Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 24, 1990 TAG: 9004240276
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The New York Times
DATELINE: DAMASCUS, SYRIA LENGTH: Medium
An editorial in The Tehran Times, an English-language daily published in the Iranian capital, called on pro-Iranian kidnappers in Lebanon Monday to free another American hostage following the release Sunday of Robert Polhill after 39 months of captivity.
The message behind the commentary, which set off a flurry of speculation that another hostage would be released, seemed to be that freedom for the remaining 17 Western hostages held in Lebanon must entail concessions by the United States and its allies.
In urging kidnappers to release another hostage, The Tehran Times said the move would "contribute to the establishment of a general atmosphere of trust." But it was careful to add that "the release process must be expedited by acts of good will by the concerned party on the other side."
The United States, which has insisted that it will not make any gestures until all the hostages are released, faces demands from a number of directions: The kidnappers want the release of Lebanese Shiites held prisoner in Israel, Iran wants Washington to expedite the return of frozen assets and Syria wants to strengthen its position in Middle East diplomacy.
The Tehran Times, which generally reflects the views of President Hashemi Rafsanjani of Iran, said reciprocity was essential because the business of releasing hostages is "a two-way street."
"One just cannot hope to achieve anything without paying due attention to the rightful demands of the Lebanese groups involved," it said.
Similar messages have been subtly conveyed to Washington by both Iran and Syria.
The fundamental theme is constant: The freedom of the remaining 17 Western hostages can be obtained in return for the improvment of relations with Iran and Syria and a response to at least some of the kidnappers' demands.
Syrian, Arab and foreign diplomats who closely analyzed the events in the six days leading to Polhill's release say they are left with two impressions.
One is that Iran indeed wants to improve relations with the West, ending a decade of hostility and confrontation.
The other, however, is that Tehran's freedom of action is restricted by its links to other anti-Western elements in the Middle East, including Syria, the Lebanese hostage holders and even Libya. These ties, the diplomats say, prevent any of these parties from acting independently.
This means that Syria, for instance, cannot obtain the release of more hostages if Iran or the kidnappers object.
Neither can Iran force its Shiite allies in Lebanon to free hostages without giving them something in return. And the two of them cannot ignore the presence of 40,000 Syrian troops in Lebanon. Nor can they ignore Libya's ability to foment trouble there.
The pro-Iranian Lebanese Shiites have insistently demanded the release of some of several hundred Shiites and Moslem Palestinian militants imprisoned in Israel who were captured in southern Lebanon or inside the occupied territories.
For example, Iran's foreign minister, Ali Akbar Velayati, who was in New York Sunday to attend a United Nations session, echoed a demand often made by pro-Iranian Lebanese Moslems for the release of Sheik Abdelkarim Obeid, a Lebanese Shiite clergyman abducted by Israeli soldiers from southern Lebanon last year.
Iran wants improved diplomatic relations with the United States, the conclusion of negotiations for the release of frozen Iranian assets, and an end to trade embargoes by the United States and European Community nations whose citizens are held hostage in Lebanon.
Syria's unspoken demand is the recognition of its role as a major factor in the Middle East and as the dominant power in Lebanon. Specifically, Damascus wants to be included in any negotiations for peace in the Middle East, to secure the return of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
The Syrians have also made it clear that they want to be taken off lists of nations sponsoring terrorism maintained by the United States and the European Community.
For one thing, the business of hostage-taking has lost support. Syria, Iran, the Palestine Liberation Organization and Libya now openly condemn the practice.
On Sunday Col. Moammar Gadhafy, the Libyan leader, repeated for the second time this month his call to all Moslems to release hostages. Iran went out of its way to press the shadowy terrorist groups it finances to let Polhill go. And Syria, once a key sponsor of anti-Western groups in the Middle East, played a mediating role.
In Iran it seems clear, the diplomats say, that the faction led by Rafsanjani that favors better relations with the West has gained the upper hand over those who want continued confrontation.
by CNB