Clinton vetoes Bill on sanctions' waiver

WASHINGTON, Oct 9 (PTI) — President Bill Clinton has vetoed the Bill passed by the U.S. Congress authorising him to waive sanctions against India and Pakistan.

Clinton vetoed the Bill, which was riding piggyback on the Agricultural Appropriations Bill last night on the grounds that it did not compensate farmers enough at a time of very low farm prices.

This is being seen as a setback to the withdrawal of sanctions the USA imposed on India and Pakistan after their nuclear tests in May.

Democratic leaders in the Congress had warned in advance that Clinton would veto the Agricultural Appropriations Bill saying it would not do enough for farmers in distress.

The Congress now has to decide whether to revive the sanctions waiver provision immediately by including it in an omnibus Bill relating to all unfunded appropriations, meeting Clinton’s budgetary objections halfway to prevent a government shutdown.

The sanctions waiver bill is seen as being of interest only to India and Pakistan at this juncture since neither country is expected to sign the Test Ban treaty nor meet other U.S. demands soon.

If the Bill were to get the presidential signature, all it would have done is give authority to Clinton to waive all or some of the remaining sanctions at his discretion.

The waiver authority relates to all the remaining sanctions, except those which concern sale or transfer of military items and their dual use.

Analysts said the White House was not overtly bothered about sanctions in view of the impending congressional polls on November 3, particularly in view of 31 Democrats voting in favour during last night’s vote starting impeachment proceedings against Clinton.

However, American business is reportedly over the delay as several investment decisions continue to hang fire.

In fact, the administration has threatened to veto another Bill that seeks to impose sanctions on any country which discriminates on religious grounds.

Since many of America’s allies in West Asia and Pakistan have discriminatory laws, analysts say Clinton may not take the risk of signing it in the near future.