DATE=4/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229713
TITLE=V-O-A / IRAN BROADCASTS (L)
BYLINE=VALONDA BRUINTON
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT SUPPORTS INCREASED FARSI 
LANGUAGE BROADCASTS BY THE VOICE OF AMERICA AS A WAY TO ENRICH 
POLITICAL DEBATE IN IRAN, AND DOES NOT PLAN TO USE A PROPOSED NEW
SERVICE TO BEAM ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA INTO THE COUNTRY.  
V-O-A'S VALONDA BRUINTON HAS MORE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT. 



TEXT:   SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS A REPORT (IN THE NEW YORK 
TIMES) THAT A PROPOSED PERSIAN LANGUAGE RADIO SERVICE WOULD BEAM 
ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA INTO IRAN IS FALSE.  HE SAID THE 
SERVICE WOULD PROVIDE MORE DETAILED FACTUAL REPORTING ON 
POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING THE 
COUNTRY.

THE U-S CONGRESS MANDATED THE RADIO SERVICE IN LEGISLATION LAST 
YEAR BUT MR. RUBIN SAID THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND CONGRESS 
DISAGREE ON HOW TO PROCEED.                       

                        /// RUBIN ACT ///

   WE ARE NOW ENGAGED IN A DISCUSSION WITH THEM (CONGRESS) ABOUT 
WHAT THE BEST APPROACH TO THIS IS BUT OUR STRONG BELIEF IS THAT 
THE BETTER COURSE IS TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON VOICE OF AMERICA  
BROADCASTS, NOT SURROGATE BROADCASTING.

                        /// END ACT /// 

THE UNITED STATES HAS HAD A HOSTILE RELATIONSHIP TOWARD IRAN 
SINCE IRAN'S REVOLUTION IN 1979. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION 
ARGUED AGAINST THE CREATION OF A NEW PERSIAN LANGUAGE STATION 
BECAUSE IT FELT THIS MIGHT UPSET IRAN AT A TIME WHEN RELATIONS 
ARE IMPROVING.  IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI SUGGESTED IN 
JANUARY THE TWO COUNTRIES HOLD CULTURAL EXCHANGES AS A WAY TO 
BREAK DOWN DECADES OF MISTRUST.

MR. RUBIN SAID HE DID NOT WANT THE CURRENT NEWS ABOUT THE 
PROPOSED STATION TO BE MISINTERPRETED AS AN ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE 
THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT.  

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE STATE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE 
DISCUSSIONS WITH CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION APPOINTED 
BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS ON THE MATTER. (SIGNED)



NEB/VB/WDC/PT

15-Apr-98 5:10 PM EDT (2110 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.