DATE=7/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235267
TITLE=INDIA U-S (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE SAYS INDIA
WILL NOT BOW TO WESTERN PRESSURE TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST
BAN TREATY UNCONDITIONALLY, BUT NEW DELHI IS READY FOR TALKS ON
THE PACT. V-O-A NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS
HIS REMARKS COME AS INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES END TWO DAYS OF
TALKS ON NUCLEAR ARMS.
TEXT: SPEAKING TO PARLIAMENT MR. VAJPAYEE SAID INDIA IS BEING
TOLD TO SIGN THE TEST BAN TREATY UNCONDITIONALLY, BUT THAT THIS
IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. HE SAYS INDIA IS READY TO TALK ABOUT THE
TREATY, BUT NOBODY SHOULD THINK THE COUNTRY IS WEAKENING --
REFERRING TO NEW DELHI'S LONG OPPOSITION TO THE PACT.
HE SAYS NEW DELHI HAS A CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH AND IS WILLING TO
TURN A SELF-IMPOSED MORATORIUM ON FURTHER NUCLEAR TESTS INTO A
BINDING OBLIGATION.
HIS REMARKS COME AS INDIAN ENVOY JASWANT SINGH AND U-S DEPUTY
SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT END TWO DAYS OF TALKS IN
FRANKFURT, GERMANY, ON NUCLEAR ARMS. THE PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
NEWS AGENCY, QUOTING FROM A STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER THE TALKS,
SAYS THE SIDES HAVE AGREED TO MEET AGAIN IN NEW DELHI ON JULY
20TH AND 21ST. THE STATEMENT SAYS THE DISCUSSIONS WERE
CONSTRUCTIVE.
ANALYSTS SAY INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES ARE SERIOUS ABOUT
NARROWING THEIR DIFFERENCES ON THE TEST BAN TREATY. THEY ALSO
SAY BOTH SIDES ARE ENGAGED IN QUIET DIPLOMACY BECAUSE OF THE
SENSITIVE MATTERS INVOLVED. INDIAN AND U-S OFFICIALS SAY THIS
WILL LIKELY BE A LONG DIPLOMATIC PROCESS.
MR. VAJPAYEE'S GOVERNMENT IS SAID TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT DOMESTIC
POLITICAL BACKLASH CONCERNING THE TALKS. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
SAY THERE IS MUCH OPPOSITION IN PARLIAMENT TO SIGNING THE TEST
BAN TREATY.
INDIA HAS LONG SAID IT WILL NOT SIGN BECAUSE THE PACT
DISCRIMINATES IN FAVOR OF NATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED
NUCLEAR WEAPONS. NEW DELHI SAYS THE PACT ALLOWS THE RECOGNIZED
NUCLEAR POWERS -- BRITAIN, FRANCE, CHINA, RUSSIA AND THE UNITED
STATES -- TO IMPROVE THEIR ARSENALS WITH NON-EXPLOSIVE TECHNIQUES
WHILE HOLDING OTHER COUNTRIES BACK.
INDIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS HE EXPECTS NEW DELHI TO GO AHEAD
WITH A WEAPONIZATION PROGRAM, INDICATING THAT NEW DELHI WANTS TO
REFINE ITS NUCLEAR DEVICES.
INDIA SET OFF FIVE NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS IN MAY, AND PAKISTAN
FOLLOWED WITH ITS OWN NUCLEAR TESTS, PROMPTING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
AGAINST BOTH NATIONS. INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS
IN THE PAST 50 YEARS, AND ANALYSTS HAVE EXPRESSED FEARS OVER
RISING TENSIONS IN SOUTH ASIA FOLLOWING THE NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DB/LTD/MMK
10-Jul-98 10:52 AM EDT (1452 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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