DATE=6/3/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-40586
TITLE=CONGRESS - SANCTIONS
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THERE IS A DEBATE IN WASHINGTON OVER THE USE OF ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS AS A FOREIGN POLICY TOOL. ACCORDING TO CONGRESSIONAL
RESEARCHERS, MORE THAN 70 COUNTRIES ARE AFFECTED BY CURRENT U-S
SANCTIONS LAWS. MORE LEGISLATION IS PENDING IN CONGRESS...AND
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS CALLING FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY.
V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CONTROVERSY.
TEXT: WHEN INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS WORK, THEY CAN BRING ABOUT
HISTORIC CHANGE. JUST ASK THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA.
BUT THE HISTORY OF U-S SANCTIONS IS A MIX OF SUCCESS, FAILURE,
AND FRUSTRATION. AUTOMATIC SANCTIONS DID NOTHING TO PREVENT
INDIA AND PAKISTAN FROM CONDUCTING NUCLEAR TESTS. AND DESPITE A
DECADES-OLD U-S EMBARGO, FIDEL CASTRO REMAINS IN POWER IN CUBA.
SANCTIONS LAWS PASSED IN RECENT YEARS HAVE CREATED PROBLEMS WITH
U-S ALLIES, AND TENSIONS BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS.
BUT DESPITE THE CONTROVERSY, THE LEGISLATURE SHOWS NO SIGN OF
LETTING UP. MORE SANCTIONS BILLS ARE PENDING -- INCLUDING ONE
THAT PUNISHES ANYONE HELPING IRAN'S MISSILE PROGRAM, AND ANOTHER
THAT CUTS OFF ALL BUT HUMANITARIAN AID TO COUNTRIES THAT ENGAGE
IN RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. ONE LAWMAKER SAYS CONGRESS IS CAUGHT
UP IN A SANCTIONS FRENZY.
////BEREUTER TEASE ACT///
I THINK WE REALLY ARE BECOMING "SANCTION HAPPY"
HERE...AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US USE THIS TOOL MUCH
MORE CAREFULLY THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
////END ACT///
NEBRASKA REPUBLICAN DOUG BEREUTER IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE ASIA
SUBCOMMITTEE. HE SAYS IN PROPOSING SANCTIONS, MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS ARE OFTEN REACTING TO THE EMOTIONAL PLEAS OF AMERICANS
WITH TIES TO ANOTHER COUNTRY OR REGION.
///BEREUTER ACT///
THE U-S IS UNIQUE IN THAT WE ARE SO MUCH A COUNTRY OF
IMMIGRANTS. ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS ANYPLACE IN THE WORLD
HAS AN ETHNIC CONSTITUENCY IN THE UNITED STATES.
////END ACT/////
MR. BEREUTER SAYS THE PRESIDENT IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE -- TRYING
TO BALANCE DOMESTIC CONSTITUENCIES WITH U-S INTERESTS ABROAD.
THE RESULT, HE SAYS, IS OFTEN THE PRESIDENT SIGNS THE BILLS, AND
THEN WAIVES THE SANCTIONS.
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THAT SOMETIMES THE MERE THREAT OF
SANCTIONS IS ENOUGH. STUART EIZENSTAT IS THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S
TOP OFFICIAL FOR ECONOMIC POLICY.
////EIZENSTAT ACT////
MULTILATERAL SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL IF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
ARE TO BE A TRULY EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR CONTAINING AND
INFLUENCING BEHAVIOR OUTSIDE INTERNATIONAL NORMS. WE
CAN DO A LOT ALONE -- AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE
TO ACT ALONE -- BUT WE CAN DO A LOT MORE WITH SUPPORT
FROM OTHERS.
////END ACT////
RECENTLY, PRESIDENT CLINTON DECIDED NOT TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST
FRENCH, RUSSIAN AND MALAYSIAN COMPANIES SEEKING TO DEVELOP AN
OFFSHORE GAS FIELD IN IRAN. HE ALSO ASKED CONGRESS TO INCREASE
HIS ABILITY TO WAIVE SANCTIONS ON FOREIGN CORPORATIONS ENGAGED IN
CERTAIN BUSINESS VENTURES IN CUBA.
THE OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM CAPITOL HILL HAS NOT BEEN
ENCOURAGING. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
COMMITTEE -- REPUBLICAN BENJAMIN GILMAN OF NEW YORK -- SAYS HE
FAVORS TIGHTENING THE IRAN-LIBYA SANCTIONS ACT, COMMONLY KNOWN AS
"ILSA." HE SAYS HE WANTS TO REMOVE THE POTENTIAL FOR WAIVERS FOR
ENERGY PIPELINE PROJECTS.
////GILMAN ACT///
REMOVING THE NATIONAL INTEREST WAIVER FOR PROJECTS OF
THIS TYPE WOULD, IN MY MIND, SEND A CLEAR SIGNAL THAT WE
ARE IMPLEMENTING ILSA NOT ONLY TO CONTAIN TERRORISM AND
THE SPREAD OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY, BUT ALSO AS PART OF A
COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR THE CASPIAN REGION.
///END ACT///
FOUR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE -- ALL HEAVILY INVOLVED IN
TRADE ISSUES -- ARE URGING CONGRESS TO SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS FOR
APPROVAL OF SANCTIONS LAWS. THEY SAY THAT IN THE MIDST OF
EMOTIONAL APPEALS FOR ACTION, CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT SHOULD
TAKE A STEP BACK AND STUDY THE LONG TERM IMPLICATIONS OF NEW
LEGISLATION.
THEIR CALL FOR OFFICIAL ASSESSMENTS IS NOT WILDLY POPULAR IN
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ASIA SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
BEREUTER SAYS IT PROBABLY WILL NOT WIN CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL.
HE SAYS GIVEN THE CURRENT PRO-SANCTIONS CLIMATE IN CONGRESS, THE
LIKELIEST SCENARIO IS A CONTINUATION OF THE STATUS QUO.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PW/LTD/JO
03-Jun-98 4:05 PM EDT (2005 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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