DATE=6/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234110
TITLE=CLINTON / RUSSIAN SANCTIONS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE WHITE HOUSE IS SERVING NOTICE PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL
VETO A BILL FROM CONGRESS THAT WOULD PUNISH RUSSIAN AND OTHER
FOREIGN COMPANIES THAT SELL MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN. VOA'S
DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: THE SANCTIONS BILL WAS APPROVED BY CONGRESS LAST MONTH AND
REFLECTS GROWING CONCERN ABOUT IRAN'S EFFORTS TO DEVELOP
LONG-RANGE MISSILES THAT COULD THREATEN U-S ALLIES AND FORCES IN
THE MIDDLE EAST.
THE MEASURE WOULD FORBID U-S CREDITS AND GRANTS AND IMPOSE OTHER
SANCTIONS AGAINST FOREIGN COMPANIES FOUND TO HAVE ASSISTED
IRANIAN MISSILE EFFORTS. IT IS CHIEFLY AIMED AT RUSSIAN FIRMS
HELD REPONSIBLE IN THE PAST FOR SELLING IRAN ROCKET TECHNOLOGY
AND COMPONENTS.
BUT CLINTON NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER TOLD REPORTERS
HERE THE MEASURE TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF WHAT HE SAID HAVE BEEN
"SIGNIFICANT" EFFORTS BY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO CONTROL TECHNOLOGY EXPORTS:
///BERGER ACTUALITY///
WE'VE SEEN THEM PROMULGATE A CATCH-ALL REGULATION WHICH
THEY NEVER HAD BEFORE WHICH GIVES THEM THE LEGAL
AUTHORITY. WE'VE SEEN VERY STRONG STATEMENTS FROM
PRESIDENT YELTSIN ON DOWN. THEY'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION. WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS SAY: NO GOOD DEED GOES
UNPUNISHED. THAT IS, WE WILL TAKE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE
TRYING TO BRING THIS UNDER CONTROL AND CUT THEIR LEGS
OUT FROM UNDER THEM BY SAYING THE RESPONSE IS THAT
AMERICA WILL IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON THEM. I THINK IT IS A
FUNDAMENTAL, PROFOUND MISTAKE.
///END ACT///
MR. BERGER ALSO REITERATED ADMINISTRATION CONCERN THAT CONGRESS
HAS TURNED TOO FREQUENTLY TO SANCTIONS LAWS, THAT OFTEN TIE THE
ADMINISTRATION'S HANDS IN FOREIGN POLICY-MAKING AND SERVE TO
UNDERMINE U-S INTERESTS.
SPONSORS OF THE SANCTIONS BILL HOWEVER SAY IRAN'S MISSILE PROGRAM
HAS BEEN GREATLY AIDED BY A NUMBER OF RUSSIAN ENTITIES AND THE
ADMINISTRATION'S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS ON THE ISSUE HAVE FAILED.
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT, A CO-SPONSOR, SAYS THE BILL
ADDRESSES A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER FROM IRAN, A TERRORIST STATE
UNDER U-S LAW.
THE MEASURE STANDS A GOOD CHANCE OF BECOMING LAW DESPITE THE
CLINTON VETO, EXPECTED IN A FEW DAYS, SINCE IT WAS APPROVED BY
BOTH HOUSEES OF CONGRESS BY MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS MAJORITIES
NEEDED FOR A VETO OVER-RIDE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/PT
17-Jun-98 6:07 PM EDT (2207 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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