DATE=10/7/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - TEST BAN (L)
NUMBER=2-254771
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  President Clinton says next week's Senate vote 
on ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty 
may be delayed.  Bipartisan talks between lawmakers 
and the White House continue on a way to postpone the 
vote on the pact.  The accord faces overwhelming 
opposition by majority Republicans, who believe the 
treaty would harm U-S national security.  
Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White 
House.

Text:  Leaders of both political parties -- fearing a 
domestic and international backlash if the Senate 
rejects the treaty -- are seeking a way to delay the 
vote, scheduled for Tuesday.  

Mr. Clinton suggests the talks are making progress.

            // CLINTON ACT //

      We have had conversations with the leadership 
      and members of both parties, and I think there 
      is a chance that they will reach an accord 
      there.

            // END ACT //

He says many lawmakers believe they do not have enough 
time for serious debate on the issue.

But Republican Senator Jesse Helms -- a long-time 
political foe of the President -- is leading a group 
of conservative lawmakers in pressing for the 
proceedings.  He says the only way he would agree to a 
delay is if Mr. Clinton requests a postponement in 
writing, and promises not to seek action on the treaty 
until after he leaves office in 2001.

Mr. Clinton offered an indirect response to the demand 
-- which the White House has rejected -- as he 
continued his campaign for ratification.

            // CLINTON ACT//

      This is bigger than party politics, this is 
      bigger than personal politics.  This is about 
      America's future, and the future of our children 
      in the world.  We have a chance to reduce the 
      likelihood that more countries will obtain 
      nuclear weapons.  We have a chance to reduce the 
      likelihood that countries that are now working 
      on developing nuclear technologies will be able 
      to convert them into usable weapons.  We have a 
      chance to reduce the likelihood that countries 
      that have weapons will make more advanced, more 
      sophisticated and bigger weapons.  We cannot 
      walk away from that.

            // END ACT //

The President, who spoke after meeting with a group of 
religious leaders to discuss the treaty, said the 
United States has moral responsibility to ratify the 
pact.

He again rejected concerns of opponents who say the 
treaty is not verifiable, and that the U-S inventory 
of nuclear weapons would deteriorate without adequate 
testing.   (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/RAE



07-Oct-1999 14:17 PM EDT (07-Oct-1999 1817 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.