DATE=1/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244188
TITLE=U-S-IRAN RELATIONS/ VANCE (L-O)
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: FORMER U-S SECRETARY OF STATE CYRUS VANCE SAYS IT IS TIME 
FOR THE UNITED STATES TO RE-ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH 
IRAN.  CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. 

TEXT: AS SECRETARY OF STATE IN 1980, MR. VANCE PARTICIPATED IN 
THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION DECISION TO BREAK OFF DIPLOMATIC TIES 
WITH IRAN. THE UNITED STATES TOOK THAT DRAMATIC STEP AFTER MONTHS
OF UNSUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS TO FREE 52 DIPLOMATS THE IRANIANS 
WERE HOLDING AS HOSTAGES IN THE U-S EMBASSY IN TEHERAN.  WEEKS 
LATER MR. VANCE RESIGNED FOLLOWING A FAILED MILITARY ATTEMPT TO 
RESCUE THE HOSTAGES.  

THE HOSTAGES WERE RELEASED AT THE BEGINNING OF 1981 AFTER MORE 
THAN A YEAR IN CAPTIVITY. BUT RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND THE 
UNITED STATES HAVE REMAINED STRAINED. NOW, MR. VANCE SAYS, THE 
LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT KHATAMI PRESENTS IRAN AND THE UNITED 
STATES WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE RELATIONS.

                        /// VANCE ACT ///

         MY PROPOSAL TO RE-ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS -- NOT 
         NECESSARILY FRIENDLY RELATIONS, BUT DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
         --- IS A SENSIBLE, SIMPLE, AND STRAIGHTFORWARD APPROACH.

         THIS PROPOSAL, WHICH IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF BOTH 
         NATIONS, REQUIRES POLITICAL WILL WITH A LEAP OF FAITH. I
         BELEIVE THE LEADERS -- AND THE PEOPLES -- OF OUR TWO 
         GREAT COUNTRIES ARE CAPABLE OF MEETING THIS CHALLENGE. I
         CALL ON PRESIDENT CLINTON AND ON IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER 
         AYAHTOLLAH KHAMENEI, AND OTHER LEADERS ON BOTH SIDES,  
         TO EMBARK ON THE RAPID RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC 
         RELATIONS.

                        /// END ACT ///  

MR. VANCE -- HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF THE PRIVATELY-SUPPORTED   
AMERICAN-IRANIAN COUNCIL -- SAYS THE ONE MILLION IRANIANS LIVING 
IN THE UNITED STATES ARE THE NATURAL BRIDGE BETWEEN THE TWO 
NATIONS. 

THE FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS THE UNITED STATES MUST 
RECOGNIZE IRAN'S STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL.

MR. VANCE'S COMMENTS TO THE ASIA SOCIETY IN NEW YORK CITY MARK 
THE FIRST TIME HE HAS PUBLICLY SPOKEN ON U-S IRAN RELATIONS SINCE
LEAVING THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION IN 1980. (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/BJS/LSF/

14-Jan-99 12:55 PM EST (1755 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.