DATE=3/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - RUSSIA - IRAN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260199
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
INTERNET=YES
INTRO: President Clinton has signed into law a
measure aimed at punishing Russia and other countries
if they help Iran acquire weapons of mass destruction.
Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White
House.
Text: The Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 - which
was passed by the Senate last month after it was
approved by the House last year - gives the United
States the discretionary authority to impose sanctions
on any country that gives nuclear, chemical or
biological weapons technology or equipment to Iran.
For example, the new law bars the United States from
making `extraordinary payments' to Russia's space
agency for the International Space Station project
unless Washington confirms that Moscow has not
transferred nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or
technology to Tehran during the previous year. The
Clinton administration has proposed paying 650 million
dollars above the original amount pledged for Russia's
space station to keep cash-strapped Moscow involved in
the program.
In a written statement, Mr. Clinton says Russia
remains "a valued partner" in the space station
project, and that the new law would not affect
Russia's role in the program.
The measure also calls for periodic reports to
Congress identifying those who transfer weapons
technology or equipment to Iran, and gives the
President the authority to deny export licenses,
government procurement and foreign assistance to those
entities.
Mr. Clinton's statement says he fully shares the
Congress' objective of promoting nonproliferation and
combating Iran's efforts to acquire weapons of mass
destruction and missile delivery systems. He says
the issue remains at the top of the agenda with Russia
as well as with other countries whose companies may be
providing such assistance to Iran.
The President had vetoed a stronger version of the
bill in 1998 on grounds it would harm global efforts
to block Iran's nuclear weapons programs. He says he
signed the later bill because it would not hurt such
efforts.
But Mr. Clinton does say the measure overlaps existing
law, and pledges to work with Congress to reconcile
such overlaps. He notes the United States has
imposed penalties against Russian firms on ten
separate occasions for transferring weapons equipment
or technology to Iran.
/// REST OPT ///
The President signed the bill a day after he extended
sanctions against Iran for another year, citing the
threat posed to US national security, foreign policy
and economy by Iran's support of terrorism, efforts to
acquire weapons of mass destruction and attempts to
undermine the Middle East peace process.
But in an effort to encourage reform and open a
dialogue with Tehran, the United States this week is
expected to announce an easing of its ban on imports
of Iranian carpets, caviar and pistachio nuts. The
announcement is expected Friday.
Relations between Washington and Tehran have been
severed ever since the Islamic revolution in Iran in
1979. (Signed)
NEB/DT/TVM/PT
14-Mar-2000 20:45 PM EDT (15-Mar-2000 0145 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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