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DATE=9/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239406
TITLE= IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ELANIE JOHANSON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KAMEL KHARAZZI, MONDAY REJECTED 
AN INVITATION BY THE UNITED STATES TO START A POLITICAL DIALOG 
AIMED AT  NORMALIZING RELATIONS.   MR. KHARAZZI SPOKE AT THE ASIA
SOCIETY IN NEW YORK.  V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON 
REPORTS.
TEXT:  THE IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THERE IS NO BASIS FOR 
POLITICAL DIALOG WITH THE UNITED STATES UNLESS WASHINGTON CHANGES
ITS BEHAVIOR TOWARD IRAN.  MR. KHARAZZI CRITICIZED U-S ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS AGAINST THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC AND THE CREATION OF U-S 
GOVERNMENT RADIO STATION HE SAID WAS DEDICATED TO NEGATIVE 
PROPAGANDA AGAINST IRAN.
THE IRANIAN OFFICIAL CONCEDED RECENT REMARKS BY U-S SECRETARY OF 
STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT ABOUT CHARTERING A ROAD MAP FOR 
NORMALIZING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WERE ENCOURAGING.
BUT FOREIGN MINISTER KHARAZZI EMPHASIZED ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER 
THAN WORDS.
                       ///KHARAZZI ACT///
         IT IS EVIDENT THAT PROLONGATION OF OUTDATED BEHAVIOR AND
         SOLE REALLIANCE ON VARIATION AND VERBIAGE CAN SIMPLY NOT
         PROVIDE THE NECESSARY BASES FOR A INVITATION TO 
         POLITICAL DIALOG.
                          ///END ACT///
THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S REMARKS IN NEW YORK  WAS WIDELY 
ANTICIPATED AS A FORMAL RESPONSE TO SECRETARY ALBRIGHT'S JUNE 
17TH SPEECH TO THE ASIA SOCIETY.  MRS. ALBRIGHT HAD MADE CLEAR 
THAT U-S SANCTIONS ON IRAN WOULD REMAIN IN PLACE AS LONG AS IRAN 
CONTINUES TO SPONSOR TERRORISM AND TO BUILD WEAPONS  OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION.  AT THE SAME TIME SHE SIGNALED THAT WASHINGTON IS 
VERY INTERESTED IN REPAIRING RELATIONS WITH IRAN.
U-S / IRANIAN RELATIONS WERE SEVERED DURING THE 1979 ISLAMIC 
REVOLUTION WHEN THE IRANIANS SEIZED THE U-S EMBASSY IN TEHRAN AND
HELD U-S DIPLOMATS HOSTAGE FOR 444 DAYS.  THE IRANIAN FOREIGN 
MINISTER TOLD HIS NEW YORK AUDIENCE THE CONTINUING RUPTURE HURTS 
AMERICAN INTEREST.  HE NOTED OIL COMPANIES FROM  EUROPE, JAPAN, 
AND CANADA ARE RUSHING TO IRAN FOR EXPLORATION RIGHTS.  THE 
IMPLICATION IS THAT AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES WOULD BE LEFT OUT OF 
THE FRAY BECAUSE OF CURRENT U-S FOREIGN POLICY.   
SEVERAL SENIOR STATE OFFICIALS ATTENDED THE ASIA SOCIETY ADDRESS 
AMONG THEM, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE THOMAS PICKERING. (SIGNED)
NEB/WDC-T/PT
28-Sep-98 10:24 PM EDT (0224 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.