TEHRAN (FNA)- Controversy has grown much among Iranian politicians around how to deal with the disrespectful behavior shown by Head of the European parliament's Delegation for Relations with Iran Tarja Cronberg during her recent meeting with Chairman of Irans Expediency Council (EC) Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.The European Parliaments delegation arrived in Tehran last Friday to confer with senior Iranian officials on ways to deepen bilateral ties in various arenas.
During a meeting with Hashemi Rafsanjani on December 17, Cronberg who headed the EP delegation rejected to stand up in respect when Rafsanjani, a former two-time president and parliament speaker and a globally-renowned politician, entered the room, while other members of the delegation, including the female EP delegates showed a completely different attitude and stood for him in respect.
A female member of the EU parliamentary delegation later told BBC that European women shake hands with men to show their respect, a move which is forbidden in Iran (as it is in violation of Islamic laws) and therefore they couldnt shake hands with the Iranian officials, including Hashemi Rafsanjani.This is while international protocols and even the trainings in the centers which teach western culture and diplomacy all underline that women, like the men, should also stand up to show respect for a foreign dignitary.
Also the footages taken from the meeting between Hashemi Rafsanjani and Cronberg show that while the head of the European delegation insists on sitting on her seat when the EC chairman enters the room, the other three women accompanying her stood up to show respect.
Scrutinized watching of the footages also shows that Cronberg seems to be willing to stand up and even makes a first move to do so when Hashemi Rafsanjani arrives at the meeting, but she suddenly changes her decision as a male member of the delegation notifies her to do something which is not discernable in the video. Did he order her to stop standing? You may find it for yourself as you watch the photos and video below.
By Fars News Agency
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
