DATE=10/10/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TEST BAN (L-ONLY) CQ
NUMBER=2-254861
BYLINE=JON TKACH
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The Clinton administration is pushing the 
Senate to delay a vote on the Comprehensive Test Ban 
Treaty.  The President has conceded the treaty has no 
hope of passing if voted on, as scheduled, this week.  
V-O-A's Jon Tkach reports administration officials say 
it is a vital issue and should be put up for more 
debate.

TEXT:  Secretary of Defense William Cohen and other 
top administration officials fanned out across the 
country's Sunday television talk shows to support the 
treaty.

Appearing on N-B-C's "Meet the Press", Mr. Cohen 
charged Senate Republicans with playing politics.  He 
warned there will be serious repercussions if they 
reject the treaty.

            /// COHEN ACT ///

      We are in a situation right now where we are 
      about to send a signal to the rest of the world 
      that we are not as serious about controlling the 
      spread of nuclear weapons as we should be.  I 
      believe if we ratify the treaty we will have a 
      chance to at least control the level of 
      proliferation, if not stop it.

            /// END ACT ///

But in another interview, Senate Republican Jon Kyl 
denied suggestions that Republicans are rushing to 
kill the treaty. 

On "Fox News Sunday", he said senators have had ample 
time to make up their minds about the treaty.  He said 
he does not know for sure whether there will be a vote 
this week, but if there is, the Senate will reject it.

            /// KYL ACT ///

      The treaty is not verifiable, it has no 
      enforcement procedure whatsoever.  In fact, Dick 
      Lugar, who I mentioned is a very bipartisan 
      supporter of arms control, has said this is even 
      worse than trying to get Saddam Hussein to 
      comply with the sanctions and the U-N resolution 
      we have enforced upon him.  There is no 
      enforcement mechanism. 

            /// END ACT ///

Senator Kyl says the United States must be free to 
conduct tests in order to ensure the safety of its 
nuclear arsenal.

The Senate Republican leadership has said it will 
delay a vote only if President Clinton agrees not to 
return the issue to the Senate during the remaining 
year-and-a-half of his presidency. 

But administration officials say such a move would 
tell the world the United States can not do business 
during an election year.   (SIGNED)

NEB/JON/RAE/gm 



10-Oct-1999 15:53 PM EDT (10-Oct-1999 1953 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.