DATE=5/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232149
TITLE=CLINTON/INDIA SANCTIONS (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=BERLIN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS ANNOUNCED WIDE-RANGING U-S
SANCTIONS AGAINST INDIA IN RESPONSE TO ITS SERIES OF NUCLEAR
TESTS THIS WEEK. THE MOVE CAME ON THE FIRST DAY OF A VISIT TO
GERMANY BY THE PRESIDENT AND TALKS WITH CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL.
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM BERLIN.
TEXT: THE PRESIDENT EMERGED FROM AN INITIAL MEETING WITH MR.
KOHL IN POTSDAM TO ANNOUNCE THE SANCTIONS -- MANDATED BY THE
RIGID ANTI-(NUCLEAR) PROLIFERATION LAW APPROVED BY CONGRESS FOUR
YEARS AGO. HE SAID THE FIVE INDIAN TESTS WERE UNJUSTIFIED,
DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING AND AN AFFRONT TO A WORLD COMMUNITY
INCREASINGLY TO COMMITTED TO DISARMAMENT:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
THE NUCLEAR TESTS CONDUCTED BY INDIA -- AGAINST THE
BACKDROP OF 149 NATIONS SIGNING THE NUCLEAR
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY -- DEMAND AN UNAMBIGUOUS
RESPONSE BY THE UNITED STATES. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
MAKE CLEAR OUR CATEGORICAL OPPOSITION. WE WILL ASK
OTHER COUNTRIES TO DO THE SAME.
///END ACT///
THE PRESIDENT HAD RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM INDIAN PRIME MINISTER
ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE DEFENDING THE TEST PROGRAM ON NATIONAL
SECURITY GROUNDS. MR. CLINTON HOWEVER, SUGGESTED MR. VAJPAYEE'S
NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT HAD INSTEAD CONDUCTED THE TESTS OUT OF A
MISTAKEN NOTION IT WOULD ENHANCE INDIA'S NATIONAL PRESTIGE:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
THEY MAY THINK THAT THEIR SECURITY REQUIRES THIS. BUT I
THINK IT'S MORE LIKELY, IF YOU JUST LISTEN TO THE
RHETORIC OF THE PARTY IN POWER, THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT
THEY HAVE BEEN UNDER-APPRECIATED IN THE WORLD AS A GREAT
POWER. AND THEY THINK ONE REASON MAY BE THAT THEY'RE NOT
AN OUT-FRONT, OUT OF THE CLOSET, OPEN NUCLEAR POWER.
///END ACT///
THE PRESIDENT STRESSED HIS HOPE THAT INDIA WILL NOW JOIN THE
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY, AND THAT PAKISTAN WILL NOT
RESPOND IN KIND WITH ITS OWN NUCLEAR TEST. HE SAID HE HAD MADE A
PERSONAL APPEAL FOR RESTRAINT IN A TELEPHONE CALL TO PAKISTANI
PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF, ASKING HIM TO, IN HIS WORDS:
"RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO RESPOND TO AN IRRESPONSIBLE ACT IN
KIND."
U-S OFFICIALS BELIEVE PAKISTAN HAS THE CAPABILITY TO ASSEMBLE A
NUCLEAR DEVICE AND TEST IT ON SHORT NOTICE.
MR. CLINTON ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD NOT DETECTED
INDIA'S TEST PREPARATIONS AND SAID HE HAD ASKED C-I-A DIRECT
GEORGE TENET TO REVIEW THE APPARENT INTELLIGENCE FAILURE.
THE SANCTIONS WILL BAR ALL BUT HUMANITARIAN AID TO INDIA, FORBID
THE EXPORT OF HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT, AND PERHAPS MOST
SIGNIFICANTLY, COMMIT THE UNITED STATES TO OPPOSE LOANS TO INDIA
IN THE WORLD BANK AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS.
THE UNITED STATES HAS ALSO RECALLED ITS AMBASSADOR, AND THE
PRESIDENT'S PLANS TO VISIT INDIA LATER THIS YEAR ARE UNDER
REVIEW. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/LTD/JO
13-May-98 11:53 AM EDT (1553 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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