EU demands Iran stop jamming int''l broadcasts

EU demands Iran stop jamming int''l broadcasts

14/11/2012   |   01:57 PM | Gulf News

BRUSSELS, Nov 14 (KUNA) -- The European Union Wednesday accused Iran of jamming broadcast satellites and called on Tehran to stop this "illegal" act. Since 2009, repeated waves of jamming have affected the signals of European satellites in the Middle East, said Michael Mann, the spokesman of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, in a statement here today. "Such jamming, whose origin has been traced to Iran in particular, are hampering the broadcast of international media on Iranian territory. The jamming, notably against BBC, Deutsche Welle, France 24, and Voice of America, has intensified since October 15 and obstructs over 500 TV channels and 200 radio channels," it noted. "This illegal interference with satellite signals is affecting not only broadcasting on Iranian territory, but also international broadcasting to the wider region. The High Representative is highly concerned by such practices," said the statement. Ashton recalled the regulations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which forbids states "to carry out unnecessary transmissions, or the transmission of superfluous signals, or the transmission of false or misleading signals, or the transmission of signals without identification." The High Representative calls on Iran to abide by its obligations under the ITU Radio Regulations and to "cooperate in the detection and elimination of harmful interference," added the statement.(end) nk.wsa KUNA 141357 Nov 12NNNN