DATE=1/7/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-224955 TITLE=KHATAMI-U-S (L) BYLINE=GIL BUTLER DATELINE=WASHINGTON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI HAS CALLED FOR MORE CONTACT BETWEEN THE IRANIAN AND AMERICAN PEOPLE BUT SAID THERE IS NOT YET A NEED FOR A GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT DIALOGUE. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS MORE ON AN INTERVIEW WITH THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT BROADCAST BY THE U-S CABLE NEWS NETWORK. TEXT: PRESIDENT KHATAMI SAID U-S POLICY TOWARD IRAN MUST CHANGE AND TOLD C-N-N REPORTER CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR HE HAS SEEN NO SIGN OF A CHANGE IN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS A REMNANT OF THE COLD WAR. HE DID CALL FOR MORE EXCHANGES OF PROFESSORS, AUTHORS, JOURNALISTS AND TOURISTS. THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUED A STATEMENT FOLLOWNG THE KHATAMI INTERVIEW WELCOMING THE CALL FOR PEOPLE TO PEOPLE DIALOGUE BUT SAYING THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS ISSUES IS FOR THE TWO GOVERNMENTS TO TALK DIRECTLY. THE UNITED STATES WANTS SUCH A DIALOGUE TO INCLUDE WHAT IT SAYS IS IRAN'S SUPPORT OF TERRORISM AND PURSUIT OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AS WELL AS ITS OPPOSITION TO THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT DENIED THAT IRAN SUPORTS INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM SAYING ISLAM FORBIDS KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE. HE ALSO DENIED THAT IRAN IS TRYING TO BECOME A NUCLEAR POWER. BUT HE REPEATED IRANIAN OPPOSITION TO THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE AGREEMENT AND CONDEMNED ISRAEL AS RACIST. /// OPT ///IN HIS LENGTHY INTERVIEW PRESIDENT KHATAMI EXPRESSED GREAT ADMIRATION FOR AMERICAN CIVILIZATION, WHICH HE TRACED BACK TO THE PILGRIMS WHO LANDED AT PLYMOUTH ROCK IN THE EARLY 17TH CENTURY. HE PARTICULARLY PRAISED WHAT HE SAID WAS THEIR RELIGIOUSITY COMBINED WITH LIBERTY./// END OPT /// MR. KHATAMI SAID THE HOSTAGE CRISIS THAT BEGAN IN 1979 WHEN IRANIANS TOOK OVER THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN TEHRAN SHOULD BE ANALYZED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TIMES. HE EXPRESSED REGRET THAT WHAT HE CALLED THE FEELINGS OF THE GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE HURT BY THE HOSTAGE TAKING. HE ASCRIBED THE EVENT TO REVOLUTIONARY FERVOR AND SAID THERE IS NOW NO NEED FOR WHAT CALLED "UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS". MOHAMMAD KHATAMI IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS MORE MODERATE THAN MANY IRANIAN LEADERS AND HE IS BELIEVED TO FACE OPPOSITION TO HIS SIGNALS TO AMERICA. IN HIS INTERVIEW HE SAID OPPOSITION IS NATURAL AND, IN HIS WORDS, THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT AS IRAN TRIES TO MOVE TOWARD AN ORDERLY SOCIETY WHERE LOGIC REIGNS.(SIGNED) NEB/MGB/PT 07-Jan-98 8:11 PM EST (0111 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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