DATE=4/1/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229082
TITLE=U-S/IRAN EXCHANGES (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AMERICANS AND IRANIANS -- MOSTLY PRIVATE CITIZENS --
GATHERED AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO
DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGES. THE EVENT --
ORGANIZED BY A FORMER WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIAL --
COMES AMID NEW SIGNS OF A THAW IN RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND THE
UNITED STATES. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:
TEXT: THE CONFERENCE BROUGHT TOGETHER LEADERS OF ACADEMIA, THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.
WASHINGTON SENT A MID-LEVEL STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL. IRAN SENT
ONE OF ITS DIPLOMATS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS. THE AIM WAS TO
PRESENT INTERESTED, NON-OFFICIAL GROUPS WITH PRACTICAL
INFORMATION ON SETTING UP CULTURAL EXCHANGES.
CONFERENCE ORGANIZER GARY SICK WAS A WHITE HOUSE SPECIALIST ON
IRAN DURING THE 1979 IRANIAN REVOLUTION THAT LED TO THE BREAK IN
U-S/IRANIAN RELATIONS. HE BELIEVES AN OFFICIAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN
WASHINGTON AND TEHRAN IS STILL A LONG WAY OFF. BUT HE SAYS BIG
CHANGES HAVE OCCURRED IN THE WAY THEY TREAT EACH OTHER THAT
SIGNAL BOTH SIDES WANT TO EASE THE TENSIONS:
//SICK ACT//
THE LANGUAGE COMING OUT OF BOTH WASHINGTON AND TEHRAN
TENDS TO BE POSITIVE RATHER THAN NEGATIVE. THEY REALLY,
ON AN OFFICIAL LEVEL, DO NOT USE THE "GREAT SATAN" WORDS
ANYMORE. WE DON'T USE THE "OUTLAWED ROGUE STATE" -- ALL
OF THAT WHICH IS ROUTINE. I THINK WE'RE BEGINNING TO
GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN BEGIN TO HAVE A RATIONAL
DIALOGUE.
//END ACT//
IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI -- WHO CAME TO OFFICE LAST
YEAR IN A LANDSLIDE ELECTORAL VICTORY -- HAS CALLED FOR INCREASED
EXCHANGES OF SCHOLARS, WRITERS, ARTISTS AND JOURNALISTS BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN. SEVERAL IRANIAN ACADEMICS WHO
ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY REPORTED THAT
IDEAS TODAY ARE BEING DISCUSSED MORE FREELY INSIDE IRAN.
BUT NOT ALL IDEAS OR ISSUES SEEM OPEN FOR DISCUSSION IN IRAN.
ONE OF THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AT THE DAY-LONG CONFERENCE WAS
ABOUT AUTHOR SALMAN RUSHDIE, WHOSE BOOK "SATANIC VERSES" WAS
DECLARED BLASPHEMY BY THE LATE AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI. MR. RUSHDIE,
WHO LIVES IN BRITAIN, REMAINS UNDER THE AYATOLLAH'S DEATH
SENTENCE. THE IRANIAN PARTICIPANTS CALLED IT A FOREIGN POLICY
MATTER. NO ONE WANTED TO TALK POLITICS. THIS MEETING, THEY
SAID, WAS ABOUT PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE RELATIONS.
CONFERENCE ORGANIZER GARY SICK CONCEDES THE RUSHDIE AFFAIR
STRIKES AT THE HEART OF ANY RATIONALE FOR OPEN CULTURAL
EXCHANGES. BUT HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO CHANGE TACTICS
IF IT HOPES TO INFLUENCE IRANIAN POLICY:
//SICK ACT//
THERE'S TWO WAYS TO DO IT. ONE IS TO SAY WE WON'T TALK
TO YOU UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED. AND THE OTHER IS TO SAY
WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WE'RE
GOING TO TRY TO PERSUADE YOU THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
HAS TO BE CHANGED. UP UNTIL NOW THE UNITED STATES HAS
BEEN PROCEEDING ALONG THE FIRST LINE -- "YOU IRANIANS,
GET IN SHAPE, DO WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO AND THEN WE'LL
TALK TO YOU." NOW I THINK WE'RE BEGINNING TO MOVE IN
THE OTHER DIRECTION AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE
SUCCESS.
//END ACT//
AFTER THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION, MOST U-S ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
ENDED OR SHARPLY CURTAILED THEIR WORK WITH IRAN. CLEARLY THERE
IS GROWING INTEREST IN RESUMING. AND AMERICANS WHO VISITED IRAN
IN RECENT MONTHS HAVE COME BACK WITH GLOWING REPORTS OF IRANIAN
COURTESY AND WARMTH -- BOTH OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/KL
01-Apr-98 4:00 PM EST (2100 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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