Iran Envoy: Eutelsat Move Illegal, Obvious Breaching Of Bilateral Pacts

Paris, Oct 27, IRNA – Iran's Envoy to Paris Ali Ahani said here that the Eutelsat’s unilateral move in cutting off entire Iranian radio-TV networks programs from its satellites broadcasters is “contrary to contract terms, and obvious breaching of bilateral pacts.” Ali Ahani made the comment on Thursday evening in a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat SA Michel de Rosen, reflecting the Iranian state officials’ objection to the move. Ahani said, “The Eutelsat Company’s move has been made in accordance with an unjustifiable interpretation of the political ramifications of the European Union against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and is obvious breaching of the signed bilateral pacts. He reiterated, “This unilateral move of the Eutelsat equals depriving millions of listeners and watchers of the various radio-TV networks of the Islamic Republic of Iran around the globe of their favorite programs, obvious violation of the human rights and those international conventions that emphasize freedom of speech and free access to news and information.” Ahani meanwhile considered the Eutelsat’s cutting off of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) radio-TV networks (19 channels altogether) is obvious breaching of the equal right of entire world countries in taking advantage of the earth atmosphere, stressing, “This decision needs to be reviewed and given a second thought.” Ahani meanwhile in the meeting spoke about some western countries’ resorting to illegitimate means aimed at imposing pressure against media and communication companies in order to proceed with their political objectives and to control and sensor the media atmosphere, which is according to him “unacceptable and unjustifiable.” The French bureau of the European satellite provider Eutelsat SA in a unilateral move, and under such conditions that nine years of its service offering contract to the IRIB still remains unoffered, halted dispatching the programs of 19 IRIB radio-television channels last week. Although the Eutelsat has issued a communiqué, announcing that the move has been in accordance with a request made by the EU Parliament and in line with the international sanctions imposed against Iran’s nuclear program, but some independent French media have declared that the radio-TV networks should not be subjected to these sanctions, and the move made by the French Supreme Audiovisual Council is to further please the Zionists. The Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat SA Michel de Rosen in the meeting presented some explanation about the process of adopting this decision. Ahani further elaborated on some of the contradictions existing in the ratifications of the EU Parliament with the international conventions and contracts, ruled out the authenticity of the French Supreme Audiovisual Council’s respective order on stopping broadcasting of IRIB programs, and asked for ending the illegally imposed restrictions. On October 18, European satellite provider EEutelsat SA stopped the broadcast of several Iranian satellite channels on the order of the European Commission./end