U.S. Vice President Emphasizes the Need for Democracy in Iran - 2004-01-24

The U.S. Vice President has urged the conservative leadership of the Islamic Republic to heed the people's demand for the establishment of democracy in Iran. Dick Cheney stated on Saturday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that there is a growing public demand for the expansion of real democracy and the respect for human rights in Iran, and the country's leadership should follow the example of other Middle Eastern countries seeking democracy. Concerns regarding democratic rights in Iran have recently focused on the parliamentary elections scheduled for next month. Mr. Cheney also called on the Islamic Republic to adhere to its commitments to refrain from producing nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, on Saturday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency stated that Iran must halt a larger portion of its research activities related to uranium enrichment, as this material can be used to produce nuclear weapons. Mohamed ElBaradei met with Kamal Kharrazi, Iran's Foreign Minister, on the sidelines of the Davos meeting and afterward told Reuters that a comprehensive action to end uranium enrichment activities would help improve Iran's relations with the international community.