DATE=5/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232531
TITLE=U-S SENATE / RUSSIA SANCTIONS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=WILLIAM KAUFMANN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A U-S SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE SAYS
SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA OVER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO IRAN ARE
PROBABLY INEVITABLE UNLESS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INTERCEDES
TO DELAY A VOTE THAT IS EXPECTED WITHIN DAYS. AS VOA'S WILLIAM
KAUFMANN REPORTS THE SENATORS SAID SANCTIONS OVER ISSUES OF
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ARE LIKELY TO BE DELAYED.
TEXT: SENATORS FROM BOTH PARTIES ON THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS SAID THERE IS LITTLE DISPUTE
THAT RUSSIA VIOLATED EXISTING AGREEMENTS ON MISSILE TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFERS TO IRAN.
BUT STEVEN SESTANOVICH, THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S TOP OFFICIAL FOR
POLICY TOWARD THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, SAYS THE RUSSIAN
GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS TO SET UP AN
EFFECTIVE EXPORT CONTROL SYSTEM.
/// SESTANOVICH ACT //
WHAT IS IMPORTANT NOW IS TO SEE WHETHER SOME OF
THE INITIAL INDICATIONS WE HAVE THAT THEY'RE
ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING IT, MAKING THAT SYSTEM
WORK, USING THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPARATUS THAT
THEY'VE CREATED TO CREATE THE RESULTS THAT WE
NEED.
/// END ACT ///
MR. SESTANOVICH SAYS SANCTIONS WOULD BRING A PRESIDENTIAL VETO
BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TO U-S NATIONAL
INTERESTS AND SEND THE WRONG SIGNAL TO MOSCOW'S REFORMIST
LEADERS.
REPUBLICAN SENATORS RICHARD LUGAR AND GORDON SMITH AND DEMOCRAT
JOSEPH BIDEN AGREED THAT NOW IS PROBABLY NOT THE TIME FOR
SANCTIONS.
BUT SENATOR LUGAR SAYS SANCTIONS ARE LIKELY TO BE OVERWHELMINGLY
APPROVED UNLESS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION CAN PERSUADE
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO DELAY THE SANCTIONS VOTE THAT IS
INEVITABLE UNDER EXISTING SENATE RULES.
/// LUGAR ACT ///
NOW, WHAT I HOPE THE ADMINISTRATION IS SUCCESSFUL
IN DOING IS VISITING WITH SENATOR (TRENT) LOTT,
(HOUSE) SPEAKER (NEWT) GINGRICH, OTHER PEOPLE IN
LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS WHO ARE EFFECTIVELY EITHER
GOING TO SET-UP THESE VOTES OR WHO, IN FACT, HAVE
EFFECTIVELY POSTPONED THESE VOTES ALL THIS TIME.
/// END OPT ///
SENATOR LUGAR AND HIS COLLEAGUES AGREED THAT SANCTIONS HAVE
LITTLE PRACTICAL EFFECT EXCEPT AS AN EXPRESSION OF THE WILL OF
CONGRESS.
/// OPT /// SENATOR LUGAR HAS JOINED WITH DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN
LEE HAMILTON TO SPONSOR A NEW SANCTIONS BILL THAT WOULD MORE
SHARPLY DEFINE THE GOAL OF SANCTIONS AND PUT LIMITS ON HOW LONG
THEY WOULD REMAIN IN FORCE. // END OPT ///
ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, MR. SESTANOVICH SAYS THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT
HAS TAKEN STEPS TO PROGRESSIVELY IMPLEMENT A NEW LAW ON RELIGION
THAT U-S OFFICIALS VIEW AS TOO RESTRICTIVE.
SENATOR SMITH OF OREGON, WHO RAISED THE SPECTER OF SANCTIONS IN
AN AMENDMENT BEARING HIS NAME, SAYS HE IS ENCOURAGED BY THE
RESPONSE OF RUSSIAN LEADERS.
/// SMITH AT ///
IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO INVOKE ANY KIND OF
SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA, BUT FRANKLY TO ONLY
CONGRATULATE RUSSIA FOR THE PROGRESS THAT THEY
ARE MAKING. BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN IT WOULD BE
PREMATURE TO SAY THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND
EVERYTHING IS FIXED.
/// END ACT ///
SENATOR SMITH AND MR. SESTANOVICH AGREE THAT THE SITUATION OF
FREEDOM OF RELIGION IS NOT AS ENCOURAGING IN OUTLYING AREAS WHERE
25 CASES OF RELIGIOUS HARASSMENT BY LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN
REPORTED.
MR. SESTANOVICH SAYS U-S OFFICIALS BELIEVE THEY HAVE A UNIQUE
CHANCE TO MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS WITH THE TOP ECHELON OF THE NEW
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, WHICH HE SAYS IS MADE UP OF YOUNG LEADERS WHO
ROSE TO PROMINENCE IN POLITICALLY PROGRESSIVE PROVINCES.
(SIGNED)
NEB/WJK/WFR
20-May-98 4:02 PM EDT (2002 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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