DATE=9/28/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-239406 TITLE= IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (L-ONLY) BYLINE=ELANIE JOHANSON DATELINE=NEW YORK CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KAMEL KHARAZZI, MONDAY REJECTED AN INVITATION BY THE UNITED STATES TO START A POLITICAL DIALOG AIMED AT NORMALIZING RELATIONS. MR. KHARAZZI SPOKE AT THE ASIA SOCIETY IN NEW YORK. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. TEXT: THE IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THERE IS NO BASIS FOR POLITICAL DIALOG WITH THE UNITED STATES UNLESS WASHINGTON CHANGES ITS BEHAVIOR TOWARD IRAN. MR. KHARAZZI CRITICIZED U-S ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC AND THE CREATION OF U-S GOVERNMENT RADIO STATION HE SAID WAS DEDICATED TO NEGATIVE PROPAGANDA AGAINST IRAN. THE IRANIAN OFFICIAL CONCEDED RECENT REMARKS BY U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT ABOUT CHARTERING A ROAD MAP FOR NORMALIZING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WERE ENCOURAGING. BUT FOREIGN MINISTER KHARAZZI EMPHASIZED ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. ///KHARAZZI ACT/// IT IS EVIDENT THAT PROLONGATION OF OUTDATED BEHAVIOR AND SOLE REALLIANCE ON VARIATION AND VERBIAGE CAN SIMPLY NOT PROVIDE THE NECESSARY BASES FOR A INVITATION TO POLITICAL DIALOG. ///END ACT/// THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S REMARKS IN NEW YORK WAS WIDELY ANTICIPATED AS A FORMAL RESPONSE TO SECRETARY ALBRIGHT'S JUNE 17TH SPEECH TO THE ASIA SOCIETY. MRS. ALBRIGHT HAD MADE CLEAR THAT U-S SANCTIONS ON IRAN WOULD REMAIN IN PLACE AS LONG AS IRAN CONTINUES TO SPONSOR TERRORISM AND TO BUILD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. AT THE SAME TIME SHE SIGNALED THAT WASHINGTON IS VERY INTERESTED IN REPAIRING RELATIONS WITH IRAN. U-S / IRANIAN RELATIONS WERE SEVERED DURING THE 1979 ISLAMIC REVOLUTION WHEN THE IRANIANS SEIZED THE U-S EMBASSY IN TEHRAN AND HELD U-S DIPLOMATS HOSTAGE FOR 444 DAYS. THE IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TOLD HIS NEW YORK AUDIENCE THE CONTINUING RUPTURE HURTS AMERICAN INTEREST. HE NOTED OIL COMPANIES FROM EUROPE, JAPAN, AND CANADA ARE RUSHING TO IRAN FOR EXPLORATION RIGHTS. THE IMPLICATION IS THAT AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES WOULD BE LEFT OUT OF THE FRAY BECAUSE OF CURRENT U-S FOREIGN POLICY. SEVERAL SENIOR STATE OFFICIALS ATTENDED THE ASIA SOCIETY ADDRESS AMONG THEM, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE THOMAS PICKERING. (SIGNED) NEB/WDC-T/PT 28-Sep-98 10:24 PM EDT (0224 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
