Iran delays France trip over wine
By Jocelyn Noveck
Associated Press Writer
Monday, March 29, 1999
PARIS (AP) -- Wine has always been serious business in France, and
now it appears to be at the center of a serious diplomatic flap.
Iran's President Mohammad Khatami has put off an expected visit to
France next month because the French refuse to cede to Iranian demands
that wine be banned from the table, a source familiar with the discussions
said Monday.
Iranian radio reported earlier Monday that Iran had asked France to
observe ``national and Islamic standards and principles, but no agreement
has been reached on this issue.''
Therefore, the visit ``will not be taking place on the scheduled date,''
Tehran radio said, quoting a statement by Khatami's office.
No date for the visit had ever been formally announced, although it
was widely expected to begin April 12.
The Iranian government insists that women of host countries be dressed
modestly during visits by Iranian officials and that no alcohol be served.
Earlier this month, Khatami made a ground-breaking trip to Italy, the
first state visit to a Western country by an Iranian leader since the 1979
Islamic revolution. The upcoming French trip was seen as another step in
Iran's overall effort to improve ties with the European Union.
No alcohol was served during the Italian visit.
But in France, Foreign Ministry sources said the protocol is clear
when it comes to visiting leaders from the Islamic world: pork is not served,
but wine is, to those who desire it.
``If they do not want to drink it, we of course do not oblige them,
but if we want to drink, we do,'' a ministry source said on condition of
anonymity. ``That is our custom.''
Officials point out there may be other reasons for Iran to consider
postponing the trip, chief among them the fear of protests. Iranian opposition
groups already had announced plans for demonstrations against Khatami,
despite the lack of an official date for the visit.
France and Iran have had rocky ties since the Iranian revolution 20
years ago, which installed the rule of Shiite Muslim clergy.
Relations between the two nations chilled in 1991 when a former Iranian
prime minister turned opposition leader was assassinated in Paris. Shapour
Bakhtiar was one of eight dissidents in France believed killed by Iranian
hit squads.
But lately, France and other European countries have showed an eager
to capitalize, both economically and politically, on signs of a new openness
in Iran.
Last August, French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine traveled to Tehran
in what was the highest-level French visit in seven years.
Khatami, a moderate cleric, has led a drive since his election in May
1997 to temper the image of the Islamic Republic of Iran and bring a measure
of moderation to hard-line policies.
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