ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:96071803.NNE
DATE:07/18/96
TITLE:18-07-96 ROBIN RAPHEL ON SOUTH ASIA AT JULY 18 STATE TOWN MEETING
TEXT:
(U.S. to continue its policy of broad engagement) (460)
By Virginia Loo Farris
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- The U.S. intends to continue its policy of "broad
engagement with the governments of South Asia," declared Robin Raphel,
Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, at a U.S.
Foreign Policy Town Meeting organized for regional media
representatives on July 18 at the State Department.
Raphel noted that the economic reforms and liberalization carried out
by several South Asian governments had brought a lot of opportunities.
Asked about relations with India after the change in governments,
Raphel said that U.S. policy toward India had not changed and she
envisioned Indo-American relations as "moving forward on as many
fronts as we can." While the U.S. and India may differ on some issues,
Raphel emphasized that there are "many areas where we cooperate. We
all know what some of the differences are. Both sides are working hard
to understand and manage those differences."
One of the areas of difference is the U.S. and Indian positions on the
draft treaty text of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The
amended text was tabled June 28 when Jaap Ramaker, chairman of the
negotiating committee, asked delegates from the 61 member states to
return to their capitals and study the text. The talks are set to
resume July 29 in Geneva.
Raphel indicated that the U.S. was aware of India's position but
expressed the hope that "India would respect the will of the large
majority of countries" and let the treaty move forward.
Asked about Pakistan and its acquisition of missile technology, Raphel
responded that there is broad concern about missile proliferation in
South Asia. The U.S. encourages all parties to "exercise restraint, to
not deploy or introduce ballistic missiles." On the specific issue of
transfers of M-11, Raphel said, "The standard of evidence is high and
has not been met" as to possible infractions.
While noting that terrorism is an issue in South Asia, Raphel
"continued to be concerned about reports of training in terrorist
camps in Afghanistan." In contrast, Raphel found Pakistan's
cooperation on terrorism "quite good," mentioning their assistance on
extraditions. On the question of Pakistan's support for militant
groups in Kashmir, she said that Pakistan had pledged to clamp down on
any terrorist activities.
Raphel was also queried about U.S. provision of arms and training for
Sri Lanka. She replied that the U.S. has "long had a modest military
training with Sri Lanka;" there had been no change. Arms sales would
continue on a case by case basis, Raphel said and affirmed that up to
this point, there were "no lethal arms sales."
NNNN
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