DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=GORE-IRAN-MIDEAST (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262705
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Vice President Al Gore - in an address
(Tuesday) to the pro-Israel lobbying group " AIPAC"
has condemned Iran's espionage trial of 13 Iranian
Jews in Shiraz as a "complete mockery of justice." V-
O-A's David Gollust reports from the White House.
TEXT: Mr. Gore said the trial of the 13 Jews as
alleged spies for Israel is a reflection of a broader
struggle in Iran between reform elements and hard-line
Muslim clerics, who he suggested are behind other
repressive steps including the closure of opposition
newspapers and attacks on political dissidents.
He said despite the contention of court officials in
Shiraz that due process is being served, the trial is
closed to independent observers and to the news media.
In the strongest condemnation to date by any senior U-
S official, Mr. Gore said the trial is a human rights
violation that could negatively impact the future of
U-S-Iranian relations:
/// GORE ACTUALITY ///
They say they have received confessions from
some of the accused. But it is crystal-clear
that these confessions are meaningless and that
the trials are a complete mockery of justice. We
utterly and absolutely condemn these show-trials
as an immoral and illegal abuse of basic human
rights. And let me be clear: the United States
will judge Iran by its actions, not by its
verbal assurances (applause)
/// END ACT ///
The Vice President also said Iran continues to be a
"major" sponsor of terrorism and a seeker of weapons
of mass destruction - what he termed a "deadly and
unnacceptable combination."
In the AIPAC address, Mr. Gore - who is assured of the
Democratic Presidential nomination -- promised if
elected to continue Israel's qualitative military
advantage in the Middle East but also to follow a
broad policy of engagement with the Islamic world.
Addressing the lobbying group a day after a similar
speech by Republican candidate George W. Bush, Mr.
Gore accused the administration of Mr. Bush's father
of trying to "bully" Israel by putting conditions on
the delivery of aid.
He said a Gore White House would never try to force
Israel to do things the Jewish state did not think was
in its own interests.
Mr. Bush on Monday accused the Clinton administration
of taking sides in last year's Israeli elections and
of pressuring Israel into peace-process deadlines.
The Republican contender also said he would move the
U-S embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
immediately if elected - a decision the Clinton
administration and Mr. Gore say should await the
outcome of final-status peace talks between Israel and
the Palestinians. (Signed)
NEB/DAG/ENE/gm
23-May-2000 13:03 PM LOC (23-May-2000 1703 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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