DATE=5/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232346
TITLE=INDIA / SUMMIT (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=BIRMINGHAM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR TELEPHONED INDIAN PRIME
MINISTER ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE SATURDAY TO CONVEY THE CONCERNS OF
THE BIRMINGHAM SUMMIT PARTNERS OVER INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTING.
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS MORE FROM BIRMINGHAM.
TEXT: PRIME MINISTER BLAIR MADE WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A "QUITE
FIRM" CALL TO THE INDIAN LEADER TO CONVEY THE SUMMIT'S
CONDEMNATION OF THE TEST SERIES. THE SUMMIT PARTNERS HAD
EXPRESSED "GRAVE CONCERN" ABOUT THE RISK OF WEAPONS PROLIFERATION
IN SOUTH ASIA WHILE URGING MAXIMUM RESTRAINT BY PAKISTAN. WHITE
HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER SAYS IF PAKISTAN
STRUCK PRE-EMPTIVELY AGAINST INDIA'S NUCLEAR CAPACITY IT WOULD
PLUNGE THE WHOLE REGION INTO WAR:
///BERGER ACTUALITY///
IT WOULD SIMPLY ESCALATE INTO A REGIONAL WAR WHICH WOULD
HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES FOR BOTH COUNTRIES. BOTH
SIDES WILL LOSE. THE PAKISTANI PEOPLE WILL LOSE AND THE
INDIAN PEOPLE WILL LOSE. THEY'VE HAD THREE WARS IN THE
LAST 20 YEARS AND THEY'VE NOT GAINED FROM ANY ONE OF
THEM.
///END ACT///
MR. BERGER SAID RESTRAINT WOULD GIVE PAKISTAN THE HIGH GROUND IN
ITS STRUGGLE WITH INDIA, WHILE MAKING IT EASIER FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION TO PERSUADE CONGRESS TO EASE RESTRICTIONS ON
COOPERATION WITH ISLAMABAD. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/TMD/SD
16-May-98 3:32 PM EDT (1932 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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