Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 30, 2007

Kissinger Calls for Dialogue Between US, Iran
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A10B1B:A6F02AD83191E160886F602B9FCD7E6F30EB2FA2E66CBB22 Former secretary
of state says international community has an obligation to prevent
nuclear proliferation A former U.S. secretary of state is urging his
government to open talks with Iran over its nuclear programs. Henry
Kissinger, who made the comments in a New Delhi, is regarded as a
hardliner when it comes to U.S. security interests. VOA correspondent
Steve Herman reports from the Indian capital.







Henry Kissinger in New Delhi, 30 Oct 2007Former Secretary of State
Henry Kissinger calls on Washington to negotiate with Tehran
concerning the suspected Iranian program to develop nuclear weapons.

"If there are any representatives of the American Embassy here they
may be unhappy with me," he said. "I personally believe that America
should be prepared to negotiate with Iran on that subject."

In a speech in New Delhi Tuesday, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate added
that the international community has an obligation, if Iran agrees to
talks, to prevent the danger of nuclear proliferation.

The United States, France and Britain favor tougher sanctions if
Tehran does not comply with United Nations demands to halt certain
nuclear activities. China and Russia oppose sanctions.

Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the U.S.
and other governments accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon.

Kissinger, who served as secretary of state in the Nixon and Ford
administrations, told business leaders and diplomats that his visit to
India is not connected to a controversial India-U.S. nuclear
cooperation agreement.

However, on Monday, he met with the leader of the opposition Bharatiya
Janata Party, and, according to news reports, he said that if India's
parliament rejects the deal, then India's trustworthiness could be
questioned.

Indian opposition parties and groups allied with the ruling coalition
oppose the agreement, saying it violates Indian sovereignty or ties
the country too closely to the United States.

Kissinger on Tuesday said delaying approval in India could mean that
the deal will face more opposition in Washington after the U.S.
elections next year.

"Certainly people who are opposed to the present agreement in the
United States are likely to be better organized two years from now
when it comes up again," added Kissinger.

The agreement would end years of international isolation for India's
nuclear industry, imposed because the country developed and tested
nuclear weapons.

Opposition parties in India want to revise the deal, but the U.S.
government has ruled out renegotiating.


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