[EXCERPTS]
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release May 11, 1998
PRESS BRIEFING BY
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SANDY BERGER,
CHAIRMAN OF THE ECONOMIC COUNCIL GENE SPERLING,
AND DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS JIM STEINBERG
The Briefing Room
2:50 P.M. EDT
..............
Q Tell us what the danger is, as the United States
sees it, is in India's conducting these nuclear tests.
MR. BERGER: We are deeply disappointed by India's
decision to test nuclear weapons, at least by its own announcement.
Our position has been very clear. We have urged countries to
exercise restraint in the testing of nuclear weapons -- either
countries that are declared nuclear powers, or countries that are
not. We have ourselves, along with the other five declared nuclear
states, stopped nuclear testing. We have signed the CTBT. And we
think this is an unfortunate development.
Q Is this because of India's historical fear of
Pakistan? Is that what is driving these tests?
MR. BERGER: Well, there are always regional contexts in
which arms races take place, but in our judgment we do not think that
that justifies this step.
Q How about the missiles testing?
MR. BERGER: We would like to see restraint on the part
of India and on the part of Pakistan both with respect to its nuclear
weapons programs and with respect to its ballistic missile programs.
Q There was no forewarning? Have you had an
indication --
MR. BERGER: We have made known to the Indians -- we
have made it quite clear to the Indians that we would strongly urge
them not to undertake such a test.
Q Their response? Might they now draw back and not
do the test?
MR. BERGER: Well, we would hope that they would not
undertake any further tests, and we would hope that this would not
provoke a new round of escalation.
Q How about sanctions?
MR. BERGER: There are U.S. laws that operate in this
field that apply to so-called non-declared nuclear states. We will
examine those laws very carefully in the context of the reported
actions today and we will obviously enforce our laws.
Q You said just now reported actions, you said, at
least by its own announcement. Is there any doubt on the part of the
U.S. government that they did, indeed, test three nuclear weapons?
MR. BERGER: We don't have any independent confirmation
as of this point of it, David, but they have so stated. We have no
reason to believe that they haven't.
Q You mentioned the arms race. Is that what this is
now? Is there now an arms race between --
MR. BERGER: There has been in South Asia and in the
larger region a dynamic of proliferation that has gone on for over 20
years. This didn't start today. We have tried over the years, as
have previous administrations, to urge restraint. In some cases, we
have been successful, in some cases we haven't. We will continue to
work toward that goal.
Q Does India's decision put at risk the President's
plans to travel to India?
MR. BERGER: We have no plans -- we don't plan to change
our plans. That's poor grammar. Our plans remain unchanged. I
think it remains important, Susan, that we continue our dialogue with
Pakistan, with India. There is an enormous amount -- India, for
example, and the United States are the two largest democracies in the
world. There is an enormous amount of common interests that we have.
But I think we have a better chance at de-escalating or at least
slowing these kinds of actions if we remain engaged than if we don't.
Q Mr. Berger, you mentioned that would enforce U.S.
laws, but is the U.S. considering any further sanctions against
India, other than --
MR. BERGER: There are laws that pertain to these kinds
of matters, some of which do involve sanctions. No determination has
been made. We are reviewing those laws to determine what the facts
are, what the law is, and whether the law applies to these facts.
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