DATE=10/8/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - TEST BAN (L)
NUMBER=2-254821
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

Intro:  President Clinton, at a news conference in 
Canada, has called on the U-S Senate to delay its 
planned vote next week on the global treaty banning 
underground nuclear tests. V-O-A's David Gollust has 
details from Ottawa.

Text: In appealing for delay, Mr. Clinton acknowledged 
that pro-treaty forces simply do not have the two-
thirds majority need for ratification in the Senate, 
which is controlled by the Republican Party.

But at the same time, Mr. Clinton refused to make an 
appeal in writing to postpone legislative action until 
after he has left office, as some Republicans have 
demanded. The president accused the majority party in 
Congress of playing politics with the issue:

            /// Clinton actuality ///

      They want me to give them a letter to cover the 
      political decision they have made that does       
severe damage to the interests of the United States 
and the interests of non-proliferation in the world. I 
don't think so. That's not what this is about. They 
have to take responsibility for whether they want to 
reverse 50 years of American leadership in (nuclear) 
non-proliferation that the Republicans have been just 
as involved in as the Democrats.


            ///end act///