DATE= 9/29/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-220536
TITLE=INDIA SATELLITE (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA'S SPACE PROGRAM HAS TAKEN A MAJOR STEP. V-O-A NEW
DELHI CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS THAT FOR THE FIRST
TIME, INDIA HAS USED ITS OWN ROCKET TO LAUNCH A MAJOR SATELLITE.
TEXT: THE ROCKET BLASTED OFF MONDAY MORNING FROM SRIHARIKOTA
ISLAND IN THE SOUTHEAST OF THE COUNTRY. IT CARRIED A SATELLITE
THAT WILL TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF EARTH WHICH CAN BE USED FOR
PURPOSES INCLUDING CROP MANAGEMENT AND TOWN PLANNING.
IN THE PAST INDIA HAS RELIED ON THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY TO SEND
LARGE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES INTO ORBIT AND HAS USED ITS
OWN ROCKETS TO LAUNCH MUCH SMALLER SATELLITES.
MANOJ JOSHI, DEFENSE EDITOR OF INDIA TODAY MAGAZINE, SAYS THE
LATEST LAUNCH IS AN IMPORTANT STEP.
// JOSHI ACT //
THIS INDICATES THAT INDIA HAS NOW REACHED A CERTAIN
LEVEL OF MATURITY IN ITS ABILITY TO LAUNCH (LOWER) ORBIT
SATELLITES. AND COMMERCIALLY THIS IS A BIG SEGMENT
THAT'S GOING TO OPEN UP, THAT IS OPENING UP A WHOLE
RANGE OF APPLICATIONS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
// END ACT //
PRIME MINISTER INDER KUMAR GUJRAL, WHO WITNESSED THE LAUNCH, SAID
HE WAS PROUD OF THE SCIENTISTS FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENT JUST AS
INDIA IS CELEBRATING ITS 50TH YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITISH
RULE.
INDIAN NEWS AGENCIES REPORT MR. GUJRAL CALLED ON THE UNITED
STATES TO REVISE ITS EMBARGO POLICY ON THE TRANSFER OF STRATEGIC
TECHNOLOGY TO INDIA. MR. GUJRAL SAYS HE MADE THE POINT VERY
CLEARLY IN HIS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON LAST WEEK IN NEW
YORK.
MR. GUJRAL ALSO SAID THAT RESEARCH IN DEFENSE AND CIVIL AREAS
SHOULD BE LINKED SO THAT SOCIETY CAN BENEFIT AS A WHOLE. HE SAID
NO ONE CAN STOP INDIA FROM DEVELOPING ITS MISSILE PROGRAM, WHICH
HE DESCRIBED AS PROCEEDING ON SCHEDULE.
OBSERVERS SAY INDIA'S SPACE PROGRAM SUFFERED A SETBACK IN 1993
WHEN THE UNITED STATES PERSUADED RUSSIA TO STOP TRANSFERRING
ROCKET TECHNOLOGY TO NEW DELHI, FEARING IT MIGHT BE USED FOR
MILITARY PURPOSES.
THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT AN ARMS RACE IN
SOUTH ASIA BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN. THE NATIONS HAVE FOUGHT
THREE WARS AND BOTH HAVE A NUCLEAR CAPABILITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAB/MMK
29-Sep-97 8:55 AM EDT (1255 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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