Iranian domestic television broadcast in full on Thursday an interview by Iranian President Mohammad Khatami with the American TV channel CNN, giving Iranian viewers a chance to see what was the first address by an Iranian leader to the people of the United States since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Iranian radio said it would also broadcast the interview, and the TV promised a repeat later in the day.

In the interview, Khatami renewed a call for dialogue with the American people, saying it was only by removing mistrust that ties between the governments could be restored.

The following are excerpts from the interview, as broadcast by Iranian TV:

[Khatami] ... Look, nothing should prevent dialogue, talk and understanding between two nations, especially between their scholars and thinkers.

Right now, I recommend the exchange of professors, writers, scholars, artists, journalists, and even tourists. A large number of educated and noble Iranians now reside in America as representatives of the Iranian nation. This shows that there is no hostility between the two nations.

But dialogue between civilizations and nations is different from political relations. In regard to political relations we have to consider the factors which led to the severance of relations. If some day another situation is to emerge, we must definitely consider the roots and relevant factors and try to eliminate them ...

First there must be a crack in this wall of mistrust in order to prepare for a change and to create an opportunity to study a new situation.

Unfortunately, the behaviour of the American government, up to this point, has always exacerbated the climate of mistrust, and we do not detect any sign of change of behaviour.

We are looking for a world in which misunderstandings can be overcome, nations can understand one another and mutual respect and logic govern relations among states.

It is the right of every nation to stand by its principles and values, and to expect respect and dignity from others ...

We are a party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The official representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency have inspected our facilities in Iran several times, and have publicly declared that we are not planning on building nuclear weapons and only aim to employ nuclear energy for peaceful purposes ...

After being elected, one should abide by one's promises and not retract on them. I am determined to fulfill my promises and I believe the atmosphere is conducive and will improve day by day. Each person will carry out his tasks in his legal capacity...

Source: Iranian TV 0226 gmt 8 Jan 97

BBC Monitoring (http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk), based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.
 

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