Close encounters, yes, but not by chance. Last week, when Iranian President MOHAMMED KHATAMI found himself in the same rooms with President BILL CLINTON and Secretary of State MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, it was actually part of unprecedented reciprocal gestures between Tehran and Washington choreographed by U.N. Secretary-General KOFI ANNAN.
Just 72 hours before the Millennium Summit, Annan's office contacted Iranian and U.S. officials to see if the two Presidents would be willing to sit through the other's speech at the General Assembly. Another idea was for Albright to attend Khatami's address a day earlier at a UNESCO gathering. Replies were positive, but...
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