DATE=4/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229713
TITLE=V-O-A / IRAN BROADCASTS (L)
BYLINE=VALONDA BRUINTON
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT SUPPORTS INCREASED FARSI
LANGUAGE BROADCASTS BY THE VOICE OF AMERICA AS A WAY TO ENRICH
POLITICAL DEBATE IN IRAN, AND DOES NOT PLAN TO USE A PROPOSED NEW
SERVICE TO BEAM ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA INTO THE COUNTRY.
V-O-A'S VALONDA BRUINTON HAS MORE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
TEXT: SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS A REPORT (IN THE NEW YORK
TIMES) THAT A PROPOSED PERSIAN LANGUAGE RADIO SERVICE WOULD BEAM
ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA INTO IRAN IS FALSE. HE SAID THE
SERVICE WOULD PROVIDE MORE DETAILED FACTUAL REPORTING ON
POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING THE
COUNTRY.
THE U-S CONGRESS MANDATED THE RADIO SERVICE IN LEGISLATION LAST
YEAR BUT MR. RUBIN SAID THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND CONGRESS
DISAGREE ON HOW TO PROCEED.
/// RUBIN ACT ///
WE ARE NOW ENGAGED IN A DISCUSSION WITH THEM (CONGRESS) ABOUT
WHAT THE BEST APPROACH TO THIS IS BUT OUR STRONG BELIEF IS THAT
THE BETTER COURSE IS TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON VOICE OF AMERICA
BROADCASTS, NOT SURROGATE BROADCASTING.
/// END ACT ///
THE UNITED STATES HAS HAD A HOSTILE RELATIONSHIP TOWARD IRAN
SINCE IRAN'S REVOLUTION IN 1979. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
ARGUED AGAINST THE CREATION OF A NEW PERSIAN LANGUAGE STATION
BECAUSE IT FELT THIS MIGHT UPSET IRAN AT A TIME WHEN RELATIONS
ARE IMPROVING. IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI SUGGESTED IN
JANUARY THE TWO COUNTRIES HOLD CULTURAL EXCHANGES AS A WAY TO
BREAK DOWN DECADES OF MISTRUST.
MR. RUBIN SAID HE DID NOT WANT THE CURRENT NEWS ABOUT THE
PROPOSED STATION TO BE MISINTERPRETED AS AN ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE
THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE STATE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE
DISCUSSIONS WITH CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION APPOINTED
BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS ON THE MATTER. (SIGNED)
NEB/VB/WDC/PT
15-Apr-98 5:10 PM EDT (2110 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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