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DATE=6/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234142
TITLE=CLINTON/IRAN (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS UNDERSCORED HIS PERSONAL INTEREST 
IN A RECONCILIATION WITH IRAN AFTER 20 YEARS OF HOSTILITY IN BE 
RELATIONS.  V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT:  MR. CLINTON HAS FOLLOWED-UP SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE 
ALBRIGHT'S OVERTURE TO IRAN IN A POLICY ADDRESS WEDNESDAY BY 
DECLARING THE UNITED STATES READY FOR A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH 
TEHRAN.  
IN AN IMPROMPTU TALK WITH REPORTERS, THE PRESIDENT SAID THE 
UNITED STATES WANTS TO SEE THE BETTER RELATIONSHIP PROPOSED BY 
PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATEMI AFTER HIS ELECTION LAST YEAR -- 
PROVIDED IRAN, AMONG OTHER THINGS, DROPS ITS BITTER OPPOSITION TO
ARAB-ISRAELI PEACE EFFORTS:  
                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
         WHAT WE WANT IS A GENUINE RECONCILIATION WITH IRAN BASED
         ON MUTUALITY AND RECIPROCITY AND SENSE THAT THE IRANIANS
         ARE PREPARED TO MOVE AWAY FROM SUPPORT OF TERRORISM, AND
         DISTRIBUTION OF DANGEROUS WEAPONS, AND OPPOSITION TO THE
         PEACE PROCESS.
                          ///END ACT///
MR. CLINTON SAID HE APPRECIATES THE CONCILIATORY STATEMENTS BY 
PRESIDENT KHATEMI, AND MADE CLEAR THE ADMINISTRATION HOPES TO 
ENCOURAGE RELATIVE MODERATES, LIKE HIM, IN THE IRANIAN 
LEADERSHIP.
                     //CLINTON ACTUALITY///
         WE ARE EXPLORING WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT HOLD.  WE HAVE  
         NOT  CHANGED OUR PRINCIPLES, OUR IDEAS OR OUR 
         OBJECTIVES.  WE BELIEVE IRAN IS CHANGING IN A POSITIVE 
         WAY, AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT THAT.  
                          ///END ACT///
IN HER ADDRESS -- TO THE ASIA SOCIETY IN NEW YORK -- SECRETARY 
ALBRIGHT SAID IRAN IS BECOMING A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE FORCE IN 
REGIONAL AFFAIRS -- THROUGH AMONG OTHER THINGS SUPPORT FOR PEACE 
EFFORTS IN AFGHANISTAN AND MOVES TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH GULF 
ARAB STATES.  
SHE SAID TWO DECADES OF MISTRUST BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND 
IRAN CANNOT BE ERASED OVERNIGHT, BUT SAID IT IS TIME TO TEST THE 
POSSIBILITIES FOR BRIDGING THE GAP.  
MR. CLINTON BRUSHED ASIDE A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER HE MIGHT BE 
PLANNING A SPECIFIC GESTURE TOWARD IRAN.  BUT AIDES SAY HE IS 
PREPARING A MESSAGE TO THE IRANIAN PEOPLE TO BE BROADCAST IN 
CONNECTION WITH THE U-S/IRAN WORLD CUP FOOTBALL MATCH ON SUNDAY. 
(SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/TMD/MMK
18-Jun-98 12:06 PM EDT (1606 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.