DATE=10/5/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SENATE / TEST BAN (L)
NUMBER=2-254688
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S Senate Republicans are urging President 
Clinton to withdraw the nuclear test ban treaty from 
Senate consideration -- where, they say, it faces 
certain defeat.  V-O-A's David Swan reports, the key 
vote on ratification is scheduled for next week. 

TEXT:  Senator Pete Domenici offers a blunt 
assessment: the test ban is in serious trouble and can  
not  be ratified.  The New Mexico Republican gave 
reporters a preview of the message he planned to 
deliver in person to the president (on Tuesday night).

            /// DOMENICI ACT ///

      I'm trying to convince the White House, 
      Democrats and others that this is  not the right 
      time to bring up this treaty -- that if it's 
      going to lose, we should pull it and wait for 
      another day.

            /// END ACT ///

The Clinton Administration, which lobbied repeatedly 
for a vote on the test ban, now finds itself in an 
all-out battle for support.  Officials say the treaty 
is vital to slowing the spread of nuclear arms 
worldwide, and will  not  jeopardize U-S security.

But that argument is meeting widespread resistance 
from Republicans.  They say the pact would keep the 
United States from maintaining a safe, reliable 
nuclear deterrent while allowing other countries to 
build weapons unchecked.

Both sides agree the accord is well short of the two-
thirds Senate majority needed for ratification.  
Republican leader Trent Lott, one of its most vocal 
critics, is pushing the White House to set the treaty 
aside.

            /// LOTT ACT ///

      If the vote occurs, I hope and I believe the 
      treaty will be defeated.  But if they would 
      indicate some willingness to let the next 
      administration and the next Congress consider 
      this and vote on it, we'd entertain that.

            /// END ACT ///

In response, Democratic leader Tom Daschle says he and 
his colleagues will keep fighting for ratification -- 
but he also leaves open the prospect of withdrawing 
the treaty.

            /// DASCHLE ACT ///

      We can  not  afford to send the wrong message to 
      countries all over the world.  We can not afford 
      to send a green light to India and Pakistan that 
      testing is okay.  This treaty must be passed or 
      we ought to find some other way to deal with 
      this.

            /// END ACT ///

As of now, the decisive vote is expected to come next 
week, on Tuesday or Wednesday.  The president and his 
aides are spending this week in Senate hearings and 
meetings, trying to drum up votes.   (Signed)

NEB/DS/TVM/WTW



05-Oct-1999 16:05 PM EDT (05-Oct-1999 2005 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.