DATE=6/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233459
TITLE=U-N / SOUTH ASIA NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY (SATURDAY)
DENOUNCED INDIA AND PAKISTAN FOR THEIR RECENT NUCLEAR TESTS AND
CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE STOP TO THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAMS.
V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.
TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING
GRAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE RECENT NUCLEAR TESTS CARRIED OUT BY INDIA
AND PAKISTAN. IT CALLS ON THE TWO COUNTRIES TO IMMEDIATELY STOP
THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND FOR OTHER
COUNTRIES TO PREVENT THE EXPORT OF TECHNOLOGY AND MATERIALS THAT
MIGHT BE USED IN THOSE PROGRAMS. IT ALSO URGES INDIA AND
PAKISTAN TO RESUME A DIALOG ON OUTSTANDING ISSUES SUCH AS THE
DISPUTE OVER KASHMIR.
U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS BILL RICHARDSON:
/// RICHARDSON ACT ///
THE RESOLUTION, HOWEVER, DOES MORE THAN CONDEMN. IT
ALSO MAKES CLEAR THE PATH INDIA AND PAKISTAN SHOULD
FOLLOW TO RESTORE THEIR STANDING BEFORE ALL NATIONS. IT
CALLS UPON INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO REFRAIN FROM
WEAPONIZATION OR DEPLOYMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS, TO AVOID
A BALLISTIC MISSILES ARMS RACE AND TO AVOID FURTHER
PROLIFERATION BY EXPORTING THIS TECHNOLOGY.
/// END ACT ///
SPEAKING IN A FORMAL SESSION OF THE COUNCIL, JAPAN'S AMBASSADOR
SAID THE RESOLUTION REPRESENTS A UNITED VOICE OF CONSCIENCE. HE
SAID IT MARKS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF A LONG BATTLE TO SECURE PEACE
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SWEDEN'S REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT IS NOT
ENOUGH TO STEM THE FLOW OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS ... WAYS MUST BE FOUND
TO, HE SAID, TURN THE TIDE.
THE RESOLUTION ECHOES MANY OF THE AGREEMENTS REACHED DURING THE
RECENT MEETING IN GENEVA OF FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE FIVE
PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL ... THE UNITED STATES,
BRITAIN, FRANCE, CHINA AND RUSSIA.
IT CONDEMNS THE NUCLEAR TESTS, AND SAYS NEITHER INDIA NOR
PAKISTAN WILL BE GIVEN THE STATUS OF A NUCLEAR-WEAPON STATE. IT
REITERATES CALLS FOR THE TWO NATIONS TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE
NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY WITHOUT CONDITION.
THE RESOLUTION IS THE LATEST AND STRONGEST IN A SERIES OF
RESPONSES TO THE NUCLEAR TESTS FROM THE SECURITY COUNCIL. THE
COUNCIL HAS SO FAR STOPPED SHORT OF ANY PUNITIVE MEASURES AGAINST
THE TWO COUNTRIES.
U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS ALSO DENOUNCED THE TESTS AND
SAID HE IS WILLING TO HELP MEDIATE IN THE KASHMIR DISPUTE, IF
REQUESTED TO DO SO. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/JO
06-Jun-98 1:06 PM EDT (1706 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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