[EXCERPTS] TRANSCRIPT: DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN,
DEFENSE MINISTER PORTILLO - 03 March 1997

Q: Do the Europeans intend to continue their dialogue with Iran?

SECRETARY PORTILLO: We have absolutely no illusions about Iran. I don't think we really have any difference of perception between Britain and the United States on Iran. The European Union does have a policy of critical dialogue, trying to maintain some sort of engagement with Iran. That is a different methodology from the United States, but I don't think there is any difference whatsoever in our policy. We have no illusions, and we take every opportunity to remind the world that Iran has been involved in the export of terrorism; that Iran is opposed to the Middle East peace process; that Iran is engaged in the development of chemical and nuclear weapons. All of those things are matters of concern to us, just as they are matters of concern to the United States.