DATE=6/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234367
TITLE=RUSSIA / INDIA NUKE REACT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN DEFENSE EXPERTS SAY AN INDIAN AND RUSSIAN PLAN TO
HELP INDIA UPGRADE ITS DEFENSE FORCES MEANS THE USE OF NUCLEAR
WEAPONS IS LESS LIKELY. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM
NEW DELHI, EXPERTS ALSO SAY INDIA AND RUSSIA'S DECISION TO BUILD
TWO NUCLEAR POWER GENERATORS IN SOUTHERN INDIA SHOWS SANCTIONS
HAVE NOT ISOLATED THE COUNTRY.
TEXT: INDIAN NEWSPAPERS REPORT (TUESDAY) INDIA AND RUSSIA HAVE
REACHED BROAD AGREEMENT ON DEFENSE COOPERATION IN A NUMBER OF
AREAS. RUSSIA WILL REPORTEDLY EQUIP INDIAN FIGHTER JETS WITH
SOPHISTICATED AVIONICS SYSTEMS, HELP INDIA PRODUCE ANTI-BALLISTIC
MISSILE SYSTEMS, ELECTRONIC WARFARE AND RADAR SYSTEMS -- AND
HELP INDIA BUILD SUBMARINES.
NEWS OF THE AGREEMENT FOLLOWS A VISIT TO MOSCOW BY SENIOR INDIAN
MILITARY OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE COUNTRY'S DEFENSE SECRETARY.
JASJIT SINGH HEADS THE INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC AND DEFENSE STUDIES
WHICH PROVIDES THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT WITH POLICY ADVICE. HE SAYS
LIKE ANY OTHER COUNTRY INDIA NEEDS TO UPGRADE ITS CONVENTIONAL
DEFENSE FORCES. HE ALSO SAYS THE RUSSIAN ASSISTANCE IS WELCOME
NEWS FOR ANOTHER REASON.
// SINGH ACTUALITY //
A CAPABLE CREDIBLE CONVENTIONAL DEFENSE IS ONE GUARANTEE
THAT THE NUCLEAR FACTOR DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BROUGHT IN.
A CONVENTIONAL WEAKNESS IS A FORM OF AN INVITATION TO
MOVE TOWARD THE NUCLEAR.
// END ACTUALITY //
RETIRED INDIAN ARMY GENERAL DEEPANKER BANNERJEE HEADS THE
INDEPENDENT CENTER FOR PEACE AND CONFLICT IN NEW DELHI. HE SAYS
THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT NEWS THAT INDIA AND RUSSIA ARE
COOPERATING CLOSELY ON DEFENSE MATTERS.
// BANNERJEE ACTUALITY //
THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF A FAIRLY LONG-TERM DEFENSE
SUPPLY RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS BEEN THERE BETWEEN INDIA
AND THE ERSTWHILE SOVIET UNION, AND RUSSIA LATER IN
RECENT YEARS.
// END ACTUALITY //
MR. SINGH, GENERAL BANNERJEE AND OTHER INDIAN DEFENSE ANALYSTS
ALSO DISMISS CONCERNS VOICED IN THE UNITED STATES THIS WEEK ABOUT
A THREE-BILLION DOLLAR DEAL SIGNED BY RUSSIA AND INDIA TO BUILD
TWO NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS IN SOUTHERN INDIA.
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE DEAL UNDERMINES EFFORTS TO
PUNISH NEW DELHI FOR LAST MONTH'S NUCLEAR TESTS. JASJIT SINGH
SAYS THE PROPOSED REACTORS HAVE BEEN PLANNED FOR 10-YEARS AND U-S
OFFICIALS NEED TO UNDERSTAND INDIA'S POWER NEEDS.
// SINGH ACTUALITY //
WE NEED NUCLEAR ENERGY AND I THINK WHAT THE UNITED
STATES AND INDIA OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS HOW
TO GET AMERICAN NUCLEAR REACTORS OUT HERE SO THAT WE
COULD HAVE MORE POWER, SO THAT WE COULD DEVELOP OUR
MARKETS AND ACHIEVE MORE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ALLEVIATE
POVERTY. NUCLEAR POWER IS SOMETHING THAT INDIA BADLY
NEEDS, UNLESS AMERICANS WANT US TO BURN A HELL OF A LOT
OF COAL AND UPSET THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENT.
// END ACTUALITY //
INDIA HAS BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO WESTERN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY SINCE
IT FIRST CONDUCTED A NUCLEAR TEST IN 1974. INDIAN OFFICIALS SAY
THE TWO REACTORS TO BE BUILT IN SOUTHERN INDIA WILL MEET
INTERNATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS AND BE OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL
INSPECTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/RAE
23-Jun-98 8:01 AM EDT (1201 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
