DATE=1/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-224990
TITLE=U-S/IRAN (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SENIOR FOREIGN POLICY ADVISERS ARE
EXAMINING THE C-N-N INTERVIEW REMARKS BY IRANIAN PRESIDENT
KHATAMI. BUT THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS IT IS TOO EARLY TO SPECULATE
ON POSSIBLE STEPS TO FACILITATE CONTACTS WITH TEHRAN.
CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: IN ITS FIRST REACTION TO THE KHATAMI REMARKS, THE WHITE
HOUSE SAYS HIS PROPOSAL FOR EXCHANGING VISITS BY SCHOLARS,
JOURNALISTS, AND OTHERS WOULD BE USEFUL. BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE
BEST WAY FOR PROBLEM ISSUES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES TO BE
ADDRESSED IS FOR THE GOVERNMENTS TO TALK DIRECTLY.
WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY TOLD REPORTERS BOTH SECRETARY
OF STATE MADALEINE ALBRIGHT AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY
BERGER WATCHED THE INTERVIEW -- AND PRESIDENT CLINTON APPRECIATES
THE MANY POSITIVE REMARKS PRESIDENT KHATAMI MADE ABOUT THE UNITED
STATES.
MR. MCCURRY SAID CLINTON ADVISERS WILL BE CONSIDERING A NUMBER OF
ISSUES, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF EASING TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
TO FACILITATE MORE VISITS BY PRIVATE CITIZENS OF THE TWO
COUNTRIES.
BUT, HE SAID IT IS -- WAY TOO SOON -- TO SPECULATE ABOUT
ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS. HE STRESSED, AS HAVE OTHER U-S OFFICIALS
IN CONNECTION WITH THE INTERVIEW, ULTIMATELY AN IMPROVEMENT IN
RELATIONS WILL DEPEND UPON NOT JUST WHAT IRAN SAYS, BUT WHAT IT
DOES.
THE INTERVIEW IS UNDERSTOOD HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AT A BUDGET
MEETING, WITH DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, CONVENED BY
PRESIDENT CLINTON. AFTERWARD, NEW JERSEY SENATOR FRANK
LAUTENBERG STRESSED PRESIDENT KHATAMI'S COMMENTS RENOUNCING
TERRORISM, AND SAID THE UNITED STATES SHOULD TRY TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF OPENINGS WITH TEHRAN:
/// LAUTENBERG ACTUALITY ///
I SURE THINK IT IS TIME TO LISTEN IF WE CAN REACH AN
ACCOMMODATION. I WAS IMPRESSED WITH WHAT HE SAID ABOUT
HIS WILLINGNESS TO STAND AGAINST TERRORISM. IF THAT IS
SERIOUS, AND IF THEY CAN PROVE THAT THAT IS WHERE THEY
WANT TO TAKE IT, I THINK IT COULD BE A VERY POSITIVE
STEP. I THINK IT WOULD HELP US IN A COUPLE WAYS, ALSO
TO REMIND IRAQ THERE IS NO WAY TO SUCCEED WITHOUT SOME
KIND OF DIALOGUE. I THINK IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE
HAVE TO INVESTIGATE.
/// END ACT ///
SPOKESMAN MCCURRY REITERATED U-S DIALOGUE WITH IRAN MUST BE
AUTHORIZED AND OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGED, AND IN WHICH BOTH SIDES CAN
BRING TO THE TABLE ISSUES OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE.
FOR THE UNITED STATES, THAT WOULD INCLUDE IRAN'S STRIDENT
OPPOSITION TO THE ARAB-ISRAELI PEACE PROCESS, AND ITS ALLEGED
SUPPORT FOR MIDDLE EAST TERRORISTS AND EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE WEAPONS
OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
PRESIDENT KHATEMI SAID IRAN WANTS TO SEE CHANGES IN U-S BEHAVIOR,
INCLUDING AN END TO ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST HIS COUNTRY, BUT
HE DID NOT SAY DIRECT TALKS WOULD BE CONDITIONAL ON ANY CHANGE IN
U-S POLICY.
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS ARE DECLINING COMMENT ON WHETHER THE TWO
SIDES MIGHT BE ENGAGED IN ANY PRELIMINARY CONTACTS -- SO-CALLED
TALKS ABOUT TALKS -- OR WHETHER THERE HAVE BEEN APPROACHES
THROUGH THIRD PARTIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/RAE
08-Jan-98 12:28 PM EST (1728 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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