20 April 2000
(Clinton advisor outlines views at Foreign Press Center) (670) By Ralph Dannheisser Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- It may well be necessary to attach conditions and understandings to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) signing statement in order to convince dubious senators to agree to ratification of the pact, retired General John Shalikashvili says. Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was named in March as special advisor to the president and secretary of state, with the task of working with U.S. legislators to build support for eventual Senate consent to ratification. Briefing reporters April 20 at the State Department's Foreign Press Center in Washington, Shalikashvili said he seeks "a constructive, non-partisan, low-key dialogue" aimed at demonstrating to the senators that "this treaty is good for the United States." Though President Clinton signed the CTBT on behalf of the United States in 1996, the Senate has thus far withheld the support needed for ratification. Indeed, a ratification vote in the Senate this past October fell short of even a simple majority -- while a two-thirds vote is needed for approval. Shalikashvili said it appears to him that objections raised by some of the senators in opposition fall into three categories: First, he said, "some do not like the idea that this is a treaty in perpetuity," lacking any end date. Second, there is "the issue of the science-based nuclear stewardship program," aimed at insuring the safety and reliability of the nuclear stockpile. Some senators are opposed to proceeding with CTBT until that program is fully in place because, they say, all testing should not be ruled out until then. A possible approach to overcoming this hurdle is to put more resources into the stewardship program so as to speed up completion, Shalikashvili said. A third reservation expressed by some relates to verification of the treaty, the general said. Noting that some senators ask "how you can have a treaty that prohibits any kind of nuclear explosion if you cannot adequately detect it," he speculated that they might favor an approach limiting application of the treaty to tests with detectable yield levels. Shalikashvili said his continuing effort will be "to find out really what it is that they find objectionable," and then perhaps to suggest to the administration "legally accepted conditions" and "legally permitted understandings" that could be added to the signing statement to help muster the needed Senate majority. Overall, he told questioners, "the United States is better off with this treaty than without it." Shalikashvili acknowledged, as has the administration, that the short congressional calendar in this presidential election year makes it unlikely another vote on CTBT ratification can be held this year. Rather, he said, his goal is to work toward developing "a more reasoned judgment" in the next administration. Asked whether he thinks that enough senators will ultimately see the issue his way, he answered, "If I did not think so, I probably wouldn't have taken on this task." Addressing the hostile relations between India and Pakistan, both of which have undertaken nuclear testing, Shalikashvili deemed it "an extraordinarily important goal" for both those nations to become members of the CTBT. "I share the view that...India and Pakistan now live in one of the more dangerous parts of the world," he said, adding that he believes both "have become less secure" since moving toward becoming nuclear powers. When an Indian correspondent asked whether an India without nuclear weapons would be safe from potential Chinese aggression, Shalikashvili responded, "I believe it is in India's best interest to become part of the CTBT. I believe it is in China's best interest to become a full member." Indeed, the general said, "A future where there is no nuclear testing is better for all of us." (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)