DATE=8/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236462
TITLE=CONGRESS-IRAN (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS BACKING A NEW WAY TO
CURB THE FLOW OF NUCLEAR MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN. V-0-A'S
PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS LAWMAKERS WANT TO CUT U-S CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT THE
I-A-E-A SPENDS TO HELP IRAN BUILD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.
TEXT: THE THREAT OF A PRESIDENTIAL VETO HAD LITTLE IMPACT ON THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. BY AN OVERWHELMING MARGIN (405-13),
LAWMAKERS BACKED A RESOLUTION WHICH -- IF ENACTED -- WOULD CURB
VOLUNTARY U-S CONTRIBUTIONS TO A SPECIAL I-A-E-A FUND USED FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW NUCLEAR POWER FACILITIES.
IRAN PLANS TO BUILD THREE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS BY THE YEAR 20I5.
REPUBLICAN BENJAMIN GILMAN -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE -- SAID BETWEEN 1995 AND 1999,
IT IS ESTIMATED THE I-A-E-A'S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND
COOPERATION FUND WILL CONTRIBUTE A TOTAL OF ONE AND ONE HALF
MILLION DOLLARS TO IRAN'S NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM.
////GILMAN ACT////
OUR NATION PROVIDES ANNUAL VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THAT FUND TOTALING SIXTEEN MILLION DOLLARS IN 1996. THIS
LEGISLATION DOES NOT HALT OUR VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE I-A-E-A, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE THAT NONE OF OUR FUNDS
MAY BE USED TO FUND I-A-E-A PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS IN
IRAN.
////END ACT//
THE HOUSE RESOLUTION WOULD NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON I-A-E-A
SAFEGUARD AND INSPECTION ACTIVITIES -- ONLY FUNDING FOR NEW
NUCLEAR PLANTS WOULD BE AFFECTED. DURING THE HOUSE DEBATE, NEW
JERSEY DEMOCRAT STEVE ROTHMAN SAID THE UNITED STATES HAS GOOD
REASON TO BE WORRIED ABOUT IRAN'S NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM.
////ROTHMAN ACT////
THE ONLY REASON IRAN -- ONE OF THE MOST OIL RICH
COUNTRIES ON THE PLANET -- IS DEVELOPING NUCLEAR POWER
TECHNOLOGY IS TO ADVANCE ITS OFFENSIVE MISSILE
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. TO THINK THAT IRAN IS DEVELOPING
NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY FOR CIVILIAN POWER NEEDS IS NAIVE AND
DANGEROUS -- DANGEROUS TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
/////END ACT//////
BUT THERE WERE WORDS OF CAUTION FROM THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PANEL.
///HAMILTON TEASE ACT///
I RECOGNIZE THE STRONG POPULAR SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL.
BUT I RISE IN OPPOSITION BECAUSE I AM REALLY NOT ABLE
TO POINT TO ANYTHING VERY POSITIVE ABOUT THE BILL THAT
IT WILL ACCOMPLISH.
////END ACT///
INDIANA CONGRESSMAN LEE HAMILTON SAID I-A-E-A INVOLVEMENT IN
CONSTRUCTION OF THE IRANIAN PLANTS WILL ENSURE THEY MEET SAFETY
STANDARDS. HE SAID ENACTMENT OF THE HOUSE BILL WOULD DO NOTHING
TO SLOW OR STOP IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM...AND COULD HARM
WASHINGTON'S ABILITY TO GET COOPERATION FROM OTHER COUNTRIES ON
KEY ISSUES.
/////HAMILTON ACT////
I THINK IT WILL POLITICIZE AND POLARIZE THE I-A-E-A AT
THE VERY TIME THE UNITED STATES HAS FOUGHT OFF ATTEMPTS
IN THE I-A-E-A TO POLITICIZE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO
ISRAEL. IT WILL BE SEEN IN THE I-A-E-A AS AN EFFORT TO
PUNISH IRAN JUST AT THE TIME IRAN HAS AGREED TO NEW
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE I-A-E-A SAFEGUARDS AND INSPECTIONS.
////END ACT////
THE SENATE MUST STILL VOTE ON THE MEASURE. BUT TIME IS RUNNING
OUT FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION. SENATORS JUST STARTED A MONTH LONG
RECESS. WHEN THEY RETURN, THEY WILL ONLY BE IN SESSION FOR ABOUT
FIVE WEEKS BEFORE CONGRESS ADJOURNS FOR THE YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
03-Aug-98 7:29 PM EDT (2329 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
