Following letter was sent to the General Secretary of the European Union and to all Permanent Representatives of EU countries in the EU Commission.
Please forward it to your friends, and contact us if you need EU contact addresses.
Thanks,
———
Javier Solana
Secretary General of the European Union
March 4, 2009
His Excellency:
There are disturbing reports that the European Union in dispute with the Iranian government over its uranium enrichment activities, is considering to include Sharif University of Technology (SUT), a prestigious Iranian University, in a new list of sanctions against Iran
European countries have always respected academic freedom and free scientific exchanges. Even the Sanction laws of the United States which started the economic sanctions against Iran, exclude scientific exchanges with Iran.
Just recently delegates of the US National Academy of Sciences and seven presidents of top US universities visited Sharif University of Technology and were highly impressed with the quality of its research and education, as reflected in their very positive report.
The graduates of SUT who have continued their education abroad have consistently demonstrated their ability to make fundamental contributions to the advancement of science and technology relevant to their fields of specialty. Graduates of Sharif University are among the top graduate students in the best academic departments around the world. Some Universities, like Stanford in the United States, often accept Sharif University graduates without any preconditions. Preventing these individuals who are capable of making fundamental contributions to the betterment of mankind is a severe damage to the advancement of international science and technology.
Unfortunately there have also been rumors that Sharif University of Technology is among the designated targets for a military attack against Iran. We are afraid that if the European Union decides to include Sharif University in the sanction list, then it might be considered as a justification for attacking an institution of higher education.
Europe and Iran have historical and cultural ties. Iranian universities have always valued their contacts and interactions with European colleagues and universities. We hope that this valuable relationship will not be jeopardized due to some transitional political issues.
Fredun Hojabri,
Professor & former Academic Vice-President of Sharif (Aryamehr) University of Technology,
California, USA
Prof. Fazlollah Reza
Former Chancellor of Sharif (Aryamehr) University of Technology
President and founder of Iranian Academic Association of North America
Ottawa, Canada
Prof. Farhang Mehr
Former Chancellor of Shiraz University
California, USA
Mehdi Zarghamee
Professor & former chancellor of Sharif (Aryamehr) University of Technology
Massachusetts, USA
Prof. Alireza Mehran
Former Chancellor of Sharif (Aryamehr) University of Technology
Montreal, Canada
Mohammad Amin
Professor of Sharif university of Technology
Former Chancellor of Isfahan University of Technology
Illinois, USA
Heybatollah Khakzar
Professor of Sharif (Aryamehr) University of Technology,
Former President of University of Science and Technology
Stuttgart, Germany
Farhad Riahi
Professor & former Academic Vice-president of Sharif (Aryamehr) university of Technology,
President of Bu-Ali Sina University
Massachusetts, USA
Bijan Aalami
Professor & former Vice-president for Research, Sharif (Aryamehr) University of Technology, President of Taavonie Roustaee University
California, USA
Morteza Anvari
Professor of Sharif University of Technology
Former President of College of Computer & Management
Illinois, USA
Farideh Tehrani, Ph. D.,
Associate Director Libraries,
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
President of Shiraz University Association (SUA)
New Jersey, USA
