DATE=1/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225153
TITLE=SENATE / WEAPONS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S SENATE REPUBLICANS SAY THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOT DOING
NEARLY ENOUGH TO STOP THE SPREAD OF MISSILES AND WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION OVERSEAS. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, THE OPPOSITION
LAWMAKERS ARE RENEWING THEIR CALL FOR A NATIONWIDE MISSILE
DEFENSE NETWORK -- AND PERHAPS SANCTIONS ON OTHER COUNTRIES.
TEXT: REPUBLICANS CHARGE THE ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED TO BACK
UP ITS OWN RULES AND RHETORIC ON WEAPONS PROLIFERATION. IN A NEW
REPORT, SUMMING UP LAST YEAR'S SENATE HEARINGS, CHINA IS
DESCRIBED AS THE WORLD'S MAIN SUPPLIER OF NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL AND
BIOLOGICAL ARMS AND MISSILE TECHNOLOGY.
BUT RUSSIA IS SAID TO BE INCREASINGLY ACTIVE AS WELL. REPUBLICAN
SENATOR THAD COCHRAN, WHOSE SUBCOMMITTEE HELD THE HEARINGS, IS
ESPECIALLY CRITICAL OF MOSCOW'S DEALINGS WITH IRAN.
/// COCHRAN ACT ///
AND THIS IS A DESTABILIZING AND DANGEROUS PRACTICE AND
ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO THREATEN RUSSIA'S SECURITY, IN MY
VIEW. IT CERTAINLY THREATENS OURS -- AND THE STABILITY
IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
/// END ACT ///
WHILE NOT DEMANDING ANY SPECIFIC SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA OR CHINA,
THE REPORT FAULTS THE WHITE HOUSE FOR USING OR ENFORCING THEM TOO
SPARINGLY IN THE PAST. THE SENATE PANEL ALSO HEARED TESTIMONY
ABOUT NORTH KOREA, MAINLY ITS EFFORT TO BUILD AND EXPORT NEW
LONG-RANGE MISSILES.
/// COCHRAN ACT ///
WE'RE ALREADY VULNERABLE TO A MISSILE ATTACK BY A ROGUE
NATION BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A DEPLOYED MISSILE DEFENSE
SYSTEM. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AT THE EARLIEST
POSSIBLE DATE.
/// END ACT ///
THE ADMINISTRATION RESPONDED BY SAYING IT IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO
NON-PROLIFERATION. A STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN MENTIONED THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATIES AS PROOF. BUT
SOME OFFICIALS HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED THE REPUBLICAN-LED CONGRESS
HAS INTERFERED IN POLICY, BY REPEATEDLY VOTING FOR SANCTIONS. THE
NEW REPORT SUGGESTS THIS DISPUTE IS NOT LIKELY TO END ANYTIME
SOON. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/PT
12-Jan-98 4:05 PM EST (2105 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
