IRANIAN DISSIDENT LEAVES FRANCE UNDER PRESSURE
IRANIAN DISSIDENT LEAVES FRANCE UNDER PRESSURE
Special to the New York Times
New York Times
June 8, 1986
An Iranian opposition leader left France under Government pressure today in a move apparently intended to improve French relations with Iran and speed the release of French hostages held in Lebanon.
The opposition leader, Massoud Rajavi, head of the Iranian People's Mujahedeen, his wife and three companions were taken under police escort from their heavily guarded headquarters near Paris and put on a private plane for an unannounced destination.
Later, the People's Mujahedeen issued a statement in London saying that Mr. Rajavi had arrived in Baghdad and was greeted by Iraqi leaders.
French officials said Mr. Rajavi, who fled Iran in 1981, had left France voluntarily and had not been expelled.
But a Foreign Ministry spokesman recalled that the new French Government of Prime Minister Jacques Chirac had stated that it sought to restore normal relations with Iran and had criticized what it called excesses committed by exiled Iranian refugees.
Mr. Rajavi's departure is the latest of several gestures made by France to Iran in a bid to improve relations.
The French Government has made it clear that it hopes Iran will use its influence to gain the release of nine French hostages held in Lebanon.
Last month France opened negotiations with Iran to resolve several disputes, including repayment of a $1.3 billion Iranian loan to France.
Iran's Deputy Prime Minister, Ali Reza Moayeri, on a visit to Paris last month at the head of a large delegation, said repayment of the loan was one of three conditions for improved relations. The others are extradition of Iranian opposition leaders living in France and an end to French arms deliveries to Iraq, which has been at war with Iran for six years.
Prime Minister Chirac subsequently said France would not send exiled opposition leaders back to Iran, but he warned them to keep out of Iranian politics while they are here. He also refused to end France's close political and military ties with Baghdad.
Since 1981 the People's Mujahedeen has operated an underground resistance movement inside Iran and a worldwide publicity campaign from its headquarters in the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, near Paris.
French officials say many members of the movement have left France in the last few weeks. There has been speculation that the group will set up a new headquarters in Jordan or Iraq. Another prominent opposition leader, former President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, who fled Iran with Mr. Rajavi but subsequently quarreled with him, remains in exile in France. Today Mr. Bani-Sadr said he did not expect to be asked to leave.
An Iranian opposition leader left France under Government pressure today in a move apparently intended to improve French relations with Iran and speed the release of French hostages held in Lebanon.
The opposition leader, Massoud Rajavi, head of the Iranian People's Mujahedeen, his wife and three companions were taken under police escort from their heavily guarded headquarters near Paris and put on a private plane for an unannounced destination.
Later, the People's Mujahedeen issued a statement in London saying that Mr. Rajavi had arrived in Baghdad and was greeted by Iraqi leaders.
French officials said Mr. Rajavi, who fled Iran in 1981, had left France voluntarily and had not been expelled.
But a Foreign Ministry spokesman recalled that the new French Government of Prime Minister Jacques Chirac had stated that it sought to restore normal relations with Iran and had criticized what it called excesses committed by exiled Iranian refugees.
Mr. Rajavi's departure is the latest of several gestures made by France to Iran in a bid to improve relations.
The French Government has made it clear that it hopes Iran will use its influence to gain the release of nine French hostages held in Lebanon.
Last month France opened negotiations with Iran to resolve several disputes, including repayment of a $1.3 billion Iranian loan to France.
Iran's Deputy Prime Minister, Ali Reza Moayeri, on a visit to Paris last month at the head of a large delegation, said repayment of the loan was one of three conditions for improved relations. The others are extradition of Iranian opposition leaders living in France and an end to French arms deliveries to Iraq, which has been at war with Iran for six years.
Prime Minister Chirac subsequently said France would not send exiled opposition leaders back to Iran, but he warned them to keep out of Iranian politics while they are here. He also refused to end France's close political and military ties with Baghdad.
Since 1981 the People's Mujahedeen has operated an underground resistance movement inside Iran and a worldwide publicity campaign from its headquarters in the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, near Paris.
French officials say many members of the movement have left France in the last few weeks. There has been speculation that the group will set up a new headquarters in Jordan or Iraq. Another prominent opposition leader, former President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, who fled Iran with Mr. Rajavi but subsequently quarreled with him, remains in exile in France. Today Mr. Bani-Sadr said he did not expect to be asked to leave.
posted by About MEK @ 2:47 AM
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