DATE=10/3/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U.S. - TEST BAN (L)
NUMBER=2-254611
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  White House officials are dismissing concerns 
expressed by members of the U.S. intelligence 
community that the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty - 
which comes up for a ratification vote in the U.S. 
Senate later this month - may be difficult to verify.    
Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Los Angeles, 
where President Clinton is traveling.

Text:  Clinton administration officials have launched 
an all-out campaign to win ratification of the test 
ban treaty, which they acknowledge does not yet have 
the support of the required two-thirds majority of the 
Senate.

On Sunday, the Washington Post newspaper - in an 
article that promises to make the administration's 
uphill battle even more difficult - quotes unnamed 
Central Intelligence Agency officials saying they are 
not able to monitor low-level nuclear tests by Russia 
precisely enough to ensure compliance with the treaty.

Opponents in the Republican-led Senate long have 
argued that the pact - which President Clinton signed 
three years ago - cannot be verified.

But White House National Security Council spokesman 
David Leavy disagrees - saying the accord would give 
the United States more tools to verify, while 
constraining other nations from testing.

The verification issue is just one of several concerns 
of treaty opponents.  They say the accord would 
threaten U.S. national security because it would bar 
the United States from modernizing its arsenal in 
response to nuclear threats from other countries that 
may not sign or ratify the pact.  It is another 
argument the administration rejects.

The treaty has been signed by 154 nations - but 
ratified by just 47, including only 23 of the 44 
nuclear-capable countries that must confirm it before 
the accord takes effect.  Administration officials say 
other nations are awaiting U.S. ratification before 
they act on the treaty.

After delaying action on the pact for two years, 
Senate Republican leaders last week abruptly scheduled 
a vote for next week.

Administration officials accuse Republicans of rushing 
the vote in an effort to defeat the treaty.  

The President redoubles his efforts to win support for 
ratification this week - and will seek the backing of 
the former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.   He 
is to address the issue at a defense bill signing 
Tuesday.  

Defense Secretary William Cohen has cut short a trip 
to Asia to return to Washington so that he can present 
the administration's case to the Senate Armed Services 
Committee, which is to begin three days of hearings on 
the treaty Wednesday.

Neb/dat/gm



03-Oct-1999 17:34 PM EDT (03-Oct-1999 2134 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.