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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

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QUESTION: On Iran, what about The Washington Post story that the Administration sent a message to Iran through the Swiss ambassador there, shortly after Khatami's appointment, suggesting a dialogue?

MR. FOLEY: Well, on Iran, generally, I'm not going to have very much to say from the podium today. As Jamie Rubin indicated yesterday, there has been 20 years of mistrust and differences between the two countries. We've seen new developments and an encouraging tone coming out of the president of Iran, and as Mr. Rubin indicated yesterday, we're going to be evaluating very carefully President Khatami's speech and our responses.

So Mr. Rubin's comments yesterday were a definitive statement of the initial United States Government reaction to his media interview and comments to the American public, and I'm not going to have anything of substance to add to that today.

However, in response to your specific question, I'd like to indicate that we're not going to comment in any way publicly concerning allegations about what may or may not transpire in diplomatic channels. Our position on a dialogue has been fully stated by the President and by other Administration officials, and Iran knows our position very well.

QUESTION: There was a rather lengthy discussion yesterday about how this dialogue would be above board, publicly acknowledged; there wouldn't be any cakes or keys or secret messages. And then, this morning it appears that there has been something that's not quite - doesn't quite meet that standard, despite Mr. Rubin's lengthy words otherwise.

MR. FOLEY: Well, first of all, let me repeat that I'm not going to comment publicly about allegations about what may or may not transpire in diplomatic channels. We do have a capability for contact through a diplomatic channel. But again, as Mr. Rubin clearly indicated yesterday, we're not in a position of commenting publicly about that channel.

And insofar as the United States Government position is concerned, we've stated it publicly. What we favor is an authorized dialogue with authorized representatives of the Iranian Government -- a dialogue that would be acknowledged. And the president of Iran indicated in his recent interview that that is not in his current plans. He has not taken up that offer. We are in the process of evaluating his suggestion that people-to-people exchanges be emphasized at this stage. We found that suggestion useful, and, as Mr. Rubin said yesterday, we're going to take a very careful look at it.

QUESTION: Can you elaborate on that, Jim? Are there any visa restrictions that could be eased?

MR. FOLEY: The fact is, as Jamie Rubin mentioned yesterday, that there are no travel restrictions, as such, for Americans going to Iran. We have a travel warning in place, dated - the last issuance was July 8, 1997 - that recommends that US citizens not travel to Iran. But as Jamie Rubin said, this whole issue, though, of a more concerted effort to promote exchanges on a people-to-people basis - I believe the president of Iran talked about scholars and experts and representatives of civil society in both countries in a more concerted, pro-active way he seemed to be indicating. That's precisely what we're going to be studying -- the degree to which this is something that we can encourage on our side; the question of whether we need to look at the flow of people between the two countries, and any way to encourage, give momentum to that in the direction indicated by the president of Iran. I have nothing to announce or indicate on that subject today; only that, as we said yesterday, we're going to be looking very closely at that.

QUESTION: The same day that Khatami gave this speech, there was a press conference here in Washington by the Mujahedin-e Khalq talking about Iran developing a long-range missile capability. This has already been commented on at the podium; however, is not the Mujahedin-e Khalq the same group that was on the October report of the State Department, regarding terrorist groups? And if that is the case, have they appealed this, or done something which would mean that they were not under the ban of holding press conferences or fund raising in the United States, as was indicated by the October statement of the State Department on terrorism?

MR. FOLEY: First, you're right, they were on the list. Secondly, I'd have to refer you to the Justice Department, in terms of the application of the law, the implementation. There is bound to be an implementation phase after the Secretary of State made her decision. I would expect that they are still in that stage of implementation.

Whether or not this press conference in any way indicated a violation of the prohibitions under her determination, I'd have to refer you to the Justice Department.

QUESTION: Jim, are you aware of any cultural or academic exchanges that exist now between universities - say, University of Tehran, universities in this country - sort of certainly not government-sanctioned, but are informal arrangements that exist at this time that could be built on?

MR. FOLEY: I'm not specifically aware of that. I think it would be difficult, at least initially, to compile that kind of information. There wouldn't be a central source of information on that subject.

Certainly there are hundreds of thousands of Iranian-Americans in this country, who do travel back, which is a source of people-to-people exchange, if you will. Iranians who travel obtain visas to visit the United States. So that is going on.

But what the president of Iran was indicating, as I said, was a highlighting of this phenomenon; I think an elevation of this phenomenon to a higher plane - one that, as he said, would hopefully lead towards a breaking down of some of the walls of mistrust and alienation that have built up over the last 20 years. We found that proposal useful and, as I said, we're studying it.

QUESTION: Do you have any idea of how many Iranians travel to this country to study - who get visas to come here?

MR. FOLEY: I think we could get that information for you. I'd be glad to look into it.

QUESTION: And would the US Government have a count of the Americans who may do the same - travel to Iran to study?

MR. FOLEY: I think we'd have a better handle on the first question than on the second one, but I'll take the question.

QUESTION: Another one on Iran - on Wednesday, the spokesman for the National Council of Resistance of Iran issued a report regarding missile proliferation. It cited that there were 350 Iranian agents being trained in North Korea. There were dozens and dozens of Chinese and North Korean missile experts stationed at a production complex - missile production complex in Iran. Also stating that guidance systems for these longer-ranged missiles that the Iranians are putting on the shelf now were coming from out of the country. So my question would be, is there concern from these reports and from other knowledge that the Chinese and North Koreans may, in fact, be directing this proliferation that puts American vital interests at risk, both in the Gulf and in the Western Pacific?

MR. FOLEY: Well, we've received assurances and commitments from the Chinese Government, dating back to around the time - most recently, to the time of President Jiang's visit here, which assure us that the Chinese are phasing out cooperation in the nuclear area with Iran.

But you're absolutely right, though, that the whole issue of Iranian attempts, by whatever means, indigenous or in conjunction with other nations, to acquire weapons of mass destruction, missile systems for delivering those weapons, is of utmost concern to the United States, and we are working very hard on this issue with nations around the world. It remains one of the three pillars of concern in our assessment of Iranian actions around the world.

QUESTION: Does this report of exchange of personnel seem to be accurate, then, to you?

MR. FOLEY: I couldn't possibly say, but certainly this is an issue of utmost concern to the United States Government.

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