DATE=1/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225356
TITLE=ALBRIGHT-E-U IRAN (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT1
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN WASHINGTON, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS
BEEN MEETING WITH BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK IN HIS
CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION. V-O-A'S
CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT,
THEY AGREED ABOUT THEIR GOALS ABOUT CUTTING OFF MISSILE
TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN BUT DISAGREED ABOUT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.
TEXT: THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION AGREE THAT RUSSIA
NEEDS TO DO MORE TO STOP THE FLOW OF MEDIUM AND LONG RANGE
MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN. DESPITE ASSURANCES FROM RUSSIAN
LEADERS THAT THE SALES WILL END, AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE
A LONG WAY FROM A MECHANISM TO CONTROL TRANSFERS BY RUSSIAN
COMPANIES.
AMERICAN ENVOY FRANK WISNER HAS MADE FOUR TRIPS TO MOSCOW TO TRY
TO NEGOTIATE AN END TO RUSSIAN ASSISTANCE TO IRAN WHICH U-S
OFFICIALS SAY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT WANTS TO STOP THESE AS WELL.
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT TELLS REPORTERS THE RUSSIAN
GOVERNMENT MAY NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO CONTROL THE TRANSFERS.
///ALBRIGHT ACT///
I DO NOT WISH TO MAKE EXCUSES FOR ANYONE BUT I DO THINK
THAT WE ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT AS THE CENTRALIZED
SYSTEM IN THE SOVIET UNION BROKE DOWN THAT IT IS
POSSIBLE FOR COMPANIES TO IN EFFECT BE TAKING ACTION
THAT MAY NOT BE KNOWN TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT BUT WE
DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THERE BE MEANS AND
MECHANISMS WORKED OUT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THERE CANNOT
BE THE TRANSFER OF THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGY AND THAT IS
EXACTLY THE KIND OF WORK THAT WE ARE INVOLVED IN AND
AMBASSADOR WISNER REPORTED THAT THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS
IN THAT BUT WE WILL PURSUE THIS BECAUSE WE AGREE WITH
THE RUSSIANS THAT THERE IS A SECURITY THREAT.
///END ACT///
FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK SAYS THE EUROPEANS AGREE WITH THE UNITED
STATES ON THE SECURITY THREAT POSED BY IRAN AND THE TRANSFER OF
RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGY. THEY ALSO AGREE ABOUT PURSUING THE OPENING
PRESENTED BY IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI.
HOWEVER, THE EUROPEANS DISAGREE WITH THE AMERICAN ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS AGAINST THEIR COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS IN IRAN AND
LIBYA. MR. COOK SAYS THE TWO SIDES NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
///COOK ACT///
AS LONG AS WE DO NOT SPEAK WITH THE SAME STRATEGY, THE
DANGER IS THAT WE DO NOT PUT EFFECTIVE PRESSURE ON IRAN
AS WE MIGHT. THE ONLY GAINER FROM OUR FAILURE TO ACHIEVE
A COMMON POSITION IS IRAN. THE GREATEST BENIFICIARY OF
OUR ACHIEVING A COMMON POSITION WOULD BE BRINGING A
GREATER SENSE OF PEACE AND SECURITY TO THE MIDDLE EAST
IF WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT MORE EFFECTIVE TOUGHER REGIME
AGAINST THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
///END ACT///
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY GAVE MS. ALBRIGHT A MEMORANDUM SHOWING WHAT
THE EUROPEAN UNION IS DOING TO PREVENT EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL FOR
NUCLEAR MISSILES FROM REACHING IRAN. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WILL CARRY OUT THE LAW PASSED BY
CONGRESS AND IS STILL CONSIDERING SANCTIONS AGAINST THE FRENCH
TOTAL COMPANY FOR INVESTMENTS IN IRAN'S OIL INDUSTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/ENE/PT
15-Jan-98 6:30 PM EST (2330 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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