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DATE=7/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235946
TITLE=CLINTON / IRAN MISSILE (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAY IRAN'S TEST OF A MEDIUM-RANGE 
BALLISTIC MISSILE IS GROUNDS FOR CONCERN, BUT NOT A REASON TO 
ABANDON EFFORTS AT DIALOGUE WITH PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI. 
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.  
TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS VERY CONCERNED BY THE
TEST AND SAYS IF IRAN ACTUALLY DEPLOYED A MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILE, 
IT WOULD CHANGE THE "STABILITY DYNAMICS" IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
BUT IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS HERE, HE SAID THE TEST WAS NOT AN 
ARGUMENT FOR CLOSING OFF ALL AVENUES FOR DIALOGUE WITH PRESIDENT 
KHATAMI, THE RELATIVELY-MODERATE MUSLIM CLERIC ELECTED LAST YEAR:
            ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///                  
         THE COUNTRY (IRAN) IS IN A DYNAMIC STATE NOW. THERE'S 
         SOME DYNAMISM THERE. AND THERE'S SOME REASON TO BELIEVE 
         THAT, IT SEEMS TO ME, AT LEAST MAKING IT CLEAR WHAT OUR 
         POSITION IS -- ON THE  MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, 
         SUPPORT OF TERRORISM, ON ALL THESE ISSUES WITH WHICH 
         WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IRAN IN THE PAST, AND STILL BE 
         GLAD THERE'S SOME MOVEMENT TOWARD GREATER POPULAR 
         GOVERNMMENT AND MORE OPENNESS IN THE COUNTRY -- ARGUES 
         FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING:   A CAUTIOUS, DELIBERATE APPROACH.
                          ///END ACT///
THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN HAVE HAD NO OFFICIAL RELATIONS FOR 
NEARLY TWO DECADES. BUT LATE LAST YEAR, PRESIDENT KHATAMI MADE AN
OVERTURE FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE TWO PEOPLES. AND THAT HAS BEEN 
FOLLOWED BY LIMITED EXCHANGES INCLUDING SPORTS CONTACTS. MR. 
CLINTON SAID IF THE PROCESS LED TO FORMAL TALKS, THE MISSILE 
ISSUE WOULD BE HIGH ON THE AGENDA: 
                      ///CLINTON ACT TWO///
         IF WE DO CONTINUE TO HAVE AN OPENING OF RELATIONS, 
         BECAUSE THE NEW  PRESIDENT SEEMS MORE OPEN TO IT, 
         OBVIOUSLY THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD RAISE  WITH 
         HIM. WE'VE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND WE  
         BELIEVE THAT THE FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE EAST WOULD BE 
         BETTER IF THEY'D INVEST MORE MONEY -- ALL THOSE 
         COUNTRIES -- IN SOMETHING OTHER THAN MILTARY TECHNOLOGY.
         SO WE'RE VERY, VERY CONCERNED BY IT, BUT NOT SURPRISED 
         BY IT.
                          ///END ACT///
OFFICIALS HERE SAID THE IRANIAN MISSILE -- CALLED THE 
SHAHAB-THREE -- APPEARS TO BE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL  TO NORTH 
KOREA'S MEDIUM-RANGE "NODONG" MISSILE, WHICH THE FINANCIALLY 
STRAPPED GOVERNMENT IN  PYONGYANG HAS BEEN TRYING TO MARKET 
AROUND THE WORLD TO RAISE HARD CURRENCY.
THEY SAID THE TEST UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE FOR THE UNITED 
STATES TO AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE NON-PROLIFERATION EFFORTS AND IS 
ONE REASON WHY THE ADMINISTRATION WAS SO INSISTENT THAT RUSSIA 
END ITS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO IRAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/WDC/PLM
23-Jul-98 6:17 PM EDT (2217 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.