DATE=5/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232064
TITLE=SAF INDIA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DELIA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SOUTH AFRICA SAYS IT HOPES INDIA'S UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR
TESTS WILL NOT LEAD TO AN ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA. V-O-A'S
DELIA ROBERTSON REPORTS FROM OUR JOHANNESBURG BUREAU THAT SOUTH
AFRICA TOLD INDIA IT IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TESTS.
TEXT: SOUTH AFRICA WASTED NO TIME IN INFORMING THE INDIAN
GOVERNMENT OF ITS DISPLEASURE AT NUCLEAR TESTS CONDUCTED BY
INDIA.
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN, MARCO BONI, SAID INDIA'S
AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH AFRICA WAS CALLED IN BY THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY.
/// BONI ACT ///
WELL, I CAN CONFIRM THAT THIS MORNING THE INDIAN HIGH
COMMISSIONER TO SOUTH AFRICA WAS CALLED IN BY ACTING
DIRECTOR GENERAL, TUTU MAZIBUKO IN PRETORIA, AND SHE
REGISTERED SOUTH AFRICA'S DEEP CONCERNS AND SIMILARLY
OUR HIGH COMMISSIONER IN NEW DELHI, MR. JERRY MATSILE,
WILL BE SEEKING A SIMILAR AUDIENCE WITH THE FOREIGN
MINISTRY THERE TO DO THE SAME.
/// END ACT ///
SOUTH AFRICA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY TO ENTIRELY DISMANTLE ITS
MILITARY NUCLEAR CAPABILITY AND HAS PLAYED A LEADING ROLE
ADVANCING THE CAUSE OF NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION. // OPT // MR.
BONI SAYS SOUTH AFRICA'S POSITION IS CONSISTENT AND CLEAR.
/// OPT SECOND BONI ACT ///
AND AS YOU KNOW, IT IS THE SOUTH AFRICAN POSITION -- A
CONSISTENT ONE -- THAT WE OPPOSE TESTING OF NUCLEAR
DEVICES AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE.
/// END ACT // END OPT //
PAKISTAN HAS REACTED TO THE TESTS BY SAYING IT WILL NOW SPEED UP
PLANS TO TEST ITS OWN NUCLEAR DEVICES. MR. BONI SAYS THIS
REACTION LENDS SUBSTANCE TO SOUTH AFRICA'S DEEP CONCERN INDIA'S
NUCLEAR DEVICE TESTS WILL PRECIPITATE AN ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DAR/PCF/RAE
12-May-98 9:45 AM EDT (1345 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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