DATE=7/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251973
TITLE=CLINTON / TEST BAN (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:   PRESIDENT CLINTON IS RENEWING HIS APPEAL TO THE U-S 
SENATE TO RATIFY THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.  HIS COMMENTS
COME AS A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS ALSO CALLED FOR ACTION ON 
THE TREATY.  CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE 
HOUSE.

TEXT:   THE SENATE HAS YET TO TAKE ACTION ON THE 1996 TREATY, 
WHICH HAS BEEN SIGNED BY 152 NATIONS AND RATIFIED BY 41.  TO TAKE
EFFECT, THE PACT MUST BE RATIFIED BY 44 NATIONS THAT HAVES OME 
NUCLEAR CAPACITY.  EVEN ONE HOLDOUT COULD DOOM THE TREATY. 

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE SENATE ACTION ON THE TREATY A
TOP PRIORITY, ESPECIALLY AFTER INDIA AND PAKISTAN TESTED NUCLEAR 
DEVICES IN MAY OF LAST YEAR.  OFFICIALS ARGUE THAT U-S 
RATIFICATION IS ESSENTIAL IF THOSE TWO NATIONS ARE TO BE 
PERSUADED TO SIGN.  BUT THE INFLUENTIAL CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREIGN 
RELATIONS COMMITTEE,REPUBLICAN SENATOR JESSE HELMS OF NORTH 
CAROLINA, HAS VOWED TO BLOCK ACTION ON THE TREATY BECAUSE HE 
BELIEVES THE PACT WOULD HARM U-S NATIONAL SECURITY.  IT IS AN 
ARGUMENT MR. CLINTON REJECTED T-U-E-S-D-A-Y.    

                     // CLINTON ACTUALITY //

         WE HAVE TODAY A ROBUST NUCLEAR FORCE, AND NUCLEAR 
         EXPERTS AFFIRM THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN A SAFE AND RELIABLE 
         DETERRENT WITHOUT NUCLEAR TESTS.  THE QUESTION NOW IS 
         WHETHER WE WILL ADOPT OR WHETHER WE WILL LOSE A 
         VERIFIABLE TREATY THAT WILL BAR OTHER NATIONS FROM 
         TESTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.     

                          // END ACT //

SENATOR HELMS SAYS HE WOULD AGREE TO HOLD A HEARING ON THE TREATY
ONLY AFTER THE ADMINISTRATION SUBMITS TO THE SENATE CHANGES TO 
THE ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY ALONG WITH A CLIMATE TREATY 
NEGOTIATED IN KYOTO, JAPAN TWO YEARS AGO.  BUT THE ADMINISTRATION
SAYS IT WILL SUBMIT MODIFICATIONS TO THE A-B-M TREATY ONLY AFTER 
RUSSIA RATIFIES THE START TWO NUCLEAR TREATY.  IT ALSO WANTS TO 
WAIT TO SUBMIT THE KYOTO TREATY, WHICH AIMS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE 
GASES, UNTIL DEVELOPING NATIONS ARE INCLUDED IN IT.  WITHOUT 
MENTIONING MR. HELMS BY NAME, MR. CLINTON ACCUSED HIM OF WANTING 
TO HOLD THE TEST BAN TREATY HOSTAGE TO UNRELATED ISSUES -A MOVE 
THAT HE SAID WOULD BE 'A GRAVE ERROR'.  (SIGNED)



NEB/DAT/PT

20-Jul-99 3:48 PM EDT (1948 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.