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DATE=8/9/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=CLINTON / TEST BAN (L) NUMBER=2-252617 BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: President Clinton is stepping up his appeal to the Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty this year. He made his comments at Fort Myer, outside Washington, at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White House. Text: Mr. Clinton called for the Senate Foreign relations committee to hold hearings on the treaty after the lawmaker's August recess. He appealed to the full Senate to vote for ratification as soon as possible - saying it will strengthen national security, not only for the United States, but also for people around the world. // CLINTON ACTUALITY // If we do not ratify, by its terms the treaty cannot enter into force, and countries all around the world will feel more pressure to develop and test weapons in ever more destructive varieties and sizes, threatening the security of everyone on earth. // END ACT // Mr. Clinton noted that four former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff support ratification of the treaty, which has been signed by 152 nations and ratified by 41. The President -- who signed the pact three-years ago - - has pressed for ratification since India and Pakistan conducted nuclear tests last year. He has argued it is essential for the United States to ratify the treaty if Pakistan and India are to do so. But Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Republican Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina opposes the treaty. He says it cannot be verified -- an argument Mr. Clinton rejects. Mr. Helms has held up hearings on the issue -- demanding the administration first send the Senate a global-warming treaty and changes to the 1972 Anti- Ballistic Missile Treaty. But Clinton administration officials want to wait to send the Senate the global-warming pact, which would ban the use of ozone-depleting fossil fuel emissions, until developing nations are included in it. In addition, they do not plan to submit changes to the A- B-M treaty until the Russian Duma (Parliament) ratifies the Start-Two Nuclear Treaty. The administration had hoped the Duma would take up the issue next month, but the decision by Russian President Boris Yeltsin to fire Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin and replace his cabinet may delay such action. (Signed) NEB/DAT/RAE 09-Aug-1999 13:54 PM EDT (09-Aug-1999 1754 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .