DATE= 9/30/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-220631
TITLE=U-S/FRANCE/IRAN (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INDICATED TUESDAY IT IS NOT
RUSHING INTO A CONFRONTATION WITH EUROPE OVER THE HUGE GAS DEAL
CONCLUDED SUNDAY BETWEEN IRAN AND THE FRENCH OIL COMPANY, TOTAL.
THE DEAL COULD TRIGGER U-S TRADE SANCTIONS -- BUT ALSO EUROPEAN
RETALIATION. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY THE ADMINISTRATION IS STUDYING
THE TWO BILLION DOLLAR DEAL, BUT IT MAY BE WEEKS BEFORE A
DECISION IS MADE ON WHETHER IT WILL TRIGGER U-S PENALTIES UNDER
THE IRAN-LIBYA SANCTIONS ACT.
PRESIDENT CLINTON IS EMPOWERED UNDER THE 1996 LAW FROM CONGRESS
TO IMPOSE A VARIETY OF PUNITIVE MEASURES AGAINST FOREIGN FIRMS
DOING BUSINESS WITH IRAN, WHICH IS ACCUSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION
OF SPONSORING TERRORISM.
BRIEFING REPORTERS, SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY GIVE NO INDICATION OF
WHAT MR. CLINTON MIGHT DECIDE, BUT DID SAY FRENCH EFFORTS TO DRAW
IRAN INTO DIALOGUE THROUGH TRADE AND POLITICAL TIES HAVE FAILED
TO ALTER IRANIAN BEHAVIOR:
///MCCURRY ACT///
WE HAVE NEVER DISPUTED THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE A SO-CALLED
CRITICAL DIALOGUE WITH IRAN. BUT WE'VE OFTEN POINTED OUT
IT HAS NOT YIELDED MUCH RESULT. IT HAS MAYBE YIELDED
SOME ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR PORTIONS OF EUROPE. IT HAS NOT
YIELDED ANY CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR IN A REGIME THAT
CONTINUES TO SPONSOR TERRORISM, AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
SPECIFIC EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
AGAINST THE WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNUITY.
///END ACT///
THE SANCTIONS ACT OBLIGATES THE PRESIDENT TO MOVE AGAINST FIRMS
INVESTING MORE THAN 20 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE OIL INDUSTRIES OF
IRAN OR LIBYA. HE HAS VARIOUS OPTIONS INCLUDING THE DENIAL OF U-S
CREDITS, BUT COULD DELAY THE IMPOSITION OF ANY PENALTIES FOR UP
TO 90 DAYS TO ALLOW FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH THE AFFECTED
GOVERNMENTS.
THE FRENCH OIL FIRM TOTAL -- WHICH SIGNED THE GAS DEAL ALONG WITH
RUSSIAN AND MALAYSIAN PARTNERS -- CONTENDS THE ACCORD IS IN LINE
WITH FRENCH AND INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND THAT AMERICAN PENALTIES
WOULD BE AN EXTRA-TERRITORIAL APPLICATION OF U-S LAW.
FRENCH AND EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS HAVE WARNED THAT A U-S
SANCTIONS MOVE WOULD PRODUCE RETALIATORY TRADE ACTIONS IN EUROPE.
THE UNITED STATES AND E-U HAVE HAD A LONG-RUNNING DISPUTE OVER
THE SIMILAR HELMS-BURTON LAW, WHICH PENALIZES COMPANIES INVESTING
IN CUBAN PROPERTIES CONFISCATED FROM AMERICANS AFTER CUBA'S 1959
REVOLUTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/KL
30-Sep-97 4:09 PM EDT (2009 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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