DATE=9/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238762
TITLE=HOUSE / IRAN STATEMENT (L)
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI IS TO ADDRESS THE
OPENING OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEXT WEEK IN NEW
YORK. MR. KHATAMI IS SEEN AS A FAIRLY MODERATE LEADER, AND MANY
NATIONS -- INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN UNION -- HAVE BEGUN TO
NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH IRAN SINCE HIS ELECTION LAST YEAR. BUT
AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS, A GROUP OF U-S LAWMAKERS
(WEDNESDAY) FIRMLY OPPOSE SOFTENING U-S POLICY ON IRAN.
TEXT: A BI-PARTISAN, 220-MEMBER MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES HAS SIGNED A STATEMENT ADVOCATING A STRONG U-S
POLICY AGAINST IRAN.
THE LAWMAKERS DISPUTE THE IDEA IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI
IS A MODERATE, SAYING THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE REAL CHANGE SINCE HIS
ELECTION LAST YEAR. THEY SAY TEHRAN IS STILL IN THE TERRORISM
BUSINESS AND STILL SEEKING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
THE REPRESENTATIVES ALSO VOICED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE IRANIAN
RESISTANCE MOVEMENT -- THE PEOPLE'S MOJAHEDIN -- WHICH THE STATE
DEPARTMENT PUT ON ITS LIST OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS LAST
OCTOBER. AT THE TIME, AN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL CALLED THE MOVE
A GOODWILL GESTURE TOWARD TEHRAN.
NEW YORK REPRESENTATIVE GARY ACKERMAN OBJECTS.
// ACKERMAN ACT //
(IN SHORT) WE REMAIN DISTURBED AT THE NOTION THAT AT THE
SAME TIME THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS PROFFERING SOME
GOODWILL GESTURES TO THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT, PRESIDENT
KHATAMI DOES NOT GIVE US ANY INDICATION OF A CHANGE IN
HIS GOVERNMENT'S BEHAVIOR. FOR ALL THE TALK THAT MR.
KHATAMI IS A "MODERATE," WE HAVE SEEN NO ACTIONS TO
BACK THAT UP. THAT IS ALL WE ASK FOR.
// END ACKERMAN ACT //
THE 220-MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SAY CALLING THE PEOPLE'S MOJAHEDIN A
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION VIOLATES THE INTENT OF THE U-S
ANTI-TERRORISM LAW.
THE LAWMAKERS AND IRANIAN RESISTANCE LEADERS SAY THE GOVERNMENT
IN TEHRAN IS GROWING WEAKER. BUT NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN ROBERT
MENENDEZ SAYS THAT IS NOT A SIGN OF IMPROVEMENT.
// MENENDEZ ACT //
IT IS CLEAR THAT THE RECENT TREND IN IRAN HAS NOT BEEN
TOWARD REFORM. WE SHOULD NOT MISTAKE SIGNS OF WEAKNESS
OR DISINTEGRATION FOR MODERATION.
// END MENENDEZ ACT //
CONGRESSMAN MENENDEZ SAYS IRAN IS NOT YET READY TO REJOIN THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
16-Sep-98 2:25 PM EDT (1825 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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