SENATE / CHEM WEAPONS

Voice of America 4/7/97

BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=SENATE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  THE U-S SENATE IS STARTING (TUESDAY) A NEW AND
PROBABLY FINAL ROUND OF HEARINGS ON THE WORLDWIDE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY. PRESIDENT CLINTON IS
PUSHING FOR A QUICK VOTE ON RATIFICATION.  BUT
AS V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, THE OPPOSITION
REPUBLICANS ARE NOT YET PREPARED TO GO ALONG.

TEXT:   WEEKS OF NEGOTIATIONS HAVE  NOT  RESOLVED
DISPUTES THAT ARE KEEPING THE TREATY OFF THE SENATE
FLOOR.  THE IMPASSE THREATENS TO HOLD UP A VOTE UNTIL
AFTER APRIL 29TH, WHEN THE BAN ON POISON GAS TAKES EFFECT.

SUPPORTERS SAY THE UNITED STATES MUST APPROVE THE
PACT BY THEN TO HAVE A ROLE IN ENFORCEMENT -- AND
SENATE MINORITY LEADER TOM DASCHLE WARNS TIME IS SHORT.

                            // DASCHLE ACT //

THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH.  THE ISSUE IS TOO IMPORTANT,
THE  CONSEQUENCES TOO SEVERE FOR US TO IGNORE THIS
IMPORTANT DEADLINE --  TO CONFRONT IT, AND TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THIS MUST BE THE WEEK. HOPEFULLY TOMORROW (TUESDAY)
MUST BE THE DAY.

                              // END ACT //

THE TREATY'S OPPONENTS, LED BY FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JESSE HELMS, ARE DEMANDING
COMMITTMENTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE ON KEY ISSUES.
THESE INCLUDE VERIFICATION, THE AGREEMENT'S EFFECT
ON ROGUE STATES AND ITS IMPACT ON AMERICAN CHEMICAL
COMPANIES.

SO FAR, SENATOR HELMS IS ONLY INVITING OTHER
OPPONENTS TO TESTIFY AT THIS WEEK'S HEARINGS.  THREE
FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARIES WILL ARGUE AGAINST
THE PACT TUESDAY MORNING. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/PT

07-Apr-97 5:08 PM EDT (2108 UTC)
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