DATE=7/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235685
TITLE=U-S / INDIA / TALKS / L-O
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: DEPUTY U-S SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT COMES TO
INDIA (EXPECTED TIME OF ARRIVAL: 14.30 HRS UTC) FOR TWO DAYS OF
TALKS, BEGINNING MONDAY. FROM V-O-A'S NEW DELHI BUREAU, ANJANA
PASRICHA REPORTS THIS IS THE THIRD ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO
COUNTRIES SINCE THE RECENT INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS.
TEXT: DEPUTY SECRETARY TALBOTT BEGINS TALKS WITH INDIAN OFFICIALS
AT A TIME OF DEEP STRAIN IN RELATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND NEW
DELHI.
THE TALKS ARE PART OF THE ON-GOING DIALOGUE ON NUCLEAR ISSUES
WHICH BEGAN IN JUNE IN WASHINGTON BETWEEN MR. TALBOTT AND JASWANT
SINGH -- A KEY FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER TO PRIME MINISTER ATAL
BEHARI VAJPAYEE.
THE TWO OFFICIALS MET LATER IN FRANKFURT. FEW DETAILS HAVE
EMERGED OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THESE MEETINGS.
INDIAN OFFICIALS SAY THIS QUIET DIPLOMACY WILL CONTINUE AT THE
COMING TALKS. THE AIM IS TO RECONCILE WASHINGTON'S GOAL OF
BRINGING SOUTH ASIA INTO THE NON-PROLIFERATION REGIME AND INDIA'S
POSITION ON NUCLEAR ISSUES.
THE TOP U-S CONCERN IS TO GET INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO SIGN THE
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY. WASHINGTON WANTS THE TWO NATIONS
TO SIGN THE TREATY, UNCONDITIONALLY. INDIA HAS INDICATED IT
COULD BE WILLING TO JOIN THE TREATY IF NEW DELHI IS GIVEN THE
STATUS OF A NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATE.
BRAHAMA CHELLANEY -- A DEFENSE ANALYST WITH NEW DELHI'S CENTER
FOR POLICY RESEARCH -- SAYS THE TWO SIDES ARE SERIOUS ABOUT
NARROWING THEIR DIFFERENCES ON THE TEST BAN TREATY. BUT HE WARNS
THE POSITIONS OF THE TWO NATIONS REMAIN FAR APART AND NO QUICK
BREAKTHROUGHS CAN BE EXPECTED.
//CHELLANEY ACTUALITY//
THE ROAD TO GETTING A DEAL ON THE C-T-B-T WITH INDIA IS
A LONG ROAD AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN EXPECT ANYTHING
DRAMATIC TO HAPPEN IN THE TALKS THAT ARE BEGINNING ON
MONDAY. BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, BY ITSELF, THAT
THE TWO SIDES ARE TALKING, ARE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE ON
ISSUES THAT PREVIOUSLY WERE NOT NEGOTIABLE. BOTH SIDES
REALIZE THAT IT IS IN THEIR INTEREST TO WORK OUT A DEAL.
// END ACTUALITY //
IN NEW DELHI, OFFICIALS WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED SAY ANY
AGREEMENT ON THE TREATY MUST ADDRESS INDIA'S STRATEGIC CONCERNS.
NEW DELHI IS ALSO ASKING FOR ACCESS TO HIGH TECHNOLOGY WHICH IS
DENIED TO INDIA BECAUSE OF ITS POTENTIAL MILITARY APPLICATIONS.
FROM NEW DELHI, MR. TALBOTT GOES TO ISLAMABAD FOR MORE TALKS ON
NUCLEAR ISSUES.
// REST OPTIONAL //
INDIA SET OFF FIVE NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS IN MAY, AND PAKISTAN
FOLLOWED WITH ITS OWN NUCLEAR TESTS. SINCE THE TESTS,
INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION IS FOCUSSED ON THE NEED FOR NUCLEAR
SAFEGUARDS IN SOUTH ASIA. (SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
19-Jul-98 6:42 AM EDT (1042 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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