08 June 1998
TEXT: RICHARDSON STATEMENT ON UNSC INDIA-PAKISTAN CONDEMNATION
(Says resolution is call for "restraint" and "good sense") (990) United Nations -- US Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson says the United Nations Security Council had to condemn recent nuclear tests by India and Pakistan because "no other response by the international community is possible in the face of such acts." But in a statement to the Council prior to its Saturday afternoon, June 6 vote on the condemnation resolution, he said the two countries should not view it, or the statement issued two days earlier by the UNSC's five permanent members (Perm-5), as "calls for punishment or penalty." Instead, he said, they are a call "by the international community for restraint, caution and good sense. We strongly and sincerely urge the leaders of both nations to resist the temptation to act rashly today so that their children will have the opportunity to live in a stable and peaceful South Asia tomorrow." Following is the USUN text of Richardson's statement: (begin text) STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON, UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, IN EXPLANATION OF VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION ON INDIA-PAKISTAN NUCLEAR TESTING JUNE 6, 1998 Mr. President nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan in recent weeks represent a profound blow not only to the stability and security of their region, but also to the international non-proliferation regime on which we all depend. In a few minutes, this Council will vote on a resolution which condemns those tests. No other response by the international community is possible in the face of such acts. 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. It also urges India and Pakistan to resume the diplomatic dialogue between them, which is the path to true peace. This resolution endorses, in full, the joint communique of the foreign ministers of China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States in Geneva on June 4. At the conclusion of the meeting in Geneva, Secretary Albright noted that in the coming weeks that China, France, Russia, the UK and the U.S. will be engaging additional concerned states in our shared effort to bring peace and stability in South Asia. Council adoption of this resolution is an important step along that path. The Geneva Ministerial was part of what we expect to be a continuing process that will include numerous participants in various fora and will address the entire range of South Asia security issues, nuclear and non-nuclear. Through that meeting and those scheduled in the future, we hope to reach out to India and Pakistan. Our intent is not to make them pariah states, but to engage and to convince them it is in their own national security interests to do what the international community is urging them to do. We have called upon India and Pakistan and continue to do so to take steps to avert an arms race and reduce tensions. Both nations should sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) immediately and without conditions. They should refrain from deploying missiles of all types. They should cease production of fissile material and should enter into negotiations on a fissile material cutoff treaty in the Conference on Disarmament, and do so in good faith. They should formalize their pledge not to export dangerous weapons and technologies. They should refrain from missile testing of any sort since any such test is a provocative action. They should do all of these things not only because the Security Council or the Nuclear Weapons States proclaim the importance of immediate steps to halt a dangerous arms race in South Asia. They should do it because it is in their own best interests to do so. The path they have started down does not add to their security but diminishes it. We call upon them to turn back now. India and Pakistan must also understand in no uncertain terms that their tests and subsequent declarations do not make them Nuclear Weapons States. We will not support amendment of the NPT to permit their accession as nuclear weapons states because to do so would completely undermine the very purpose of the NPT and the international non-proliferation regime. We also call upon Pakistan and India to work toward a reduction of tension between them. Each has legitimate security concerns. We have already extended our hand to the parties to offer our assistance to help improve their confidence and thus their security. I repeat the offer again on behalf of my government. The Kashmir region has the potential to be the spark that ignites a conflict no one may be able to stop. We urge both India and Pakistan to work to avoid striking the match. We believe there are a number of steps they can take to reduce the chances that a miscalculation or misunderstanding leads to a situation neither side can truly want. They should avoid threatening movements near the line of control, any crossing of the line by military or security forces, cross-border infiltrations, or other provocative acts in the area. The U.S. calls upon India and Pakistan to take heed of both the P-5 Communique issued June 4 in Geneva and the message contained within the resolution we are about to adopt. They are not calls for punishment or penalty. They are instead a call by the international community for restraint, caution, and good sense. We strongly and sincerely urge the leaders of both nations to resist the temptation to act rashly today so that their children will have the opportunity to live in a stable and peaceful South Asia tomorrow. (end text)
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