DATE=9/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238762
TITLE=HOUSE / IRAN STATEMENT (L)
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI IS TO ADDRESS THE 
OPENING OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEXT WEEK IN NEW 
YORK.  MR. KHATAMI IS SEEN AS A FAIRLY MODERATE LEADER, AND MANY 
NATIONS -- INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN UNION -- HAVE BEGUN TO 
NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH IRAN SINCE HIS ELECTION LAST YEAR.  BUT 
AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS, A GROUP OF U-S LAWMAKERS 
(WEDNESDAY) FIRMLY OPPOSE SOFTENING U-S POLICY ON IRAN.

TEXT:  A BI-PARTISAN, 220-MEMBER MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES HAS SIGNED A STATEMENT ADVOCATING A STRONG U-S 
POLICY AGAINST IRAN.  

THE LAWMAKERS DISPUTE THE IDEA IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI
IS A MODERATE, SAYING THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE REAL CHANGE SINCE HIS
ELECTION LAST YEAR.  THEY SAY TEHRAN IS STILL IN THE TERRORISM 
BUSINESS AND STILL SEEKING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

THE REPRESENTATIVES ALSO VOICED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE IRANIAN 
RESISTANCE MOVEMENT -- THE PEOPLE'S MOJAHEDIN -- WHICH THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT PUT ON ITS LIST OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS LAST 
OCTOBER.  AT THE TIME, AN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL CALLED THE MOVE
A GOODWILL GESTURE TOWARD TEHRAN.  

NEW YORK REPRESENTATIVE GARY ACKERMAN OBJECTS.

                      //  ACKERMAN ACT  //

         (IN SHORT) WE REMAIN DISTURBED AT THE NOTION THAT AT THE
         SAME TIME THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS PROFFERING SOME 
         GOODWILL GESTURES TO THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT, PRESIDENT 
         KHATAMI DOES NOT GIVE US ANY INDICATION OF A CHANGE IN 
         HIS GOVERNMENT'S BEHAVIOR.  FOR ALL THE TALK THAT MR. 
         KHATAMI IS A "MODERATE," WE HAVE SEEN  NO  ACTIONS TO 
         BACK THAT UP.  THAT IS ALL WE ASK FOR.

                    //  END ACKERMAN ACT  //

THE 220-MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SAY CALLING THE PEOPLE'S MOJAHEDIN A 
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION VIOLATES THE INTENT OF THE U-S 
ANTI-TERRORISM LAW.

THE LAWMAKERS AND IRANIAN RESISTANCE LEADERS SAY THE GOVERNMENT 
IN TEHRAN IS GROWING WEAKER.  BUT NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN ROBERT 
MENENDEZ SAYS THAT IS NOT A SIGN OF IMPROVEMENT.

                      //  MENENDEZ ACT  //

         IT IS CLEAR THAT THE RECENT TREND IN IRAN HAS NOT BEEN 
         TOWARD REFORM.  WE SHOULD NOT MISTAKE SIGNS OF WEAKNESS 
         OR DISINTEGRATION FOR MODERATION.

                    //  END MENENDEZ ACT  // 

CONGRESSMAN MENENDEZ SAYS IRAN IS  NOT  YET READY TO REJOIN THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

16-Sep-98 2:25 PM EDT (1825 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.