Voice of America 4/24/97

CHEMICAL WEAPONS VOTE

BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=SENATE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE U-S SENATE HAS VOTED TO RATIFY 
THE GLOBAL CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION, 
GIVING PRESIDENT CLINTON A VICTORY AND 
PRESERVING AMERICA'S ROLE IN ENFORCING 
THE PACT.  BUT TO WIN APPROVAL, MR. CLINTON 
PLEDGED TO BACK OUT OF THE AGREEMENT IF 
NECESSARY.  V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT:  THE FATE OF THE TREATY REMAINED 
IN DOUBT UNTIL NEAR THE END OF A TWO-DAY 
DEBATE, WHEN SUPPORTERS WON A TEST VOTE 
AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT 
ANNOUNCED HE WOULD VOTE TO RATIFY. 
HIS ENDORSEMENT WAS LESS THAN ENTHUSIASTIC.  
STILL, HE DECLARED THE PACT WORTHWHILE.

            // LOTT ACT //

I WILL VOTE FOR THE CONVENTION BECAUSE 
THE JUDGMENT OF THE MOST SENIOR FORMER 
AND CURRENT MILITARY COMMANDERS BELIEVE
IT WILL MAKE OUR SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN 
AND MARINES MORE SAFE IN POTENTIAL 
BATTLEFIELDS AND LESS LIKELY TO FACE THE 
HORRIBLE PROSPECT OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS. 
I WILL VOTE FOR THE CONVENTION BECAUSE I 
BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES IS MARGINALLY
BETTER OFF WITH IT THAN WITHOUT IT.

             // END ACT //

THE TREATY OUTLAWS THE USE, PRODUCTION 
AND STOCKPILING OF POISON GAS BY COUNTRIES 
THAT SIGN IT, AS MORE THAN 160 NATIONS HAVE.  
IN A LAST- MINUTE BID FOR SUPPORT, MR. CLINTON 
SAID THE UNITED STATES IS PREPARED TO 
WITHDRAW FROM THE PACT IF IT UNEXPECTEDLY 
THREATENS NATIONAL SECURITY.  BUT HE FAILED 
TO MOVE THE HARSHEST CRITICS, LIKE REPUBLICAN 
JESSE HELMS, WHO ARGUES THE TREATY WILL 
SIMPLY  NOT  STOP THE SPREAD OF CHEMICAL 
WEAPONS.

          // HELMS ACT //

MR. (SENATE) PRESIDENT, THIS TREATY WON'T
TOUCH -- WON'T TOUCH -- TERRORIST STATES LIKE 
LIBYA, IRAQ, SYRIA AND NORTH KOREA.  THE
ADMINISTRATION ADMITS THIS ITSELF.  THE 
ADMINISTRATION ALSO ADMITS THAT THIS TREATY
IS UNVERIFIABLE.

          // END ACT //

MORE THAN 70 NATIONS HAVE ALREADY 
RATIFIED THE CONVENTION.  THE WHITE HOUSE 
WAS ANXIOUS TO SEE THE UNITED STATES JOIN 
THEM BEFORE THE PACT TAKES EFFECT NEXT 
WEEK.  AND DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JOSEPH 
BIDEN SAYS THE NATION MUST  NOT  THROW 
AWAY A CHANCE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE.

          // BIDEN ACT //

THIS IS ABOUT LEADERSHIP.  THIS IS ABOUT 
THE ROLE OF UNITED STATES IN LEADING THE 
WORLD.  IF WE REFRAIN FROM EXERCISING THAT 
OPPORTUNITY, AND WE WILL IF WE DO  NOT  
VOTE FOR THIS TREATY, WE WILL HAVE PASSED 
UP AN OPPORTUNITY THAT AS I SAID, RARELY 
COMES TO ANY NATION.

         // END ACT //

THE VOTE COMES LONG AFTER THE UNITED 
STATES SIGNED THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS 
CONVENTION AND BARELY IN TIME TO MEET 
NEXT WEEK'S DEADLINE.  BUT IT SHOULD 
GUARANTEE WASHINGTON A ROLE IN ENFORCING
THE TREATY.  IT HAS ALSO BROUGHT MR. CLINTON 
SUCCESS ON FORIEGN AFFAIRS, AT A TIME WHEN 
HIS DOMESTIC POLICIES AND PERSONAL ETHICS
ARE UNDER ATTACK.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/CF

24-Apr-97 11:17 PM EDT (0317 UTC)
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