DATE= 9/30/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-220653
TITLE=ALBRIGHT IRAN (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS EXPRESSING
FRUSTRATION WITH FRANCE AND RUSSIA AMONG THE COUNTRIES CONDUCTING
BUSINESS WITH IRAN DESPITE AMERICAN SANCTIONS AGAINST THAT
COUNTRY. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NEW
YORK WHERE THE SECRETARY OF STATE SPOKE (TUESDAY) TO THE COUNCIL
ON FOREIGN RELATIONS.
TEXT: THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT DECIDED WHETHER THE FRENCH OIL
FIRM TOTAL'S BUSINESS INVESTMENT IN IRAN VIOLATES AMERICAN
SANCTIONS OR WHETHER THOSE SANCTIONS WILL HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE
FIRM IF THEY ARE INVOKED.
SPEAKING TO THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, THE SECRETARY OF
STATE ACKNOWLEDGES FRANCE AND RUSSIA ARE AMONG THE COUNTRIES
DECIDING TO DO BUSINESS WITH IRAN EVEN THOUGH THE UNITED STATES
CONSIDERS THAT GOVERNMENT TO BE A ROGUE STATE PURSUING NUCLEAR
WEAPONS.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
I DO FEEL FRUSTRATED IN OUR ABILITY TO PERSUADE OTHER
COUNTRIES OF OUR VIEW ABOUT THE ROGUE STATES. I WILL
ADMIT THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER INTERESTS IN OTHER
COUNTRIES THAT SEEM TO PREVAIL OVER WHAT WE BELIEVE IS
AN IMPORTANT INTEREST WHICH IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
IRAN, OR OTHER ROGUE STATES, DO NOT ACQUIRE WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION THAT ARE DE-STABILIZING.
/// END ACT ///
THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE AMERICAN
POWER TO PERSUADE OTHER GOVERNMENTS. SHE SAYS THERE IS NO
FLEXIBILITY TO USE AMERICAN ASSISTANCE AS A LEVER ON FRANCE. SHE
COMPLAINS THE FRENCH ARE PUMPING MONEY INTO IRAN'S SYSTEM THAT
SHE SAYS IS NOT HELPFUL TO THE REST OF US.
AT THE SAME TIME, SHE OBJECTS TO CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS TO PUNISH
RUSSIA BY CUTTING OFF AMERICAN AID.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
I AM VERY CONCERNED, HOWEVER, THAT IN CONGRESS THERE
SEEMS TO BE A THOUGHT THAT WE OUGHT TO CUT OFF
ASSISTANCE TO RUSSIA TO PUNISH THEM FOR WHAT IS
POTENTIALLY THE TRANSFER OF THIS (NUCLEAR) TECHNOLOGY. I
WOULD HOPE THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE WE WOULD BE
CUTTING OFF OUR NOSE TO SPITE OUR FACE BECAUSE THAT
(AID) IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO HELP THE REFORMERS.
/// /END ACT ///
THE UNITED STATES HAS SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN FOR ITS NUCLEAR
WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT, FOR SUPPORTING TERRORISM AND FOR UNDERMINING
THE MIDDLEEAST PEACE PROCESS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE TELLS THE
NEW YORK COUNCIL, THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF MOHAMMED KHATEMI HAS NOT
PRODUCED ANY CHANGES OF INTEREST TO THE UNITED STATES.
///ALBRIGHT ACT///
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING ON IT BECAUSE WHILE THE
ELECTION OF KHATEMI IS INTRIGUING, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY
CHANGE IN ACTION ON THOSE KEY THREE POINTS.
///END ACT//////
/// REST OPT ///
IN HER OTHER REMARKS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE DEFENDED AMERICAN
ENGAGEMENT WITH CHINA DESPITE THE CRACKDOWN ON HUMAN RIGHTS. SHE
SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS WAITING FOR SOME PROGRESS AT
THE SUMMIT MEETING IN LATE OCTOBER WHEN PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN
VISITS PRESIDENT CLINTON. MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS SHE HAS ASKED CHINA
TO PAY THREE OR FOUR PERCENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS BUDGET INSTEAD
OF THE ONE PERCENT IT CURRENTLY PAYS. THE INCREASE WOULD HELP THE
UNITED STATES REDUCE ITS SHARE OF THE UNITED NATIONS BUDGET FROM
25 TO 20 PERCENT. THE SECRETARY OF STATE POINTS OUT CHINA HAS THE
ABILITY TO PAY MORE THAN THE AFRICAN COUNTRY OF MALI. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
30-Sep-97 9:38 PM EDT (0138 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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