President Bill Clinton said on Monday (15/12) he would welcome
talks with Iran if it covers the contentious issues that separate Washington and Tehran. Clinton's announcement was a response to the conciliatory remarks made by Iran's moderate President Mohammed Khatami who announced on unday (14/12) his hope for a dialogue with the
United States.
SHOWS:
WASHINGTON DC, USA. 15/12
President Bill Clinton and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern walk out of office for presser;
SOT President Bill Clinton: "I was quite encouraged by Mr. Khatami's statement, and it was welcome and I would say again I would like nothing better than to have dialogue with Iran as long as we can have an honest discussion of all the relevant issues. We remain concerned about their sponsorship of terrorism, about violent attacks on the (Middle East) peace process, about development and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction. And we will continue to be concerned about those things, but I was quite encouraged by the President's statement
and I think the American people should be";
SOT Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern (re: talks with Clinton on peace process): "This morning we had an opportunity of going through the factors of the talks, the three strands, and how we can work into the springtime to try to get to a comprehensive settlement. I think, like the meeting we had with Tony Blair the other day, the president is in full agreement and is urging that we must now get into the detail. We have to try to put together a comprehensive agreement that the people will be allowed to vote on that is balanced for all sides and that is precisely what we are doing. Mr President said by St Patricks day,
hopefully I can report back some progress in that area";
President Bill Clinton said on Monday (15/12) he would welcome
talks with Iran if it covers the contentious issues that separate Washington and Tehran. Clinton's announcement was a response to the conciliatory remarks made by Iran's moderate President Mohammed Khatami who announced on unday (14/12) his hope for a dialogue with the
United States.
SHOWS:
WASHINGTON DC, USA. 15/12
President Bill Clinton and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern walk out of office for presser;
SOT President Bill Clinton: "I was quite encouraged by Mr. Khatami's statement, and it was welcome and I would say again I would like nothing better than to have dialogue with Iran as long as we can have an honest discussion of all the relevant issues. We remain concerned about their sponsorship of terrorism, about violent attacks on the (Middle East) peace process, about development and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction. And we will continue to be concerned about those things, but I was quite encouraged by the President's statement
and I think the American people should be";
SOT Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern (re: talks with Clinton on peace process): "This morning we had an opportunity of going through the factors of the talks, the three strands, and how we can work into the springtime to try to get to a comprehensive settlement. I think, like the meeting we had with Tony Blair the other day, the president is in full agreement and is urging that we must now get into the detail. We have to try to put together a comprehensive agreement that the people will be allowed to vote on that is balanced for all sides and that is precisely what we are doing. Mr President said by St Patricks day,
hopefully I can report back some progress in that area";
