DATE=6/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234665
TITLE=INDIA SANCTIONS (L-OVNT)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA'S RULING BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY, OR B-J-P, SAYS THE
UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES ARE RECONSIDERING THE ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS THEY IMPOSED FOLLOWING INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY.
V-O-A NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS:
TEXT: AFTER A MEETING OF THE B-J-P AND ITS POLITICAL ALLIES,
SENIOR PARTY LEADER JASWANT SINGH SAID THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY HAS HAD A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE OVER SANCTIONS AGAINST
INDIA.
MR. SINGH SAYS FINANCE MINISTER YASHWANT SINHA TOLD THE MEETING
STATEMENTS FROM U-S PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND OTHER U-S LEADERS
INDICATE THEY ARE RETHINKING THEIR POSITION ON THE MATTER.
LAST WEEK, U-S SENATE LEADER TRENT LOTT NAMED A TASK FORCE TO
EXAMINE U-S SANCTIONS POLICY -- IN PARTICULAR, SANCTIONS AGAINST
INDIA AND PAKISTAN. AGRICULTURE AND BUSINESS GROUPS HAVE ALSO
BEEN PRESSURING THE U-S CONGRESS AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
TO CUT BACK THE USE OF SANCTIONS, SAYING THEY DO NOT WORK AND
ONLY MAKE IT EASIER FOR COMPETITORS FROM JAPAN AND EUROPE TO DO
BUSINESS.
MR. SINGH SAYS THE RESUMPTION OF WORLD BANK ASSISTANCE IS AN
INDICATION OF THE CHANGING REALITY IN THE INTERNATIONAL
SITUATION.
MR. SINGH'S REMARKS FOLLOWED A MEETING OF THE B-J-P AND ITS
ALLIED PARTIES TO ASSESS THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION AFTER ITS
FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE. MR. SINGH SAYS THREE IMPORTANT PARTY
LEADERS WERE NOT AT THE MEETING. THEIR ABSENCE HAD RAISED
FEARS OF A RIFT WITHIN THE ALLIANCE.
ONE OF THE LEADERS, JAYARAM JAYALALITHA, HAS BEEN URGING THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DISMISS A SOUTHERN STATE GOVERNMENT RUN BY
HER RIVALS. WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MS. JAYALALITHA'S PARTY, THE
B-J-P WOULD LOSES ITS MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT. THE B-J-P DEPENDS
ON THE SUPPORT OF MORE THAN ONE DOZEN SMALLER PARTIES TO MAINTAIN
ITS HOLD ON POWER. (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/TMD/MMK
27-Jun-98 1:40 PM EDT (1740 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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