Key points of Albright's address on Iran

Saturday, March 18 1:37 AM SGT

WASHINGTON, March 17 (AFP) - The following are key excerpts of US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's address here Friday, announcing an easing of US sanctions on Iran:

"Today, I am announcing a step that will enable Americans to purchase and import carpets and food products such as dried fruits, nuts and caviar from Iran. This step is a logical extension of the adjustments we made last year. It is also designed to show the millions of Iranian craftsmen, farmers and fishermen who work in these industries, and the Iranian people as a whole, that the United States bears them no ill will.

- Second, the United States will explore ways to remove unnecessary impediments to increased contacts between American and Iranian scholars, professionals, artists, athletes and nongovernmental organizations. We believe this will serve to deepen bonds of mutual understanding and trust.

- Third, the United States is prepared to increase efforts with Iran aimed at eventually concluding a global settlement of outstanding legal claims between our two countries.

- In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed its actions were justified for strategic reasons, but the coup was clearly a setback for Iran's political development and it is easy to see now why many Iranians continue to resent this intervention by America in their internal affairs. Moreover, during the next quarter century, the United States and the West gave sustained backing to the shah's regime. Although it did much to develop the country economically, the shah's government also brutally repressed political dissent ... Even in more recent years, aspects of US policy toward Iraq during its conflict with Iran appear now to have been regrettably shortsighted, especially in light of our subsequent experiences with Saddam Hussein.

- Both our countries have fought conflicts initiated by Iraq's lawless regime. Both have a stake in preventing further Iraqi aggression.

- We also share concerns about instability and illegal narcotics being exported from Afghanistan.

- But there are numerous other areas of potential common interest, such as encouraging stable relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, regional economic development, the protection of historic cultural sites and preserving the environment.

- And when we talk about the value of an official dialogue with Iran, we have no secret agenda nor do we attach any conditions."