Word: algerian
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1980-1989
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...where-and how-were the other hostages? After the Tehran films had been transmitted, the Iranians televised a Tehran press conference with Algerian Ambassador Abdelkarim Gheraieb. His words were the most comforting yet. He said he and another Algerian diplomat had seen all 52 of the hostages and "found them all in good health." In Washington, the State Department revealed that it was to receive a more detailed report from the Ambassador when he arrived in the U.S. over the weekend. On a holiday vacation in Plains, Ga., President Carter said of the hostages: "They all seem quite well...
...That the U.S. make a "guaranteed deposit" in the Algerian Central Bank. Then, said the Iranians, "whatever amount of the Shah's wealth is cleared up we will take from that deposit." The Iranians also spoke of "procedures" to locate and secure the Shah's estate...
...That the U.S. also deposit the "gold and confiscated wealth" of Iran (a reference to the $13 billion in Iranian assets now frozen in U.S. banks) with the Algerian bank...
...demands for guarantees of money in the amount of $23 billion presented the most difficulties, according to senior U.S. officials. For example, it was unclear what portion of the frozen $13 billion must be transferred to an escrow account in the Algerian Central Bank as a guarantee of good faith. Some $7 billion of those assets is subject to litigation by American companies that had contracts in Iran before the revolution. U.S. officials had hoped Iran would understand that Carter does not have legal authority to expatriate those funds. The implication was that the demand exceeded the amount Carter might...
Despite the disappointment, the Administration found reason for some encouragement in the week's events. Along with Raja'i, Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini himself seemed ready to resolve the dilemma. The Ayatullah personally approved Iran's answer before it was transmitted to the U.S. by Algerian intermediaries. Muskie speculated that Khomeini's involvement signaled a "new phase" in the negotiations. Another hopeful sign seemed to lie in the fact that the Iranians were no longer talking in terms of a possible phased release of their captives, a notion the U.S. has flatly rejected...