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)

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Source: Voice of America

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