DATE=11/15/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-241699 TITLE=INDIA / REACTION / L-O BYLINE=ANJAPA PASRICHA DATELINE=NEW DELHI CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: INDIA HAS REACTED SHARPLY TO THE UNITED STATES' MOVE TO BAR MORE THAN 200 INDIAN COMPANIES FROM CONDUCTING TRADE AND BUSINESS RELATIONS WITH THE U-S FIRMS. THE LATEST U-S ACTION IS PART OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON INDIA AFTER IT CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. FROM NEW DELHI, ANJANA PASRICHA HAS A REPORT. TEXT: INDIAN COMMERCE MINISTER RAMAKRISHNA HEGDE HAS STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE U-S ACTION. SPEAKING AT A TRADE CONFERENCE OF 77 DEVELOPING NATIONS SUNDAY, HE SAID INDIA WILL LODGE A STRONG PROTEST WITH THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. UNDER THE LATEST U-S MOVE, 40 INDIAN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR 200 SUBSIDIARIES BELIEVED TO BE INVOLVED IN NUCLEAR, MISSILE AND MILITARY PROGRAMS WILL BE AFFECTED. THE COMMERCE MINISTER'S REMARKS CAME AFTER BOTH INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY AND DOMESTIC INDUSTRY SLAMMED THE LATEST U-S ACTION. A FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT DESCRIBES THE U-S STEP AS A "HIGHLY UNFORTUNATE DEVELOPMENT." IT SAYS THE MOVE IS PART OF WHAT IT CALLS A "COERCIVE APPROACH THAT IS ENTIRELY MISPLACED AND COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE." A MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS SUCH STEPS ARE UNHELPFUL IN IMPROVING BILATERAL RELATIONS. THE CONFEDERATION OF INDIAN INDUSTRY CALLS THE MOVE "UNCALLED FOR, UNTIMELY, AND HARMFUL TO INDO / U-S BUSINESS." IT SAYS THE UNITED STATES SHOULD REVIEW ITS DECISION. BUSINESS LEADERS SAY AMERICAN POLICY TOWARD INDIA IS DISAPPOINTING AND INCONSISTENT. THEY POINT OUT THE LATEST STEP HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED JUST A WEEK AFTER THERE WAS A MOVE TO EASE SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON INDIA AND PAKISTAN. INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES ARE ENGAGED IN A SENIOR-LEVEL DIALOGUE TO NARROW DIFFERENCES ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT ISSUES. THE NEXT ROUND OF TALKS IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE LATER THIS MONTH. ONE OF THE GOALS OF THIS DIALOGUE IS LIFTING OF SANCTIONS, IN RETURN FOR NEW DELHI'S COMPLIANCE WITH NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATIES. (SIGNED) NEB / WD / WD 15-Nov-98 6:41 AM EST (1141 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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