The European Union was divided over calls to sponsor...

The European Union was divided over calls to sponsor a UN resolution condemning Iran's human rights record. Instead foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg agreed that officials from both sides would hold talks on the human rights situation in the country.
The 15-nation bloc voiced concern about violations of the right to freedom of expression and association in Iran and "systematic discrimination" against women, girls and minorities.
But the ministers were split on whether to push for a censure resolution at the United Nations, something demanded by a crowd of more than 1,000 flag-waving demonstrators outside their conference hall.
An EU diplomat said the Netherlands, backed by Ireland and Britain, were in favour of a resolution but others argued that direct engagement with Tehran would be more effective.
"We're giving them a chance with this dialogue," said Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller, whose country currently holds the presidency of the EU.
The ministers agreed that the first meeting would take place in Tehran in December and would discuss discrimination and the prevention of torture. It said both sides had agreed there would be no pre-conditions, that all human rights issues could be discussed and that each party could halt the talks at any time.
Several EU states were dismayed earlier in 2002 by US President George W. Bush's decision to bracket Iran in an "axis of evil" with Iraq and North Korea. The EU is working towards a Trade and Cooperation Agreement with Iran and diplomats said the human rights dialogue would link into that process.
Outside the conference hall, demonstrators chanted and held placards reading: "We urge the EU to present a strong resolution to condemn stoning in Iran."
Firouz Mahvi, a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, told Reuters that the number of executions had soared in the country since the UN Human Rights Commission's failure to adopt a resolution condemning human rights violations earlier in 2002.
"The EU wants dialogue, but this has the reverse effect as Iran feels that it is only interested in economic interests and not human rights," he said. "We believe nothing would be gained by this kind of dialogue."