Get Carter to pave way for talks

IRAN - It is a meeting that could avert a clash of civilisations - conflict between Iran and America. If it goes ahead in the coming days, it would be a momentous and poignant encounter between two former presidents which could help Iran and the US overcome three decades of mutual hostility.

The former American president Jimmy Carter has agreed in principle to meet the former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami who was due to arrive in the United States yesterday.

US-Iran relations have been poisoned since the 1979 hostage-taking at the US embassy in Tehran, and that shadow would loom large in their meeting. Carter has every reason to shun representatives of the Islamic Republic.

The 444-day hostage crisis was largely responsible for his electoral defeat by Ronald Reagan, months after a botched rescue attempt led to the deaths of eight servicemen in the Iranian desert.

On January 20, 1981, minutes after Carter left office and Reagan became President, the 52 hostages left Iran. Khatami's Islamic regime has never repudiated the seizure.

The Carter Centre, which focuses on human rights and building democracy, could not confirm that the meeting between the two former leaders had definitely been scheduled. The White House said Khatami had been invited by private organisations and is not part of the Iranian Government, which has been led by hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since last summer.

"Mr Khatami is free to meet with whom he chooses and is able to speak freely in the United States, the very freedoms that do not exist in Iran," a White House official said.

"We expect that Khatami will face tough questions from his audience in the United States about the past and present behaviour of the Iranian regime, especially with respect to human rights violations that occurred during his presidency."

The US, which believes Iran to be intent on developing a nuclear weapon under cover of a civilian programme, has offered direct talks between the Bush Administration and the Iranian Government.

But these talks, which would be the first in 27 years with the Islamic Republic, would only go ahead if Tehran accepts a UN-endorsed package of economic and technological incentives and resumes a freeze on sensitive nuclear activities.

However, President Ahmadinejad and Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamanei, want negotiations on the Western offer and have rejected the UN's deadline for a freeze.

UN Security Council members are reviewing Iran's 23-page response. Washington is expected to push for sanctions when the 15-member council meets next week.

The possible meeting between Carter and Khatami could open an unofficial channel.

While in the US Khatami, who during his time in office sought to repair relations with the US, will attend a closed-door UN conference, aimed at improving relations between Islam and the West.

- INDEPENDENT