Tracking Number: 131051
Title: "No US Talks with Iran on Hostages Going on." (900305)
Author: DYBVIK, RUSSELL E (USIA STAFF WRITER)
Date: 19900305
Text:
*POL110
03/05/90 1Me Re NO U.S. TALKS WITH IRAN ON HOSTAGES GOING ON (750) (U.S. willing to meet with authorized Iranians) By Russell Dybvik and Dian McDonald USIA Staff Correspondents
Washington -- Emphasizing there are no U.S. government talks going on with Iran on the hostage issue, spokesmen at the White House and the State Department declared March 5 that the United States remains ready to talk directly with any "authoritative" individuals about the "immediate, unconditional safe release of the hostages," including Iranians.
White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater reiterated U.S. policy, stressing that the United States has always called "for immediate unconditional safe release of the hostages - - and that means we will keep open lines of communication with all parties, including Iran, who have influence over the hostage-takers."
Asked about possible movement toward the release of the hostages, Fitzwater said, "We cannot say that there is any movement; we know of no imminent release; on the other hand, we do see a spate of stories." He cited recent comments by Iranian President Rafsanjani, which he said are encouraging if they indeed represent an interest in a better relationship with the West.
Asked if the U.S. government has made any effort to contact Iran to offer talks, the spokesman replied: "They are aware of our position, and they are aware that we're ready to talk at any time they are."
At the State Department, spokesman Margaret Tutwiler dismissed "rumors" that negotiations were underway through Syrian officials for the release of Americans being held hostage in Iran, and she noted that President Bush has personally denied other rumors that he and French President Mitterrand have discussed the hostages.
"We have always called for the immediate, unconditional, and safe release of the hostages," Tutwiler reminded reporters. "That means we will keep open lines of communication with all parties, including Iran, who have influence over hostage takers."
Under questioning, Tutwiler also said she was not personally aware of any "designated intermediaries" dealing with Iran on behalf of the United States on the hostage question.
However, neither she nor the State Department could be "held accountable for any number of people who very earnestly, sincerely, might be talking to Iranians concerning hostages," Tutwiler said. This category could include talks between Iranian officials and lawyers hired by the families of hostages, she said.
GE 2 POL110
"We are clearly stating, as clearly as both of us can do, on behalf of the president and the secretary of state that there are no United States government talks going on with Iran," the spokesman declared.
"We have long made clear that improvements in U.S.- Iranian relations cannot come about until Iranian involvement in hostages taking and terrorism is ended," Tutwiler pointed out.
Noting broadcast reports indicating "that the Syrians are somehow doing things" concerning the Americans held hostage in Lebanon, the spokesman pointed out that U.S. embassy officials in Damascus "maintain routine contacts with Syrian officials on the issues of terrorism and hostages.
But "these are not negotiations," she said. "Apart from this, we are not aware of any other discussions that may be taking place in Syria on hostages. There's just been a slew of these rumors in the last eight or nine days," she added.
Asked what she meant by the "unconditional" release of all hostages, the spokesman replied: "Unconditional means that we do not deal for hostages. We do not. The president has said this. It is a very firm policy of this administration -- of our government," Tutwiler declared. "Unconditional refers to dealing for hostages. We don't deal."
Asked about Baker's talks last week with Mike Moore, the minister of external affairs and foreign trade of New Zealand, Tutwiler said they had not discussed the hostage issue. Moore met with Iran's President Hashemi-Rafsanjani shortly before coming to Washington.
Tutwiler pointed out that Moore told reporters that he was "not a messenger" and had no idea how the idea that he might be carrying a message from Iran to the United State got started. "There was absolutely, positively nothing to it," she said.
The spokesman said the Bush administration's offer to talk directly with authorized representatives of the government of Iran is "still out there" and has been since the day President Bush was sworn into office.
When a reporter asked if Iran has taken up that offer, she responded by saying simply: "Apparently not. There are no authorized talks going on." NNNN
File Identification: 03/05/90, PO-110; 03/05/90, EU-109; 03/05/90, NE-120; 03/05/90, NA-107; 03/06/90, NA-202; 03/06/90, AR-212; 03/02/90, EP-226
Product Name: Wireless File
Product
Code: WF
Languages: Arabic
Keywords: IRAN-US RELATIONS/Policy; HOSTAGES/Policy; RAFSANJANI, HOJATOLESLAM HASHEMI
Thematic Codes: 2TE; 1NE
Target
Areas: EU; NE; AR; EA
PDQ Text Link: 131051
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