DATE=9/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238321
TITLE= SENATE / SANCTIONS HEARING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS URGING CONGRESS TO GIVE IT 
GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN IMPLEMENTING LAWS THAT IMPOSE ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS ON COUNTRIES.  UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE STUART EIZENSTAT
TOLD A SENATE PANEL TODAY (TUESDAY) THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS THE 
AUTHORITY TO WAIVE OTHERWISE MANDATORY SANCTIONS, SUCH AS THOSE 
IMPOSED AGAINST INDIA AND PAKISTAN FOR CARRYING OUT NUCLEAR 
TESTS.  VOA'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH HAS DETAILS FROM WASHINGTON. 

TEXT:  MR. EIZENSTAT ASKED THE SENATE TASK FORCE ON ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS TO GIVE THE PRESIDENT WHAT HE CALLED A NATIONAL  
INTEREST WAIVER ON CURRENT AND FUTURE SANCTIONS.

MR. EIZENSTAT SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION ALREADY HAS THE AUTHORITY 
TO WAIVE SOME MANDATORY SANCTIONS -- LIKE THOSE CONTAINED IN THE 
HELMS-BURTON ACT --  DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN
CUBA -- AND A SIMILAR LAW APPLYING TO INVESTMENTS IN IRAN'S OIL 
INDUSTRY.  HE SAID THIS WAIVER AUTHORITY HAS PUT THE UNITED 
STATES IN A BETTER POSITION TO NEGOTIATE.

                      //  EIZENSTAT ACT  //

         WE WERE ABLE TO USE THE LEVERAGE OF SANCTIONS TO GET 
         BOTH THE EUROPEAN UNION AND RUSSIA TO TIGHTEN THEIR 
         EXPORT CONTROL REGIMES, TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR 
         IRAN TO ACQUIRE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  SO WE 
         CREATIVELY USED THE WAIVER AUTHORITY YOU GAVE US TO 
         ACCOMPLISH THE VERY PURPOSES OF THE ACT.  ON THE OTHER 
         HAND, COVERING INDIA AND PAKISTAN, WE HAD NO SUCH 
         AUTHORITY, NO SUCH FLEXIBILTY WHATSOEVER, AND THIS HAS 
         IMPEDED OUR ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF GETTING 
         INDIA AND PAKISTAN INTO A NON-PROLIFERATION REGIME.

                    //  END EIZENSTAT ACT  //

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JOHN GLENN DEFENDED HIS ROLE IN MAKING THE 
SANCTIONS AGAINST INDIA AND PAKISTAN MANDATORY.  HE SAID THE 
REQUIREMENT WAS DESIGNED TO GET CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO 
WORK TOGETHER.

                        //  GLENN ACT  //

         I DON'T THINK THE ADMINISTRATION CAN GO OFF IMPOSING 
         THESE THINGS AND HAVING CONGRESSIONAL OPPOSITION, NOR DO
         I THINK CONGRESS SHOULD BE IMPOSING THESE WITHOUT 
         ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT!  SO I MADE IT WHERE WE HAD TO 
         WORK TOGETHER.

                      //  END GLENN ACT  //

REPUBLICAN SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR, WHO HAS CO-AUTHORED A 
SANCTIONS-REFORM BILL, WANTED TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF REFORM THE 
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WILL SUPORT.

                        //  LUGAR ACT  //

         FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE ADMINISTRATION, YOU ARE 
         ARGUING ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT FOR ENORMOUS 
         FLEXIBILITY, AND BY AND LARGE I UNDERSTAND THAT.  BUT A 
         PART OF THE PROBLEM OF ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN THE LACK OF 
         CONSTRAINT ON THE EXECUTIVE AND THE CONGRESS.  WE HAVE 
         SIMPLY IMPOSED FAR TOO MANY SANCTIONS, UNILATERALLY AND 
         AT GREAT COST TO OUR COUNTRY.

                      //  END LUGAR ACT  //

AFTER HIS TESTIMONY, MR. EIZENSTAT TOLD REPORTERS THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON PERSUADING CONGRESS TO PASS A 
LEGISLATIVE WAIVER TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE HELMS-BURTON ACT.
BUT HE SAID HE IS  NOT  SURE SUCH AN INITIATIVE WILL GET THROUGH 
CONGRESS THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)

NEB/CM/WFR



08-Sep-98 7:52 PM EDT (2352 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.