Vital Perspective

Iranian Umbrella Opposition Which Includes Terror Group Welcomed in Belgium

The Belgain Senate welcomed Maryam Rajavi, President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran to its chambers late last week. The group is an umbrella coalition of which Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK) - which is baned in Iran and considered a terrorist group by the EU and U.S. - is an active member.

"We are not receiving you officially, but nonetheless with great interest in what you represent," said Senate president Anne-Marie Lizin upon greeting Rajavi. "I really respect the fight that you are waging, which is very hard. We hope that you will become someone of importance in your country," she added.

On Sunday, Belgium's ambassador to Iran was summoned by the Iranian foreign ministry in a sign of protest against the visit, said Belgian diplomatic spokesman Karel De Gucht. "We explained that in Belgium, there is a separation between powers and that the senators can issue invitations," he said.

Chirac Defends UNIFIL Stance, Contradicts Defense Min.; Belgium Contributes

French President Jacques Chirac on Friday vigorously defended initial French reluctance to provide a large contingent for the UNIFIL force, saying the deployment of 15,000 peacekeepers there would be excessive. This is very interesting. Perhaps Chirac should have a conversation with his Minister of Defense.

Back on August 2, the New York Times wrote that: "France's defense minister, Michele Alliot-Marie, said in an interview published Tuesday that any international force should have 15,000 to 20,000 troops, far larger than the current United Nations force posted there, and have rules of engagement that would permit its soldiers to open fire when necessary."

Chirac said he had swiftly doubled French troops in Lebanon to 400 but would have been attacked as a "mad dog" had he authorised higher numbers without first gaining clear assurances about their mission and right to self-defense. "My feeling is that the figure that was given at the beginning, of 15,000, ... is a figure that is completely excessive," Chirac told a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Also in the news, Belgian PM Guy Verhofstadt has announced he will send an initial 302 troops for UNIFIL, and that the number will later rise to 394. EU foreign ministers are to hold an emergency meeting on raising troops for the force later today.