DATE=5/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232405
TITLE=INDIA U-S (L-OVERNIGHT)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA DENIES THAT IT MISLED THE UNITED STATES OVER ITS
PLANS TO RESUME NUCLEAR TESTING LAST WEEK. WE GET MORE ON THE
STORY FROM VOA NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN.
TEXT: A STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN LAST WEEK WAS QUOTED AS
SAYING THAT INDIA MISLED THE UNITED STATES CONCERNING ITS NUCLEAR
TESTS. HE SAID NEW DELHI INDICATED DURING A NUMBER OF HIGH-LEVEL
CONTACTS THAT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUE.
INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY, IN A STATEMENT, SAYS IT COMPLETELY
DISAGREES WITH THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN
THE TWO COUNTRIES. THE STATEMENT SAYS THAT IN THE MEETINGS
REFERRED TO BY THE SPOKESMAN INDIA NEVER GAVE ANY ASSURANCES OR
GUARANTEES. THE STATEMENT SAYS INDIA MADE IT CLEAR THAT NO
ASSURANCES CAN BE GIVEN.
JASWANT SINGH, A SENIOR AIDE TO PRIME MINISTER ATAL BIHARI
VAJPAYEE, GAVE A SIMILAR VIEW DURING A MEETING WITH FOREIGN
CORRESPONDENTS IN NEW DELHI.
// SINGH ACT //
INDIA AT NO STAGE HAS EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY
ATTEMPTED TO MISLEAD THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE
SECURITY INTERESTS OF INDIA WERE REPEATEDLY, OVER THE
YEARS, AND EVEN IN THE MOST RECENT PAST, WERE STATED AND
REPEATED TO OFFICIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
// END ACT //
MR. SINGH ALSO SAYS INDIA WAS FORCED TO BREAK AWAY FROM ITS
24-YEAR MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR TESTS BECAUSE OF A DETERIORATION IN
ITS SECURITY ENVIRONMENT.
INDIA HAS FOUGHT WARS WITH ITS NEIGHBORS, CHINA AND PAKISTAN.
CHINA IS A DECLARED NUCLEAR POWER AND PAKISTAN HAS A NUCLEAR
CAPABILITY. MR. SINGH EXPRESSED HOPES FOR BETTER RELATIONS WITH
BOTH COUNTRIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/LTD/KL
18-May-98 11:24 AM EDT (1524 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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