DATE=5/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232051
TITLE=INDIA / NUCLEAR / GUJRAL (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FORMER INDIAN PRIME MINISTER I-K GUJRAL SAYS HE THINKS
INDIA WILL SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY, OR C-T-B-T,
IN THE WAKE OF MONDAY'S NUCLEAR TESTS. V-O-A NEW DELHI
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS.
TEXT: INDER KUMAR GUJRAL TOLD V-O-A HE EXPECTS INDIA WILL SIGN
THE C-T-B-T, BUT DETAILED DISCUSSIONS ON THE MATTER MUST BE HELD
FIRST. HE SAYS THE TREATY MUST BE WELL-DEFINED AND
NON-DISCRIMINATORY.
INDIA HAS PREVIOUSLY REFUSED TO SIGN THE TEST-BAN TREATY, SAYING
IT SHOULD BE LINKED TO THE DISMANTLING OF EXISTING NUCLEAR
WEAPONS WITHIN A DEFINITE TIME FRAME. INDIA SAYS THE TREATY IS
FLAWED BECAUSE IT DOES NOT COMMIT THE FIVE DECLARED NUCLEAR
POWERS -- FRANCE, BRITAIN, CHINA, THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA --
TO DESTROYING THEIR NUCLEAR ARSENALS.
MR. GUJRAL, WHO LEFT OFFICE EARLIER THIS YEAR, SAYS INDIA WENT
AHEAD WITH ITS NUCLEAR TESTS MONDAY BECAUSE THE WORLD DID NOT
ACT ON ITS LONG-STANDING APPEAL FOR GLOBAL DISARMAMENT.
/// FIRST GUJRAL ACT ///
WE WERE PLANNING TOWARDS (THIS) FOR THE LAST TWO OR
THREE YEARS. AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE TRYING TO SEE IF
THE WORLD WILL LISTEN TO US AND (IF) A DE-NUCLEARIZATION
PROGRAM WAS UNDERTAKEN. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS NOT
DONE. SO THEREFORE OUR OPTIONS HAD NARROWED AND WE HAD
TO DO IT (CARRY OUT TESTS).
/// END ACT ///
AFTER ANNOUNCING MONDAY'S NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS, THE INDIAN
GOVERNMENT RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING IT IS PREPARED TO CONSIDER
SUPPORTING SOME ASPECTS OF THE TEST-BAN TREATY.
MEANWHILE, ON ANOTHER TOPIC, MR. GUJRAL SAYS IT WILL BE
INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT IMPACT THE TESTS HAVE ON INDIA'S BID FOR
A SEAT ON THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. HE SAYS THE MAJOR
POWERS DO NOT TAKE SUCH REQUESTS SERIOUSLY UNLESS -- IN HIS
WORDS -- A NATION IS RICH OR HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
MR. GUJRAL ALSO PLAYED DOWN CONCERNS OVER A POSSIBLE ARMS RACE
WITH PAKISTAN, WHICH HAS FOUGHT THREE WARS WITH INDIA. HE SAYS
NOW IT WILL BE EASIER FOR THE SIDES TO HOLD PEACE TALKS, BECAUSE
BOTH HAVE A DETERRENT. HE SAYS WAR IS NO LONGER AN OPTION.
/// SECOND GUJRAL ACT ///
YOU SEE MAIN POINT IS, THAT PAKISTAN HAS DEMONSTRATED
THEIR MISSILES. WE HAVE ALSO DEMONSTRATED WE HAVE
MISSILES. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN SAYING THAT THEY HAVE A
NUCLEAR WEAPON. NOW IT IS CLEAR THAT INDIA ALSO HAS IT.
SO THEREFORE THE QUESTION IS NOW THAT BOTH SIDES HAVE A
DETERRENT, LET US NOW TALK PEACE.
/// END ACT ///
PAKISTAN SAYS IT HAS THE COMPONENTS OF A NUCLEAR WEAPON, BUT HAS
MADE A POLICY DECISION NOT TO ASSEMBLE ONE. DEFENSE ANALYSTS
HAVE LONG EXPRESSED FEARS OVER AN ARMS RACE BETWEEN INDIA AND
PAKISTAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAB/WTW
12-May-98 6:50 AM EDT (1050 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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