The Clinton administration says a House effort to link a chemical weapons treaty with a bill to punish Russia for selling missiles to Iran is delaying the treaty's implementation and damaging America's credibility.
President Clinton won Senate ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention in April after a difficult battle and just days before the pact went into effect worldwide with more than 75 countries participating.The Senate approved legislation to implement the treaty in May. But the House never acted on enabling legislation, giving the House International Relations Committee an opportunity now to attach Iran sanctions.
In objecting to any linkage, the White House complained on Monday that congressional delay already has made the U.S. government miss deadlines to meet two treaty obligations: declaring a list of industry facilities that handle listed chemicals and allowing site inspections.
"We strongly oppose attempts to link these two unrelated issues," said P.J. Crowley, a White House spokesman.