DATE=7/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235243
TITLE=SENATE-SOUTH ASIA SANCTIONS (L)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S SENATE HAS VOTED TO LIFT SOME OF THE SANCTIONS
IMPOSED ON INDIA AND PAKISTAN AFTER THOSE NATIONS TESTED NUCLEAR
WEAPONS. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS APPROVED A NARROWER
MEASURE AFFECTING WHEAT SALES ONLY AND MAY TAKE UP A BROADER
MEASURE LATER THIS MONTH. AS V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, THE
SENATE PLAN DOES NOT GO AS FAR AS SOME LAWMAKERS WOULD LIKE.
TEXT: THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY (98 TO ZERO) PASSED WHAT SUPPORTERS
CALL A SHORT, LIMITED BILL. IT ALLOWS THE UNITED STATES TO
RESUME FARM CREDITS, WHICH WERE CUT OFF ALONG WITH OTHER TRADE,
WHEN THE TWO SOUTH ASIAN RIVALS EXPLODED THEIR DEVICES IN MAY.
SENATORS MAKE IT CLEAR THE BILL IS DRIVEN MAINLY BY ECONOMICS,
NOT BY ANY CHANGE IN ATTITUDE ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THOSE WHO
REPRESENT FARMING REGIONS SAY THEIR HOME STATES ARE SUFFERING,
BECAUSE THE SANCTIONS EFFECTIVELY HALTED GRAIN SALES TO BOTH
NATIONS. REPUBLICAN MITCH MCCONNELL WARNS IF THE LAW IS NOT
CHANGED BY NEXT WEDNESDAY, (JULY 15TH), AMERICAN FARMERS COULD
LOSE OUT ON A 350-THOUSAND (METRIC) TON WHEAT DEAL WITH PAKISTAN.
/// MCCONNELL ACT ///
WHETHER THE PAKISTANIS BUY U-S WHEAT, CANADIAN WHEAT OR
SOME OTHER COUNTRY'S WHEAT ISN'T GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE ON THE DINNER TABLE IN ISLAMABAD BUT IT SURE
WILL IN (THE U-S CITY OF) TOPEKA (KANSAS). WE SHOULD
NOT SACRIFICE THE AMERICAN FARMER IN OUR EFFORT TO PUT
THE NUCLEAR GENIE BACK IN THE BOTTLE.
/// END ACT ///
WHILE THE MEASURE'S SPONSORS CALL THIS A GOOD FIRST STEP, MR.
MCCONNELL AND OTHERS WANTED A MORE EXTENSIVE BILL. THAT PROPOSAL
WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE PRESIDENT TO SUSPEND ALL SANCTIONS UNTIL
MARCH, NOT JUST THOSE AFFECTING FOOD. THE IDEA WAS DROPPED AMID
OPPOSITION FROM SEVERAL SENATORS - INCLUDING DEMOCRAT JOHN GLENN,
WHO WROTE THE ORIGINAL SANCTIONS LAW.
/// GLENN ACT ///
WELL, WE CAN SAY THIS IS A CARROT HANGING OUT THERE.
BUT OUR CARROTS TO PAKISTAN IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN
REBUFFED BY ONE FALSEHOOD AFTER ANOTHER FOR THE LAST 17
OR 18 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING PERSONALLY.
/// END ACT ///
THE SENATE IS STILL REVIEWING THE SOUTH ASIAN SITUATION AS WELL
AS THE BROADER QUESTION OF SANCTIONS IN GENERAL. A NUMBER OF
LAWMAKERS BELIEVE THESE PENALTIES ARE APPLIED TOO OFTEN OR TOO
EASILY, AND ARE NOT AN EFFECTIVE FOREIGN POLICY TOOL. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/WDC/PLM
09-Jul-98 5:37 PM EDT (2137 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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