DATE= 10/30/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-221954
TITLE=IRAN GAS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BARRY WOOD
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AN INFLUENTIAL U-S SENATOR IS WARNING HE MAY SEEK A
TIGHTENING OF U-S SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN, BECAUSE OF A PLANNED
RUSSIAN AND FRENCH DEAL TO DEVELOP AN OFF SHORE GAS FIELD THAT
WILL PROVIDE IRAN WITH INCREASED FOREIGN EARNINGS. V-O-A'S BARRY
WOOD REPORTS ON A HEARING IN THE U-S SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE
(THURSDAY).
TEXT: SENATOR ALPHONSE D'AMATO IS FURIOUS ABOUT THE PROPOSED TWO
BILLION DOLLAR DEAL UNDER WHICH RUSSIA, FRANCE AND MALAYSIA WILL
DEVELOP A BIG OFF SHORE GAS FIELD IN THE PERSIAN GULF. MR.
D'AMATO'S HEARING TO CONSIDER A U-S RESPONSE OCCURRED AS THE
FRENCH PRIME MINISTER MET IN MOSCOW WITH PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN
AND SAID THE IRAN GAS DEAL WOULD GO FORWARD.
MR. D'AMATO CALLED IRAN A SPONSOR OF STATE TERRORISM DETERMINED
TO DEVELOP WEAPONS THAT WOULD THREATEN, AMONG OTHERS, RUSSIA AND
EUROPE.
// D'AMATO ACT //
INDEED, I THINK WE SHOULD AGAIN PAY SOME ATTENTION TO
WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID BEFORE AND THAT IS
UNCONTROVERTED (CANNOT BE ARGUED). A STRAIGHT LINE
LINKS IRAN'S OIL INCOME AND ITS ABILITY TO SPONSOR
TERRORISM, BUILD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, AND
ACQUIRE SOPHISTICATED ARMAMENTS.
// END ACT //
THE DEAL, SIGNED LAST MONTH, IS COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT THE
U-S EXPORT IMPORT BANK IS PROVIDING LOANS FOR RUSSIA'S GAZPROM TO
PURCHASE U-S MADE GAS EXPLORATION EQUIPMENT. SOME SENATORS WANT
THESE LOANS HALTED. AND THEY PARTICULARLY OPPOSE GAZPROM'S PLAN
TO SELL BONDS IN THE NEW YORK MARKET. MR. D'AMATO IS CONSIDERING
EXPANDED SANCTIONS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT U-S FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
ASSISTING COMPANIES THAT DO BUSINESS IN IRAN.
THE HEAD OF THE U-S GOVERNMENT'S EXIM BANK, JAMES HARMON,
SUGGESTED THAT HALTING U-S SUPPLIES TO GAZPROM WOULD BE
COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.
//HARMON ACT//
GAZPROM IS THE LARGEST INTEGRATED GAS COMPANY IN THE
WORLD. I WOULD HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MANY
OTHER GAS COMPANIES WITH COMPARABLE TECHNOLOGY ALL OVER
THE WORLD.
//END ACT//
ANOTHER SENATOR, CHRISTOPHER DODD, SAID THE MORE EFFECTIVE U-S
RESPONSE WOULD BE TO CONVINCE RUSSIA AND FRANCE NOT TO GO AHEAD
WITH A DEAL THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN IRAN.
// DODD ACT //
WE HAVE GOT TO TRY TO REFORGE, IF WE CAN, THESE
RELATIONSHIPS IN EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE. WE SEE TOO OFTEN
THAT WE ARE LEFT PRETTY MUCH ALONE ON A LOT OF THESE
ISSUES. IF WE WERE ABLE TO GET OTHER PROVIDERS TO SLOW
DOWN AND JOIN US IN SOME OF THESE EFFORTS, WE COULD HAVE
THE DESIRED EFFECT OF CHANGING SOME OF THESE BEHAVIORS.
I KNOW OF NO OTHER COURSE OF ACTION THAT IS GOING TO
PRODUCE THESE RESULTS.
// END ACT //
THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONSULTING WITH THE FRENCH, RUSSIAN
AND MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENTS AND COULD ISSUE A SET OF
RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. (SIGNED)
NE/BDW/MMK
30-Oct-97 3:38 PM EST (2038 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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