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DATE=6/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233672
TITLE=CLINTON / IRAN SANCTIONS (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL VETO A BILL 
FROM CONGRESS THAT WOULD IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON COUNTRIES EXPORTING 
MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.  THE PRINCIPAL TARGET OF THE 
LEGISLATION IS RUSSIA.  V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE 
WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT:  MR. CLINTON HAS COMPLAINED THAT HIS DIPLOMATIC LEEWAY IS 
INCREASINGLY BEING LIMITED BY CONGRESSIONAL SANCTIONS BILLS.  
AIDES SAY HE INTENDS TO VETO THE LATEST ONE -- AIMED AT CURBING 
FOREIGN, AND CHIEFLY RUSSIAN, HELP FOR IRAN'S MISSILE PROGRAM.
REPUBLICAN SPONSORS OF THE BILL ACCUSE MOSCOW OF CHEATING ON PAST
COMMITMENTS TO WITHHOLD TECHNOLOGY FROM TEHRAN, AND CONTEND THE 
ADMINISTRATION HAS LOOKED THE OTHER WAY WHILE THOSE TRANSFERS 
OCCURRED.
BUT WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS PROGRESS IS NOW BEING
MADE WITH MOSCOW ON THE ISSUE, AND THE SANCTIONS BILL WOULD ONLY 
COMPLICATE MATTERS:
                     ///MCCURRY ACTUALITY///
         IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE WORKED IN A VERY 
         COOPERATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL FASHION WITH THE RUSSIAN 
         FEDERATION TO  ADDRESS MANY OF OUR CONCERNS WITH RESPECT
         TO TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS AND PROLIFERATION -- ESPECIALLY 
         AS THEY RELATE TO IRAN.  SO AT EXACTLY THE MOMENT WHEN 
         WE THINK WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS ADDRESSING THE 
         UNDERLYING ISSUE, THIS PROVIDES A VERY INFLEXIBLE SET OF
         HANDCUFFS ON THE ABILITY OF THE PRESIDENT TO CONDUCT 
         FOREIGN POLICY.
                          ///END ACT///
THE PRESIDENTIAL VETO MAY  NOT  HOLD UP, SINCE THE BILL WAS 
APPROVED IN BOTH THE SENATE AND HOUSE BY CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN 
THE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITIES NEEDED TO OVERRIDE THE PRESIDENT.
SPOKESMAN MCCURRY, MEANWHILE, SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION HAS  NOT  
GIVEN UP HOPE THAT THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT WILL RATIFY THE 
START-TWO NUCLEAR ARMS REDUCTION TREATY, DESPITE A SUCCESSFUL 
MOVE BY TREATY OPPONENTS TO DELAY ACTION FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER TWO
MONTHS.
PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SAID HE WANTED DUMA RATIFICATION BEFORE 
MAKING A PROMISED VISIT TO RUSSIA THIS YEAR.  BUT MR. MCCURRY 
HINTED BROADLY WEDNESDAY THAT A MOSCOW TRIP IS NOW BEING 
CONSIDERED, NONETHELESS.  
HE SAID THERE IS A "CLEAR DESIRE" TO SEE THE TREATY RATIFIED, BUT
SAID THERE IS  NO  DIRECT LINKAGE WITH A CLINTON VISIT AND THERE 
ARE OTHER PRESSING ISSUES ON THE U-S/RUSSIAN AGENDA. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/LTD/MMK
10-Jun-98 3:55 PM EDT (1955 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.