DATE=9/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238321
TITLE= SENATE / SANCTIONS HEARING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS URGING CONGRESS TO GIVE IT
GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN IMPLEMENTING LAWS THAT IMPOSE ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS ON COUNTRIES. UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE STUART EIZENSTAT
TOLD A SENATE PANEL TODAY (TUESDAY) THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS THE
AUTHORITY TO WAIVE OTHERWISE MANDATORY SANCTIONS, SUCH AS THOSE
IMPOSED AGAINST INDIA AND PAKISTAN FOR CARRYING OUT NUCLEAR
TESTS. VOA'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH HAS DETAILS FROM WASHINGTON.
TEXT: MR. EIZENSTAT ASKED THE SENATE TASK FORCE ON ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS TO GIVE THE PRESIDENT WHAT HE CALLED A NATIONAL
INTEREST WAIVER ON CURRENT AND FUTURE SANCTIONS.
MR. EIZENSTAT SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION ALREADY HAS THE AUTHORITY
TO WAIVE SOME MANDATORY SANCTIONS -- LIKE THOSE CONTAINED IN THE
HELMS-BURTON ACT -- DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN
CUBA -- AND A SIMILAR LAW APPLYING TO INVESTMENTS IN IRAN'S OIL
INDUSTRY. HE SAID THIS WAIVER AUTHORITY HAS PUT THE UNITED
STATES IN A BETTER POSITION TO NEGOTIATE.
// EIZENSTAT ACT //
WE WERE ABLE TO USE THE LEVERAGE OF SANCTIONS TO GET
BOTH THE EUROPEAN UNION AND RUSSIA TO TIGHTEN THEIR
EXPORT CONTROL REGIMES, TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR
IRAN TO ACQUIRE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. SO WE
CREATIVELY USED THE WAIVER AUTHORITY YOU GAVE US TO
ACCOMPLISH THE VERY PURPOSES OF THE ACT. ON THE OTHER
HAND, COVERING INDIA AND PAKISTAN, WE HAD NO SUCH
AUTHORITY, NO SUCH FLEXIBILTY WHATSOEVER, AND THIS HAS
IMPEDED OUR ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF GETTING
INDIA AND PAKISTAN INTO A NON-PROLIFERATION REGIME.
// END EIZENSTAT ACT //
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JOHN GLENN DEFENDED HIS ROLE IN MAKING THE
SANCTIONS AGAINST INDIA AND PAKISTAN MANDATORY. HE SAID THE
REQUIREMENT WAS DESIGNED TO GET CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO
WORK TOGETHER.
// GLENN ACT //
I DON'T THINK THE ADMINISTRATION CAN GO OFF IMPOSING
THESE THINGS AND HAVING CONGRESSIONAL OPPOSITION, NOR DO
I THINK CONGRESS SHOULD BE IMPOSING THESE WITHOUT
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT! SO I MADE IT WHERE WE HAD TO
WORK TOGETHER.
// END GLENN ACT //
REPUBLICAN SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR, WHO HAS CO-AUTHORED A
SANCTIONS-REFORM BILL, WANTED TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF REFORM THE
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WILL SUPORT.
// LUGAR ACT //
FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE ADMINISTRATION, YOU ARE
ARGUING ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT FOR ENORMOUS
FLEXIBILITY, AND BY AND LARGE I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT A
PART OF THE PROBLEM OF ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN THE LACK OF
CONSTRAINT ON THE EXECUTIVE AND THE CONGRESS. WE HAVE
SIMPLY IMPOSED FAR TOO MANY SANCTIONS, UNILATERALLY AND
AT GREAT COST TO OUR COUNTRY.
// END LUGAR ACT //
AFTER HIS TESTIMONY, MR. EIZENSTAT TOLD REPORTERS THE STATE
DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON PERSUADING CONGRESS TO PASS A
LEGISLATIVE WAIVER TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE HELMS-BURTON ACT.
BUT HE SAID HE IS NOT SURE SUCH AN INITIATIVE WILL GET THROUGH
CONGRESS THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/CM/WFR
08-Sep-98 7:52 PM EDT (2352 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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