DATE=1/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-224955
TITLE=KHATAMI-U-S (L)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI HAS CALLED FOR MORE
CONTACT BETWEEN THE IRANIAN AND AMERICAN PEOPLE BUT SAID THERE IS
NOT YET A NEED FOR A GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT DIALOGUE. V-O-A'S
GIL BUTLER HAS MORE ON AN INTERVIEW WITH THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT
BROADCAST BY THE U-S CABLE NEWS NETWORK.
TEXT: PRESIDENT KHATAMI SAID U-S POLICY TOWARD IRAN MUST CHANGE
AND TOLD C-N-N REPORTER CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR HE HAS SEEN NO SIGN
OF A CHANGE IN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS A
REMNANT OF THE COLD WAR.
HE DID CALL FOR MORE EXCHANGES OF PROFESSORS, AUTHORS,
JOURNALISTS AND TOURISTS. THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUED A
STATEMENT FOLLOWNG THE KHATAMI INTERVIEW WELCOMING THE CALL FOR
PEOPLE TO PEOPLE DIALOGUE BUT SAYING THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS
ISSUES IS FOR THE TWO GOVERNMENTS TO TALK DIRECTLY. THE UNITED
STATES WANTS SUCH A DIALOGUE TO INCLUDE WHAT IT SAYS IS IRAN'S
SUPPORT OF TERRORISM AND PURSUIT OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
AS WELL AS ITS OPPOSITION TO THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS.
THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT DENIED THAT IRAN SUPORTS INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISM SAYING ISLAM FORBIDS KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE. HE ALSO
DENIED THAT IRAN IS TRYING TO BECOME A NUCLEAR POWER. BUT HE
REPEATED IRANIAN OPPOSITION TO THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE AGREEMENT
AND CONDEMNED ISRAEL AS RACIST.
/// OPT ///IN HIS LENGTHY INTERVIEW PRESIDENT KHATAMI EXPRESSED
GREAT ADMIRATION FOR AMERICAN CIVILIZATION, WHICH HE TRACED BACK
TO THE PILGRIMS WHO LANDED AT PLYMOUTH ROCK IN THE EARLY 17TH
CENTURY. HE PARTICULARLY PRAISED WHAT HE SAID WAS THEIR
RELIGIOUSITY COMBINED WITH LIBERTY./// END OPT ///
MR. KHATAMI SAID THE HOSTAGE CRISIS THAT BEGAN IN 1979 WHEN
IRANIANS TOOK OVER THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN TEHRAN SHOULD BE
ANALYZED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TIMES. HE EXPRESSED REGRET THAT
WHAT HE CALLED THE FEELINGS OF THE GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE
HURT BY THE HOSTAGE TAKING. HE ASCRIBED THE EVENT TO
REVOLUTIONARY FERVOR AND SAID THERE IS NOW NO NEED FOR WHAT
CALLED "UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS".
MOHAMMAD KHATAMI IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS MORE MODERATE THAN MANY
IRANIAN LEADERS AND HE IS BELIEVED TO FACE OPPOSITION TO HIS
SIGNALS TO AMERICA. IN HIS INTERVIEW HE SAID OPPOSITION IS
NATURAL AND, IN HIS WORDS, THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT AS
IRAN TRIES TO MOVE TOWARD AN ORDERLY SOCIETY WHERE LOGIC
REIGNS.(SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/PT
07-Jan-98 8:11 PM EST (0111 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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