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GV INTERIOR The Hague Judges seated at International Court of Justice
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2.
GV Delegates seated listening to judge announcing case of U.S.A. and Iran
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3.
SV In London, Cyrus Vance, U.S. Secretary of State, speaking in English to reporters outside No. 10 Downing street
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TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 3: VANCE: "I was very pleased to have the opportunity to meet wit the Prime Minister and with Lord Carrington. I'm most appreciative....of the spirit of hopefulness and co-operation. We covered a broad range of matters centring mainly on Iran and I think that's all I've got to say at this moment."




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TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Judges at the International Court of Justice were considering on Monday night (10 December) a United States' petition for the freeing of 50 hostages in its Teheran Embassy. The court ... sitting at The Hague in the Netherlands...was packed, except for the row of seats reserved for Iranian representatives. Iran boycotted the session...saying the hostages are secondary to 25 years of meddling by the United States in Iran's internal affairs.

SYNOPSIS: U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti urged the fifteen judges to act swiftly to save the lives of the Teheran hostages. Civiletti argued it would be difficult to think of a more obvious and flagrant violation of international law.

He said the seizure of an entire diplomatic mission was unprecedented. It is the first time in twenty years the United States has gone before the International Court of Justice. In a strictly legal sense, it is basing its arguments on the Vienna Conventions of 1961 and 1963 which stipulates diplomats cannot be detained or put on trial. But in a telegram, Iran's foreign minister, Sadeq Qotbzadeh argued the embassy situation was a repercussion of the revolution...which would be handled by Iran. Outside the court...U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance is trying to rally support with visits to heads of state in Europe. On Monday (10 December) in Britain he called on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher...and afterwards spoke with reporter...: