It said that he was willing to exert greater pressure on Mr. Sharon's government to ease the confrontation that threatens to destabilize the region.
The reported plan to free the two men came just a week after Iran made its first counterproposal in two years to ease the confrontation with the West over its nuclear program.
In a day of public denunciations and private efforts to ease the confrontation, the White House sought to orchestrate an international warning that North Korea risked even greater isolation from the world.
The two sides would then proceed to talks on political questions, guided by the recommendations of an international committee headed by former Senator George J. Mitchell, which would aim at freezing Israeli settlements and taking other steps to ease the confrontation.
Today's statement appeared to be part of his balancing act, intended to reassure the population that he will not sacrifice hallowed principles as he works to purge his country of violent extremists and ease the confrontation with India.
WASHINGTON — Iran on Monday made its first counterproposal in two years to ease the confrontation with the West over its nuclear program, offering to allow international inspectors "full supervision" of the country's nuclear activities for the next five years, but on the condition that the mounting sanctions against Iran are lifted.
PAGE A4 INSPECTORS OFFERED ACCESS Iran made its first counterproposal in two years to ease the confrontation with the West over its nuclear program, offering to allow international inspectors "full supervision" of the country's nuclear activities for the next five years, but on the condition that the mounting sanctions against Iran be lifted.
The developments showed that the two Koreas were carefully weighing the option of easing their confrontation, analysts said.
An easing of confrontation could help remove barriers to direct transport links and closer economic interaction across the strait, for which Taiwanese businesses and the KMT are clamouring.But can the KMT really achieve a breakthrough?
A joint declaration on border issues, signed on the third day of a visit to China by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of India, represented modest tweaks of phraseology on matters that have been debated in minute detail since the two Asian powers began easing their confrontation 15 years ago.
