DATE=7/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235243
TITLE=SENATE-SOUTH ASIA SANCTIONS (L) 
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 



INTRO: THE U-S SENATE HAS VOTED TO LIFT SOME OF THE SANCTIONS 
IMPOSED ON INDIA AND PAKISTAN AFTER THOSE NATIONS TESTED NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS.  THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  HAS APPROVED A NARROWER 
MEASURE AFFECTING WHEAT SALES ONLY AND MAY TAKE UP A BROADER 
MEASURE LATER THIS MONTH.   AS V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, THE 
SENATE PLAN DOES NOT GO AS FAR AS SOME LAWMAKERS WOULD LIKE.

TEXT: THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY (98 TO ZERO) PASSED WHAT SUPPORTERS 
CALL A SHORT, LIMITED BILL.  IT ALLOWS THE UNITED STATES TO 
RESUME FARM CREDITS, WHICH WERE CUT OFF ALONG WITH OTHER TRADE, 
WHEN THE TWO SOUTH ASIAN RIVALS EXPLODED THEIR DEVICES IN MAY.

SENATORS MAKE IT CLEAR THE BILL IS DRIVEN MAINLY BY ECONOMICS, 
NOT BY ANY CHANGE IN ATTITUDE ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  THOSE WHO 
REPRESENT FARMING REGIONS SAY THEIR HOME STATES ARE SUFFERING, 
BECAUSE THE SANCTIONS EFFECTIVELY HALTED GRAIN SALES TO BOTH 
NATIONS.  REPUBLICAN MITCH MCCONNELL WARNS IF THE LAW IS NOT 
CHANGED BY NEXT WEDNESDAY, (JULY 15TH), AMERICAN FARMERS COULD 
LOSE OUT ON A 350-THOUSAND (METRIC) TON WHEAT DEAL WITH PAKISTAN.

                      /// MCCONNELL ACT ///

         WHETHER THE PAKISTANIS BUY U-S WHEAT, CANADIAN WHEAT OR 
         SOME OTHER COUNTRY'S WHEAT ISN'T GOING TO MAKE A 
         DIFFERENCE ON THE DINNER TABLE IN ISLAMABAD BUT IT SURE 
         WILL IN (THE U-S CITY OF) TOPEKA (KANSAS).  WE SHOULD 
         NOT SACRIFICE THE AMERICAN FARMER IN OUR EFFORT TO PUT 
         THE NUCLEAR GENIE BACK IN THE BOTTLE.

                         /// END ACT ///

WHILE THE MEASURE'S SPONSORS CALL THIS A GOOD FIRST STEP, MR.  
MCCONNELL AND OTHERS WANTED A MORE EXTENSIVE BILL.  THAT PROPOSAL
WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE PRESIDENT TO SUSPEND ALL SANCTIONS UNTIL 
MARCH, NOT JUST THOSE AFFECTING FOOD.  THE IDEA WAS DROPPED AMID 
OPPOSITION FROM SEVERAL SENATORS - INCLUDING DEMOCRAT JOHN GLENN,
WHO WROTE THE ORIGINAL SANCTIONS LAW.

                        /// GLENN ACT ///

         WELL, WE CAN SAY THIS IS A CARROT HANGING OUT THERE.  
         BUT OUR CARROTS TO PAKISTAN IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN 
         REBUFFED BY ONE FALSEHOOD AFTER ANOTHER FOR THE LAST 17 
         OR 18 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING PERSONALLY.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE SENATE IS STILL REVIEWING THE SOUTH ASIAN SITUATION AS WELL 
AS THE BROADER QUESTION OF SANCTIONS IN GENERAL.  A NUMBER OF 
LAWMAKERS BELIEVE THESE PENALTIES ARE APPLIED TOO OFTEN OR TOO 
EASILY, AND ARE NOT AN EFFECTIVE FOREIGN POLICY TOOL. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/WDC/PLM

09-Jul-98 5:37 PM EDT (2137 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.