DATE=7/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235912
TITLE=U-S / IRAN MISSILE (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS IRAN'S TEST LAUNCH OF A MEDIUM-RANGE
BALLISTIC MISSILE IS A SOURCE OF CONCERN TO THE UNITED STATES BUT
DOES NOT NECESSARILY AFFECT THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE
EAST. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY IRAN'S TEST OF THE
NORTH-KOREAN-DESIGNED MISSILE CAME CAME AS NO SURPRISE, AND
THAT U-S INTELLIGENCE DETECTED THE LAUNCH AND TRACKED THE FLIGHT,
WHICH OCCURRED EARLIER THIS WEEK AND ENTIRELY INSIDE IRANIAN
TERRITORY.
IN A RELATIVELY LOW-KEY RESPONSE TO THE DEVELOPMENT, WHITE HOUSE
SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAID IRAN'S PURSUIT OF A MEDIUM-RANGE
MISSILE CAPABILITY IS A "SOURCE OF CONCERN" TO THE UNITED STATES.
BUT HE SAID A SINGLE TEST DOES NOT ALTER THE BALANCE OF POWER
IN THE REGION. NOR HE SAID, DOES IT AFFECT WHAT HAS BEEN A
LIMITED WARMING OF U-S IRANIAN RELATIONS -- SINCE, HE SAID,
IRAN'S MISSILE PROGRAM, ALONG WITH ITS SUPPORT OF TERRORISM AND
OPPOSITION TO THE MIDDLE EAST PROCESS HAVE BEEN IMPEDIMENTS TO
THAT PROCESS ALL ALONG.
THOUGH THE UNITED STATES HAVE HAD NO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS FOR
NEARLY 20 YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN LIMITED GESTURES OF GOODWILL
INCLUDING SPORTS CONTACTS SINCE LATE LAST YEAR WHEN IRANIAN
PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI CALLED FOR GREATER DIALOGUE BETWEEN
THE TWO PEOPLES.
SPOKESMAN MCCURRY SAID THE IRANIAN MISSILE -- CALLED THE "SHAHAB
THREE" -- APPEARS TO BE NEARLY IDENTICAL TO NORTH KOREA'S MEDIUM
RANGE "NODONG" MISSILE WHICH PYONGYANG HAS HAD IN ITS ARSENAL FOR
SEVERAL YEARS.
HE SAID THE TEST UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF AGGRESSIVELY
PURSUING ANTI-PROLIFERATION EFFORTS WORLDWIDE, ESPECIALLY WITH
REGARD TO NORTH KOREA -- WHICH HE SAID HAS STATED PLAINLY IT IS
SELLING SUCH MISSILES TO GET HARD CURRENCY.
HE SAID IRAN'S MISSILE EFFORT IS ONE REASON THE UNITED STATES HAS
BEEN SO INSISTENT THAT RUSSIA CURBS ITS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO
IRAN AND WHY THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RAISED SIMILAR CONCERNS WITH
ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES.
U-S OFFICIALS HAVE ALSO SAID IRAN IS TRYING TO DEVELOP A NUCLEAR
CAPABILITY, BUT IS BELIEVED TO BE YEARS AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO
BUILD AND TEST SUCH A WEAPON (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/LTD/KL
23-Jul-98 11:35 AM EDT (1535 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|