DATE=5/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232577
TITLE=INDIA MORATORIUM (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA SAYS IT IS READY FOR TALKS WITH WORLD POWERS TO
FORMALIZE A MORATORIUM ON INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS, AND IT HOPES FOR
DIALOGUE WITH PAKISTAN AND IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH CHINA. V-O-A
NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS
TEXT: A SENIOR AIDE TO PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE SAYS
THE PLANNED NUCLEAR TESTS ARE OVER. BRIJESH MISHRA TOLD
REPORTERS INDIA IS PROPOSING A MORATORIUM ON ITS TESTS AND IS
PREPARED FOR TALKS WITH KEY PARTIES (INTERLOCUTORS) TO FORMALIZE
THAT MORATORIUM.
HE DID NOT NAME THE PARTIES. WHEN ASKED IF THERE HAS BEEN
COMMUNICATION WITH KEY NUCLEAR POWERS, HE SAID THERE HAS BEEN
SOME COMMUNICATION, BUT DID NOT EXPLAIN.
INDIA STUNNED THE WORLD LAST WEEK BY SETTING OFF FIVE NUCLEAR
DEVICES, PROMPTING INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION. ANALYSTS SAY MR.
MISHRA'S STATEMENTS ARE THE LATEST MOVE TO CONTROL POLITICAL
DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE TESTS.
MR. MISHRA ALSO GAVE ASSURANCES ABOUT CHINA AND PAKISTAN. HE
SAYS NEW DELHI IS INTERESTED IN A DIALOGUE WITH ISLAMABAD. HE
SAYS INDIA IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO PROPOSALS MADE BY FORMER
PRIME MINISTER I-K GUJRAL TO PAKISTANI LEADER NAWAZ SHARIF AT A
REGIONAL MEETING IN DHAKA EARLY THIS YEAR. MR. MISHRA SAYS THERE
IS NO QUESTION OF WAR WITH PAKISTAN. ISLAMABAD AND NEW DELHI
HAVE ALREADY FOUGHT THREE WARS.
TURNING TO CHINA HE SAYS INDIA WANTS THE BEST OF RELATIONS WITH
BEIJING. HE EXPRESSES HOPES THAT BOTH PARTIES CAN SET ASIDE
RECENT STATEMENTS AND RESUME A DIALOGUE. HE ADMITS THAT INDIA
HAS SOME PROBLEMS WITH CHINA.
HE DID NOT ELABORATE, BUT INDIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER RECENTLY
DECLARED CHINA AS THE PRIMARY THREAT TO INDIAN SECURITY. CHINA,
IN TURN, HAS CRITICIZED INDIA FOR CONDUCTING THE NUCLEAR TESTS.
CHINA AND INDIA FOUGHT A BRIEF WAR IN 1962. (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/TMD/MMK
21-May-98 11:14 AM EDT (1514 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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