DATE=6/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233282
TITLE=CLINTON / INDIA-PAK (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS URGING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
TO COME TOGETHER TO HELP END THE SOUTH ASIAN NUCLEAR ARMS RACE.
HE CONFERRED WITH TOP ADVISERS IN ADVANCE OF SECRETARY OF STATE
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S DEPARTURE FOR GENEVA AND THE FIVE-POWER
MEETING ON THE INDIA-PAKISTAN CRISIS. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS
DETAILS.
TEXT: THE GENEVA MEETING OF THE FIVE PERMANENT U-N SECURITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS IS BEING CONVENED AT THE INITIATIVE OF THE UNITED
STATES TO TRY TO DEFUSE THE NUCLEAR TESTING CRISIS AND ADDRESS
THE UNDERLYING ISSUES IN THE SOUTH ASIAN DISPUTE.
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT TOLD REPORTERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING INDIA AND PAKISTAN CAN DO NOW IS TO, AS SHE
PUT IT, TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND BEGIN TO CLIMB OUT OF THE HOLE
THEY HAVE DUG FOR THEMSELVES. THE WORLD COMMUNITY, SHE SAID,
SHOULD HELP THEM PULL BACK FROM THE NUCLEAR PRECIPICE:
///ALBRIGHT ACTUALITY///
OUR MESSAGE TO INDIA AND PAKISTAN MUST BE THAT THERE
SHOULD BE NO FURTHER NUCLEAR TESTING, NO DEPLOYMENT OR
TESTING OF MISSILES, NO MORE IMFLAMMATORY RHETORIC AND
NO MORE PROVOCATIVE MILITARY ACTIVITY. OUR SECOND,
LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO AVERT REGIONAL ARMS RACE AND TO
RE-EXAMINE OPTIONS FOR EASING THE UNDERLYING POLITICAL
PROBLEMS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN, INCLUDING KASHMIR.
///END ACT///
MS. ALBRIGHT SAID INDIA AND PAKISTAN WILL BE PRESSED TO SIGN THE
COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY WITHOUT CONDITIONS, TO STOP
PRODUCING FISSILE NUCLEAR MATERIAL AND TO A AGREE ON A PROCESS OF
REGIONAL ARMS CONTROL.
SHE SAID THE FIVE MAJOR POWERS -- THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA,
CHINA, BRITAIN AND FRANCE -- HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR OWN
TO PROTECT THE VIABILITY OF THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIERATION TREATY
AND MUST REAFFIRM IN GENEVA FURTHER REDUCE THEIR OWN NUCLEAR
ARSENALS.
PRESIDENT CLINTON, FOR HIS PART, SAID THE U-S SENATE HAS AN EVEN
GREATER RESPONSIBILITY NOW TO STOP DELAYING AND RATIFY THE
TEST-BAN TREATY:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
TWO YEARS AGO, I WAS THE FIRST TO SIGN THIS TREATY AT
THE UNITED NATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES. THE
PRESENT SITUATION IN SOUTH ASIA MAKES IT ALL THE MORE
IMPORTANT THAT THE SENATE DEBATE AND VOTE ON THE
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY WITHOUT DELAY. THE C-T-B-T
WILL STRENGTHEN OUR ABILITY TO DETER, DETECT, AND TO
DETER TESTING. IF WE'RE CALLING ON OTHER NATIONS TO ACT
RESPONSIBLY, AMERICA MUST SET THE EXAMPLE.
///END ACT///
MR. CLINTON SAID THE SOUTH ASIAN NUCLEAR COMPETITION IS
SELF-DEFEATING, WASTEFUL AND DANGEROUS -- AND CONTRARY, HE SAID,
TO THE IDEALS OF NON-VIOLENCE, FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE THAT WERE
AT THE HEART OF (MAHATMA) GANDHI'S STRUGGLE TO END COLONIALISM ON
THE SUBCONTINENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/LTD/MMK
03-Jun-98 12:18 PM EDT (1618 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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