DATE=8/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236462
TITLE=CONGRESS-IRAN (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS BACKING A NEW WAY TO 
CURB THE FLOW OF NUCLEAR MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.  V-0-A'S 
PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS LAWMAKERS WANT TO CUT U-S CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT THE 
I-A-E-A SPENDS TO HELP IRAN BUILD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS. 

TEXT:  THE THREAT OF A PRESIDENTIAL VETO HAD LITTLE IMPACT ON THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.  BY AN OVERWHELMING MARGIN (405-13), 
LAWMAKERS BACKED A RESOLUTION WHICH -- IF ENACTED -- WOULD CURB 
VOLUNTARY U-S CONTRIBUTIONS TO A SPECIAL I-A-E-A FUND USED FOR 
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW NUCLEAR POWER FACILITIES. 

IRAN PLANS TO BUILD THREE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS BY THE YEAR 20I5. 
REPUBLICAN BENJAMIN GILMAN -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE 
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE -- SAID BETWEEN 1995 AND 1999, 
IT IS ESTIMATED THE I-A-E-A'S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND 
COOPERATION FUND WILL CONTRIBUTE A TOTAL OF  ONE AND ONE HALF 
MILLION DOLLARS TO IRAN'S NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM.

                       ////GILMAN ACT////

         OUR NATION PROVIDES ANNUAL VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
         THAT FUND TOTALING SIXTEEN MILLION DOLLARS IN 1996. THIS
         LEGISLATION DOES NOT HALT OUR VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO
         THE I-A-E-A, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE THAT NONE OF OUR FUNDS 
         MAY BE USED TO FUND I-A-E-A PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS IN 
         IRAN.

                          ////END ACT//

THE HOUSE RESOLUTION WOULD NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON I-A-E-A 
SAFEGUARD AND INSPECTION ACTIVITIES -- ONLY FUNDING FOR NEW 
NUCLEAR PLANTS WOULD BE AFFECTED. DURING THE HOUSE DEBATE, NEW 
JERSEY DEMOCRAT STEVE ROTHMAN SAID THE UNITED STATES HAS GOOD 
REASON TO BE WORRIED ABOUT IRAN'S NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM.

                       ////ROTHMAN ACT////

         THE ONLY REASON IRAN -- ONE OF THE MOST OIL RICH 
         COUNTRIES ON THE  PLANET -- IS DEVELOPING NUCLEAR POWER 
         TECHNOLOGY IS TO ADVANCE ITS OFFENSIVE MISSILE 
         TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.  TO THINK THAT IRAN IS DEVELOPING 
         NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY FOR CIVILIAN POWER NEEDS IS NAIVE AND
         DANGEROUS -- DANGEROUS TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

                       /////END ACT//////

BUT THERE WERE WORDS OF CAUTION FROM THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE 
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PANEL. 

                    ///HAMILTON TEASE ACT///

         I RECOGNIZE THE STRONG POPULAR SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL.  
         BUT I RISE IN  OPPOSITION BECAUSE I AM REALLY NOT ABLE 
         TO POINT TO ANYTHING VERY POSITIVE ABOUT THE BILL THAT 
         IT WILL ACCOMPLISH.

                         ////END ACT///

INDIANA CONGRESSMAN LEE HAMILTON SAID I-A-E-A INVOLVEMENT IN 
CONSTRUCTION OF THE IRANIAN PLANTS WILL ENSURE THEY MEET SAFETY 
STANDARDS.  HE SAID ENACTMENT OF THE HOUSE BILL WOULD DO NOTHING 
TO SLOW OR STOP IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM...AND COULD HARM 
WASHINGTON'S ABILITY TO GET COOPERATION FROM OTHER COUNTRIES ON 
KEY ISSUES.

                      /////HAMILTON ACT////

         I THINK IT WILL POLITICIZE AND POLARIZE THE I-A-E-A AT 
         THE VERY TIME THE UNITED STATES HAS FOUGHT OFF ATTEMPTS 
         IN THE I-A-E-A TO POLITICIZE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 
         ISRAEL.  IT WILL BE SEEN IN THE I-A-E-A AS AN EFFORT TO 
         PUNISH IRAN JUST AT THE TIME IRAN HAS AGREED TO NEW 
         ANYTIME, ANYWHERE I-A-E-A SAFEGUARDS AND INSPECTIONS.

                         ////END ACT////

THE SENATE MUST STILL VOTE ON THE MEASURE.   BUT TIME IS RUNNING 
OUT FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION.  SENATORS JUST STARTED A MONTH LONG 
RECESS. WHEN THEY RETURN, THEY WILL ONLY BE IN SESSION FOR ABOUT 
FIVE WEEKS BEFORE CONGRESS ADJOURNS FOR THE YEAR.  (SIGNED)



NEB/PT

03-Aug-98 7:29 PM EDT (2329 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.