June 09, 1998 - Evening Transmission
The Prime Minister has asserted that New Delhi wants to set a firm foundation for a stable and long-time relations with China through dialogue. In an interview to an English daily from Cairo, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee categorically stated that India does not want to set-off any nuclear arms race in the sub continent. Stating that he did not subscribe to the view that Beijing is New Delhi's potential enemy number one Mr. Vajpayee said security concerns of India cover a large canvass. He said both India and China should be equally responsive to the other's concerns. The Prime Minister said New Delhi wants to have the best of relations with the United States and is against war with Pakistan.
The Pakistan Prime Minister Mr. Nawaz Sharief has said that he is ready for a Summit meeting with his Indian counterpart on the Kashmir issue. Mr. Nawaz Sharief who is now in Saudi Arabia to seek its support to tide over the country's economic crisis told newsmen in Jeddah that Islamabad would not transfer its nuclear technology to other States. Mr. Sharief met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah and other leaders and discussed the situation in South Asia following the nuclear blasts by India and Pakistan last month.
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June 09, 1998 - Afternoon Transmission
The Deputy Chairman of the Planning commission, Mr. Jaswant Singh met the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan to explain to him the rationale behind India's nuclear tests. Mr. Singh, who is in New York to address the UN General Assembly special session on Drugs is the first Indian leader to meet Mr. Annan after New Delhi carried out the nuclear tests. During his stay in New York Mr. Singh will also meet a group of 300 non resident Indians to seek their support in countering the economic sanctions in the wake of the tests.
As part of India's diplomatic efforts to explain its position on the nuclear tests Mr. Brijesh Mishra, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister is leaving for Moscow today . During his stay he will have discussions with senior Russian officials.
Tokyo says the economic measures announced against New Delhi are not sanctions and has offered to work with India to build a stable South Asia. The Japanese Ambassador to New Delhi, Mr. Hiroshi Hirabayashi told newsmen in Mumbai that the ongoing projects and future humanitarian projects will not be affected by his country's measures. He also said his country does not share the American perception on economic sanctions.
The European Union is set to slap some punitive measures on Pakistan as a sign of protest at its nuclear tests late last month. Officials said in Luxembourg, that the moves to be announced at the end of the EU meeting, would be broadly parallel to actions announced against India.
The Prime Minister today emphatically said that India will never agree to internationalise the Kashmir issue. Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha today. Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee regretted the UN Security Council resolution mentioning Kashmir. He aserted this will not be acceptable and does not change the reality that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.
Mr. Vajpayee reiterated India's desire for the early resumption of official level talk with Pakistan.
Mr. Vajpayee however made it absolutely clear that there is no place for outside involvement of any nature whatsoever in New Delhi's dialogue wth Islamabad.
Rferring to the P-5 countries resolution calling to an end the nuclear or missile programme the Prime Minister said that India has already committed itself to a voluntary moratorium on further nuclear test. It has also made it clear that it is ready to participate in multilateral negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut - off Treaty in the Geneva disarmament conference.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have called for a coordinated action of the leading developed countries to prevent the violation of the non-proliferation treaty and spread of nuclear weapons. According to Kremlin press service in their telephonic conversation last night, Mr. Yeltsin and Mr. Blair discussed in detail the situation in South Asia following the nuclear tests by India and Pakistan.
The RSS has reiterated that a Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya. The RSS Chief Prof. Rajendra Singh made the stand clear at the annual one month camp in Nagpur. He charged those opposing the construction of the temple with appeasing Muslims to get their votes.
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