DATE=3/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247347
TITLE= FRANCE IRAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY
DATELINE=PARIS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IRAN ON MONDAY (TODAY) POSTPONED A PLANNED TRIP TO FRANCE
BY PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI, SAYING FRANCE WAS  NOT  WILLING TO
RESPECT ISLAMIC CUSTOMS DURING HIS STAY.  MR. KHATAMI HAD BEEN 
EXPECTED FOR A THREE-DAY VISIT BEGINNING APRIL 12TH. JULIAN NUNDY
REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT:  ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN  NO  OFFICIAL FRENCH EXPLANATION 
FOR IRAN'S DECISION, DIPLOMATS IN PARIS SAY THE REASON FOR THE 
IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S POSTPONEMENT IS THAT FRANCE INSISTS ON 
SERVING WINE DURING OFFICIAL BANQUETS.

DURING DISCUSSIONS WITH IRANIAN DIPLOMATS LAST WEEK, FRENCH 
SENATE OFFICIALS REFUSED TO BAN ALCOHOL FROM THE TABLE DURING A 
LUNCH FOR PRESIDENT KHATAMI. 

ONE OFFICIAL SAID THE FRENCH ARGUED THAT WHEN THEIR DELEGATIONS 
VISIT TEHRAN, THEY OBSERVE IRANIAN AND ISLAMIC TRADITION WITH, 
FOR EXAMPLE, FRENCH WOMEN WEARING HEADSCARVES SO AS NOT TO OFFEND
THE IRANIANS.  IN RETURN, THE FRENCH OFFICIAL ADDED, FRANCE 
EXPECTS TO BE ABLE TO OBSERVE ITS OWN TRADITIONS -- INCLUDING 
SERVING WINE AT MEALS -- ON ITS OWN SOIL.

THE STATEMENT ISSUED BY IRAN SAID ONLY THAT MR. KHATAMI'S VISIT 
WAS POSTPONED INDEFINITELY BECAUSE THE TWO SIDES COULD  NOT  
AGREE ON "RESPECTING ISLAMIC AND NATIONAL NORMS."

THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE AS MEMBERS OF THE DISSIDENT NATIONAL 
COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE STAGED A DEMONSTRATION IN PARIS AGAINST THE
VISIT.

ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, ELAHEH AZIMFAR, SAYS WESTERN VIEWS THAT 
PRESIDENT KHATAMI IS A MODERATE ARE MISGUIDED. 

                       ///AZIMFAR ACT ///

         NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN IRAN, THE SITUATION IS STILL THE 
         SAME.  KHATAMI BELONGS TO THE SAME REGIME.  HE IS A 
         MULLAH LIKE THE OTHERS.  HE IS NOT A NEW FACE FOR THE 
         IRANIANS AND, UNDER KHATAMI, 340-PEOPLE HAVE BEEN 
         EXECUTED AND NINE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STONED TO DEATH.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE IRANIAN DISSIDENTS IN PARIS SAY THEY BELIEVE THE TEHRAN 
LEADERSHIP FEAR AN OUTBREAK OF PROTESTS DURING MR. KHATAMI'S 
VISIT, WHEN AND IF IT TAKES PLACE.  FOR THAT REASON, THEY SAID 
THEY PLAN TO CONTINUE THEIR DEMONSTRATIONS TO PERSUADE FRANCE TO 
CANCEL THE VISIT ENTIRELY.   (SIGNED)

NEB/JWN/PCF/RAE

29-Mar-99 9:29 AM EST (1429 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.