Title: Early Report 1/8/98: KHATAMI'S CNN ADDRESS: INCHING SLOWLY TOWARD A THAW?
Date: 19980108
Text:
FOREIGN MEDIA REACTION DAILY DIGEST
USIA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND MEDIA REACTION
U.S. INFORMATION AGENCY, WASHINGTON, DC 20547
BILL RICHEY, BRANCH CHIEF MEDIA REACTION, (R/MR)
TELE. No. (202)619-6511
ANN PINCUS, DIRECTOR
Thursday, 8 January 1998
Early Report 1/8/98: KHATAMI'S CNN ADDRESS: INCHING SLOWLY TOWARD A THAW?
Iranian President Khatami's address to the American people on CNN received top billing by most media outlets worldwide, with analysts highlighting his careful endorsement of dialogue with the American people--but not with the U.S. government--and the Clinton administration's equally guarded response. More sanguine analysts agreed with government-owned France Inter Radio that "there is a trend toward normalization" after years of bitter hostility but that this change "will not happen overnight." This group of writers held that both countries understand the benefits of a thaw in relations and that the U.S., just like Iran, is "re-examining" its anti-Tehran sanctions policy. Tokyo's liberal Mainichi Shimbun said this re-examination resulted from Washington's realization of its "international isolation"--even among many of its European allies--regarding Iran. The centrist Hindu of New Delhi spoke confidently of Mr. Khatami as the one man who could "pull off" a political thaw with the U.S. More cautious observers, such as London's conservative Daily Telegraph, dwelled on the "formidable obstacles" facing Presidents Clinton and Khatami. The paper singled out anti-Iran sentiment in the U.S. Congress and Mr. Khatami's facing opposition on this issue from Ayatollah Khamenei. Available Iranian media coverage of the address appeared factual. Iranian TV carried the U.S. response, while Tehran Radio noted that Mr. Khatami "stressed that Iran bears no enmity against the American nation" and described "the interfering, humiliating and unjust policies of the U.S. administration toward the people of Iran."
EDITORS: Mildred Sola Neely and Kathleen J. Brahney
KHATAMI'S CNN ADDRESS: INCHING SLOWLY TOWARD A THAW?
IRAN: "Khatami Exposed Hostile Policies Of U.S. Statesmen"
Official Tehran Radio gave this spin to the Khatami's CNN interview (1/8), "Khatami has explained the stances of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding a range of issues, and he exposed the hostile policies of U.S. statesmen.... The president expressed regret about the policies adopted by U.S. officials in the years after World War II and described them as adventurist and out of keeping with humane, democratic and freedom-loving policies.... Mr. Khatami stressed that Iran bears no enmity against the American nation and, describing the interfering, humiliating and unjust policies of the U.S. administration toward the people of Iran, he said the slogan 'Death to America' is a testimony of the death of relations with the U.S. administration. Mr. Khatami underlined the need for dialogue and understanding between the university lecturers, scientists, artists, writers, journalists, and even tourists of the two countries, and said: Dialogue between civilizations and nations is different from political ties."
"One Must Speak To American People" Headlines in today's papers included: Nateq-Nuri: "One Must Speak To American People" and Iran Daily: "President's Message To American Nation: Religiosity, Freedom And Justice...Unfortunately, U.S. Administration's Behavior Has Not Been Such As To Inspire The Least Amount Of Trust In U.S."
"U.S. Once Again Accused Iran Of Terrorism"
Official Tehran TV said of the White House response (1/8), "The White House has announced that it regrets that the Iranian president did not call for talks between the governments of Iran and the United States.... The United States once again accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of supporting terrorism and striving to obtain unconventional weapons."
KUWAIT: "Kuwait Can Be 'Spearhead' Of Understanding Between GCC And Iran"
Independent Al-Qabas (1/6) ran this piece by independent, Shiite commentator Ahmad Al-Sarraf prior to the Khatami interview: "Kuwait enjoys a situation which (makes) the Iranian government pay attention, especially after the recent changes in Iran's foreign policy and its long-awaited inclination for moderation. If Kuwait best utilizes its human and geographic potentials, it can be the 'spearhead' of understanding between the GCC countries and the Iranian government, and can win Iran's support. We admit to our failure over the past two decades in taking advantage of our human and political potentials in creating healthy relations with Iran. We say this out of our fear and due to our belief that there are no permanent friendships but, permanent interests and the 'security agreements' that we signed with major countries may not stand in the face of (global) changes."
BRITAIN: "Khatami's Media Mission Wins Muted U.S. Approval"
In the opinion of the liberal Guardian under the headline above (1/8): "Although Washington shows a marked warming in response to the more friendly signals emerging from Tehran recently, the gap between the two countries remains profound, partly because the Iranian president is not believed to speak with the full authority of his country's militant religious leadership."
"Iranian Leader Speaks Soothing Words To U.S."
The conservative Daily Telegraph's diplomatic editor Chris Lockwood said (1/8): "Despite the apparent desire of Mr. Clinton and Mr. Khatami for an improved relationship, formidable
obstacles remain. Neither is a free agent. Mr. Clinton is partly a captive of the Congress which, in passing the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act last year, committed him to a tough anti-Iranian stance. Mr. Khatami is in an even weaker position. Despite his title, he is only the second most powerful man in Iran."
