Hostage crisis talks gather momentum

Press, 10 January 1981, Page 8

Hostage crisis talks gather momentum

NZPA-Reuter Teheran Efforts to end the 14-) month-old American hostage! crisis gathered momentum ; yesterday as United States, Iranian, and neutral Algerian officials worked intensively to find a solution before the exit of the Carter Administration on January 20. Although the bargaining was still agonisingly slow, diplomats here said they thought that anv ending of the crisis would come with jarring suddenness. Diplomats who have fol lowed the drama since the hostages wer seized by militant Muslims on November 4. 1979, said: “There is now some light at the end of the tunnel." They pointed to the lightning visit to Algiers by the Deputy United States Secretary of State (Mr Warren Christopher) as well as intensive efforts in Teheran by Iranian officials and a delegation of Algerian intermediaries. P.nr thev cautioned that:

ilthe hostage crisis had gone .through similar climactic moments in the past, without result. I Both sides would like a ,j settlement before Presidentelect Ronald Reagan takes office as he may take a ■■tougher line. particularly after he recently described the hostage-takers as barbarians. The diplomats said they believed the hostage issue ’) would take on a completely i different character if it was I still unsolved after Mr Reaigan, who was derided tor J his “tough" policies on ! Radio Teheran yesterday, ■ was in power. ~ They said they thought I j Iranian threats to try the 52 i hostages as spies were largelv bargaining tactics. ilßut Iran might feel obliged ■ ito go ahead with such trials II if negotiations broke down. • i The diplomats pointed out ’•that Iran has promised to ■jfree the captives within 24 -‘hours of the United States I meeting Iranian demands. . “With the secret negotiating

j i going on, the hostages could : 'be free even before we hear -lof any agreement.” one 'Western diplomat said. i Officials have said the -Irole of the Majlis (Parliasintent) is over and Ayatollah rßuhollah Khomeiny — •I whose ruling is always i I sought on big issues — -■seemed to give the Government carte blanche on the ■‘hostages at a meeting with 5 (the Cabinet this week •: There has been speculasltion that Iran might first - [give the hostages to the Alrigerian Government, to -be i i handed over to the United .(states only after Washington has deposited cash guarantees and other pledges 11 with Algeria. >, President-elect Reagan . said yesterday he was quite 1 sure he could carry out any ; accord that President C.-.rter reached with Iran on the t crisis. > But he added that he did I not want to “sign a blank 5 cheque” by agreeing to honour a settlement before » its terms were known.