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DATE=12/29/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-224599
TITLE=U-S / IRAN (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MONDAY REAFFIRMED ITS INTEREST
IN A DIALOGUE WITH IRAN BUT SAYS ANY SUCH DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE 
BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS AND NOT CONDUCTED BY EMISSARIES.  
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT:  OFFICIALS HERE SAY CONGRESSMAN TOM LANTOS HAS APPROACHED 
THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT A POSSIBLE VISIT TO IRAN.  BUT THEY SAY 
IF HE DOES MAKE THE TRIP, IT WOULD NOT BE AS A SPECIAL ENVOY FOR 
PRESIDENT CLINTON.
THE REPORTED PLANS BY THE CALFORNIA DEMOCRAT TOUCHED OFF RENEWED 
SPECULATION ABOUT A WARMING IN U-S IRANIAN RELATIONS --  
FOLLOWING THE OVERTURE TO THE UNITED STATES TWO WEEKS AGO BY 
IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI.
THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT, A RELATIVE MODERATE WITHIN THE IRANIAN 
LEADERSHIP, CALLED FOR WHAT HE TERMED A "THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUE" 
WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- A PROPOSAL THAT WAS QUICKLY WELCOMED,
IN PRINCIPLE, BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.
HOWEVER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAID THE LANTOS 
TRIP IS NOT SOMETHING THE ADMINISTRATION ENCOURAGES, AND INSTEAD 
MADE CLEAR THE UNITED STATES WANTS OPEN, GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT
CONTACTS:
                      ///FOLEY ACTUALITY///
         WE LOOK FOR AN AUTHORIZED DIALOGUE AND ONE THAT WOULD BE
         ACKNOWLEDGED PUBLICALLY WITH THE IRANIAN AUTHORITIES.  
         THAT'S A LONG-STANDING U-S POLICY.  WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN
         A DEFINITIVE INDICATION ON THE PART OF THE IRANIANS THAT
         THEY'RE PREPARED FOR SUCH A DIALOGUE.  THEY HAVE MADE 
         SOME INTERESTING, AND EVEN ENCOURAGING, COMMENTS.
                          ///END ACT///
MR. FOLEY SUGGESTED TO REPORTERS THAT PRESIDENT KHATAMI MIGHT 
HAVE SOMETHING MORE TO SAY ABOUT THE ISSUE IN A YEAR-END 
STATEMENT, BUT DID NOT ELABORATE.
A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL TOLD V-O-A IRAN WOULD NOT HAVE TO CHANGE 
ANY POLICY TO HAVE SUCH TALKS, BUT MUST BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS 
ISSUES OF U-S CONCERN -- INCLUDING TEHRAN'S SUPPORT FOR 
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, ITS STRIDENT OPPOSITION TO THE 
ARAB-ISRAELI PEACE PROCESS, AND EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE WEAPONS OF 
MASS DESTRUCTION.  "THE NEXT MOVE," THE OFFICIAL SAID, "IS 
THEIRS." (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/GKT/RRM
29-Dec-97 3:05 PM EST (2005 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.