenia PM’s remarks at anti-Iran terror group’s event

The EU foreign policy chief says the speech delivered by Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa at a summit organized by the anti-Iran Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) terrorist group does not represent the official position of the 27-nation bloc.

Josep Borrell made the comments in a statement to reporters on Monday, two days after Jansa —whose country holds the rotating EU Council presidency — made a controversial video address to the annual MKO meeting.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh earlier denounced the presence of Western politicians in the virtual event, saying they “sell themselves cheap for a Europe-hosted circus arranged by a once Saddam-backed terrorist cult with Iranian blood on its hands.”

Slovenian Ambassador to Tehran Christina Radi was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, where she was handed over an official letter of protest.

In the letter, Tehran voiced its vehement condemnation of the Slovenian premier's move, while strongly rejecting all baseless allegations leveled against the Islamic Republic during the meeting.

Radi was notified that Jansa’s participation in the virtual meeting organized by a terrorist group that is loathed by the Iranian nation and his groundless remarks run counter to international diplomatic norms and to the spirit of bilateral relations.

The Slovenian ambassador was also reminded that supporting a terrorist group is in violation of the UN Charter, internationally-recognized principles and human rights values.

Iran summons Slovenian envoy over PM’s participation in anti-Iran terrorist group's meeting

Iran summons the Slovenian envoy to Tehran to protest the unacceptable and undiplomatic move by the country’s prime minister in attending a virtual meeting organized by the MKO terrorist group.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a phone call with Borrell asked for a clarification of the EU’s stance regarding the declarations of the Slovenian prime minister.

Borrell said he had told Zarif that “in our institutional setting, the position of a prime minister — even if he’s from the country that holds the rotating Council presidency — does not represent the position of the European Union.”

“Foreign policy remains a competency of [EU] member states and each member state can have the opinion that it sees fit for each issue of international politics. … For me it’s only up to say whether this position [by Jansa] … represents the European Union. And certainly it does not,” he added.

The EU foreign policy chief further stressed that only the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, could represent the EU at the level of heads of state and government.

“I have nothing to say about the opinions of the Slovenian Prime Minister,” Borrell said. “It’s his responsibility, but he does not represent the European Union.”

He also emphasized that Brussels has “a balanced position” on the Islamic Republic “that puts political pressure when it’s considered necessary, in many areas, and at the same time looks for cooperation when it is necessary.”

Additionally on Monday, Slovenia summoned Iran’s ambassador to Ljubljana.

The MKO has conducted numerous assassinations and bombings against Iranian statesmen and civilians since the 1979 victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution. Its members fled Iran in 1986 for Iraq, where they enjoyed backing from former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Out of the nearly 17,000 Iranians killed in terrorist assaults since the Revolution, about 12,000 have fallen victim to the MKO’s acts of terror.

The anti-Iran cult was on the US government’s list of terrorist organizations until 2012. Major European countries, including France, have also removed it from their blacklists.

A few years ago, MKO elements were relocated from their Camp Ashraf in Iraq’s Diyala Province to Camp Hurriyet (Camp Liberty), a former US military base in Baghdad, and later sent to Albania.

MKO terrorists enjoy freedom of activity in the US and Europe, and even hold meetings with European and American officials.

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