DATE=10/1/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON / TEST BAN TREATY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254575
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=LAS VEGAS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  President Clinton is stepping up his call to 
the Republican-controlled Senate to pass the 
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.  The Senate plans to 
vote on the pact on October 12th, but it does  not  
appear to have the two-thirds majority needed to 
ratify the accord.  Correspondent Deborah Tate reports 
(from Las Vegas, one of the stops on a cross-country 
trip by Mr. Clinton Friday).

TEXT:  Republican Senate leaders, long opponents of 
the 1996 test ban treaty, decided this week to abandon 
their delaying tactics and schedule a vote on the pact 
-- aware that there does  not  appear to be enough 
support in the Senate for ratification.

Opponents believe the accord would bar the United 
States from modernizing its arsenal to deal with 
nuclear threats from other countries that may  not  
sign or ratify the pact and endanger national 
security.

It's an argument Mr. Clinton rejects.

The President used a fund-raising speech in Las Vegas, 
Nevada, Friday to make an urgent appeal for 
ratification -- noting that the idea of a global test 
ban was first embraced by a Republican President, 
Dwight Eisenhower.

                /// CLINTON ACT ///

It is profoundly important because we are trying to 
stop countries that do  not  have nuclear power now, 
and terrorist groups who do  not  have nuclear power 
now, from getting it.  And it will help us,  not  only 
to restrain people who have nuclear weapons from using 
them ever in the future, but from seeing the 
proliferation of these things.

                  /// END ACT ///

The treaty has been signed by 154 nations but ratified 
by only 47, including just 23 of the 44 nuclear-
capable countries that must ratify it before it can 
take effect.  U-S officials argue that other nations 
are waiting for U-S ratification before they act.

The issue took on a sense of urgency for the 
administration after India and Pakistan conducted 
nuclear tests last year.  The two South Asian rivals 
have  not  signed the pact.   (Signed)

NEB/DAT/WTW



01-Oct-1999 19:21 PM EDT (01-Oct-1999 2321 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.