News reached TehranReview that the Dutch think thank Clingendael is promoting the Ahmadinejad government. An Iranian academic who lives in exile because of his involvement with the Green Movement sent us a letter about this, revealing that Clingendael has shamelessly invited some representatives of the Iranian government. Clingendael calls itself “a knowledge institute for international relations. In a constantly changing global environment, Clingendael acts as a think-tank as well as a diplomatic academy in order to identify and analyze emerging political and social developments for the benefit of government and the general public.”

We here publish part of the letter that was sent to us by the Iranian academic, who wishes to stay anonymous:
. . .
Please take a look at this. This is shameful indeed. I think we all have to try not to let this sort of events take place in Europe. This is not about him on his own personal capacity as a certain Mr Khoramshad. He is invited as the deputy foreign minister for education and research. This flyer is circulated just one day after the Iranian Ministry of science, technology and research publicly and explicitly threatened the university lecturers and students, as well as the universities in general, that if they don’t comply with whatever the leader commands, they will be ruined; if the universities don’t agree with what the leader says, they will be better off being destroyed. These are exactly his very words. Add to this their announced and employed policies of recent months suppressing the academic sphere.
To me inviting officials from Iran by this outstanding organization in Europe and giving them the opportunity of delivering speeches, particularly along with the ambassador, is at odds with the announced policies of the EU regarding democracy and human rights in Iran. Yes, it could reflect those policies if and only if they were invited to critical dialogue. But look at this invitation. Do you see any sign of critical stuff? Instead, it’s replete with the opposite.
You and I well know how Ahmadinejad’s circle is starving for this sort of show-offs in international arenas, particularly in the West, to wash their hands off the crimes they’ve committed and to return back gradually their lost legitimacy worldwide. But what I can’t understand is why Clingendael does need to invite them.

This is the invitation letter that was sent by Clingendael Institute:

Invitation letter Clingendael:
Clingendael, August 31, 2010
Your Excellency, Dear Madam/ Sir,

The Netherlands Institute of International Relations “Clingendael” and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran are pleased to invite you to an address which will be presented by the Deputy Foreign Minister for Education and Research of Iran, H.E. Prof. Mohammad Bagher Khoramshad on September 17 at the Clingendael Institute. The lecture is entitled

“Latest developments in the relation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Europe”

Prof. Khoramshad studied Islamic Studies and Political Science at the Imam Sadeq University, as well as Comparative Politics at the Political Studies Institute in Lyon, France.
He obtained his PhD in Political Sociology at the University of Lyon 2 in France.
Since 1998 he is Associate Professor with the Faculty of Law and Political Science at Allameh Tababi’s University.
Prof. Khoramshad is Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Education and Research since October 2009.

If you wish to attend the lecture and the ensuing discussion, you are kindly requested to register by email with the External Affairs Office of the Clingendael Institute, att. Mrs. Carla Veltkamp (email: cveltkamp@clingendael.nl).

The official programme will start at 16.00 hrs. The conference room will be open from 15.30 hrs on. After the lecture refreshments will be served.
We hope to welcome you at the Clingendael Institute on September 17.

H.E. Mr. K. Gharib Abadi Prof. Jaap W. de Zwaan
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic Director
of Iran in the Netherlands the Clingendael Institute

Mrs. Carla Veltkamp
External Affairs Office (tue/wed/thurs)
The Clingendael Institute
Tel: +31 (0)70 3746633
Fax: +31 (0)70 3282002
E-mail: cveltkamp@clingendael.nl
www.clingendael.nl