FRANCE:
"Change Will Take Time, But It Will Come"
Dominique Bromberger told government-owned France Inter Radio's listeners (1/8): "On the one hand, Khatami praises American civilization.... On the other, the United States announces a reexamination of its sanction policy.... Does this mean that there is a trend toward normalization? The answer is yes. Of course, it will not happen overnight.... But the Iranian population has decided it wants change.... The U.S. policy of dual containment toward Iran and Iraq is a source of headaches for Washington: It is not very efficient, causes friction with its allies, and complicates oil and gas exploitation in the region.... It will take time, but there is clear movement toward change."
"Does Khatami Have Will And Power To Change?"
Jean-Jacques Mevel wrote in right-of-center Le Figaro (1/8): "For the United States, the problem lies in determining whether Iran's new 'moderate' president has the will and the means to go beyond 'symbolic' words.... Before it responds with an olive branch, Washington wants to make sure that the team at the head of the nation is truly in command.... In addition to the uncertainty about the 'new Iranian' power, there is on the American side a certain lack of 'definition' of its economic policy of isolation toward Iran. In spite of Congress's insistence, Madeleine Albright has not yet decided whether the French oil company Total will be sanctioned, under the D'Amato law, for its dealings with Iran.... The United States has just announced that it is ready to 'reexamine' its unilateral sanctions policy. It has yet to be determined whether this gesture of appeasement is directed at Tehran or at the European Union.... In spite of Khatami's televised address, Bill Clinton will not make any abrupt changes in his policy toward Iran. Whether that policy is tough, gentle, prudent or simply unclear, it will have repercussions on U.S. relations with its European allies, Russia and the Middle East."
ITALY: "U.S. Not Hiding Disappointment Over Khatami's Timid Opening"
Correspondent Andrea di Robilant filed from Washington for centrist, influential La Stampa (1/8): "After 20 years of hostility between Tehran and Washington, President Mohammed Khatami is asking Americans, via an appeal aired by CNN, to resume a dialogue with Iran.... In his interview, Khatami for the first time distanced himself from the tragic event of the hostages...stating that on that occasion `it was difficult to contain what happened.'... But the White House did not hide its partial disappointment over the timid opening by the Iranian president."
"Khatami Feels Confident About His Position"
Anna di Lellio observed from New York in PDS (leading government party) L'Unita (1/8): "Khatami chose to address 'the American people directly,' conveniently making a distinction between citizens and government, so as to make his gesture less official.... Khatami alone does not have the power to alter his country's foreign policy. This power belongs to the supreme leader of the revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is a great deal more conservative and who already distanced himself from Khatami during a sermon last Friday. But the new president, who was elected last May with 70 percent of the vote, evidently feels confident about his position.... Changes in the relationship with the United States would certainly bring economic benefits, since they would lift the block on the billions of dollars the Iranians have overseas and would also contribute to removing the American veto on Russian cooperation with Iran and the exploitation of oil and gas resources in the Caspian region."
JAPAN: "U.S. Tries To Free Itself From Isolation Over Iran"
Liberal Mainichi Shimbun's correspondent Ito stressed from Washington (1/8), "Washington's 'Iran containment' policy is beginning to crumble with Europe and Russia seeking ways to strengthen their relationships with Iran, and Iranian President Khatami calling for a dialogue with the American people. The Clinton administration is in a dilemma over how to 'readjust' its high-handed policy as represented by the 'Iran-Libya Sanctions Act of 1996.'
By sending the under secretary (Pickering to France over the Total issue) and a special envoy, the administration appears ready to relax the Iran containment policy which has prompted Washington's international isolation. Washington hopes to coordinate its policies toward Iran with France and Russia. Those two nations, however, have reacted strongly against the U.S. position, saying the United States government has no right to apply restrictions to the business activities of foreign companies. It is still unclear whether any compromise will result from the talks with France and Russia."
INDIA: "The 'Great Satan' And The 'Rogue'"
An analysis in the centrist Hindu (1/8) by strategic affairs editor C. Raja Mohan noted: "The contours of the U.S.-Iran courtship are likely to acquire some clarity when...Khatami talks to the American people through the CNN.... The case for a political thaw is well understood in both the countries.... A modus vivendi with Washington could quickly end Tehran's international isolation and open the door for a rapid realization of the enormous potential of the nation. While the desire and motivation for normalization of relations may be real in both countries, it will take a big political leap forward to begin a productive dialogue.... Given the long history of demonization of each country by the other, it will be enormously difficult to construct a serious policy of engagement....
"The risks Clinton may be taking are nothing compared to those Khatami has decided to run in reaching out to the United States.... The conventional wisdom is that Khatami cannot go beyond making Iran's case its past victimization at the hands of the United States and its genuine desire for an honorable political accommodation with the superpower on the basis of equality and dignity.... But so far, there has been nothing conventional about Khatami.... He has opened up the democratic political space against all odds. If there is one man in Iran who appears capable of pulling off something with the United States, it may be none other than Khatami."
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