DATE=7/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236109
TITLE=ASEAN / NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS AND ITS 10
SO-CALLED DIALOGUE PARTNERS MET (MONDAY) IN MANILA AS THE ASEAN
REGIONAL FORUM. THEY ISSUED A WATERED-DOWN DENUNCIATION OF THE
RECENT NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN. CORRESPONDENT ROGER
WILKISON REPORTS ASEAN PREFERRED TO TAKE A LESS CONFRONTATIONAL
APPROACH TO THE TWO SOUTH ASIAN POWERS, DESPITE PRESSURE FROM
MANY OF ITS PARTNERS TO CONDEMN THE TESTS.
TEXT: THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM STRONGLY DEPLORED THE TESTS,
SAYING THEY EXACERBATE TENSION IN THE REGION AND RAISE THE
SPECTER OF A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE. THE 21-MEMBER FORUM URGED INDIA
AND PAKISTAN TO CEASE TESTING AND SIGN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
PROHIBITING TESTING AND PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
THE UNITED STATES, THE EUROPEAN UNION, JAPAN AND AUSTRALIA, AMONG
OTHER MEMBERS, HAD URGED THE GROUP TO CONDEMN THE TESTS.
FORUM CHAIRMAN, PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SECRETARY DOMINGO SIAZON,
ISSUED A DRAFT USING SUCH LANGUAGE, BUT HE SAID HE LATER ADAPTED
HIS POSITION TO SUIT ASEAN'S TRADITION OF NON-CONFRONTATION WITH
ITS ASIAN NEIGHBORS.
/// SIAZON ACTUALITY ///
ASEAN MEMBERS ARE GENERALLY MORE RESERVED IN THEIR
EXPRESSIONS OF JUDGMENT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ASEAN
CONDITIONS AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS, ALTHOUGH THEY OF
COURSE CONSIDER THE SOUTH ASIA TESTING AS A MAJOR CHANGE
IN THE STRATEGIC SITUATION IN ASIA-PACIFIC.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
AS EXPECTED, THE MEETING'S FINAL REPORT DID NOT MENTION INDIA AND
PAKISTAN BY NAME. ONE REPORTER ASKED IF THE DELEGATES HAD
FORGOTTEN THEIR GEOGRAPHY BY NOT IDENTIFYING THE TWO COUNTRIES.
MR. SIAZON HAD A QUICK RETORT.
/// SIAZON ACTUALITY //
NO, ON THE CONTRARY. SINCE THEY KNEW THEIR GEOGRAPHY
TOO WELL, IT WAS UNNECESSARY TO IDENTIFY THEM.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
THE PHILIPPINE DIPLOMAT SAID INDIA -- ONE OF ASEAN'S PARTNERS --
EXPRESSED ITS OWN VIEW ON THE MATTER. PAKISTAN IS NOT A MEMBER
OF THE FORUM THAT WAS CREATED TO PROMOTE CONFIDENCE-BUILDING
MEASURES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
THE GROUP ALSO CALLED FOR EXISTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATES TO MAKE
FURTHER EFFORTS TOWARD ELIMINATING SUCH WEAPONS ALTOGETHER.
SUBJECTED TO AGGRESSIVE QUESTIONING BY INDIAN REPORTERS, MR.
SIAZON SUGGESTED INDIA HAD LOST ITS RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE
ACTIONS OF THE FIVE ESTABLISHED NUCLEAR POWERS -- BRITAIN, CHINA,
FRANCE, RUSSIA, AND THE UNITED STATES.
/// SIAZON ACTUALITY ///
INDIA COULD HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS MORAL ADVANTAGE IF IT
WERE CLEAN, SAYING "YOU SINNERS -- YOU SHOULD SIN NO
MORE." BUT WHAT DID YOU CHOOSE? YOU DECIDED TO JOIN
THE SINNERS. AND NOW YOU WANT TO SAY "LET US ALL NOT BE
SINNERS ANY MORE." I DO NOT FOLLOW THAT LOGIC.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
THE NINE ASEAN STATES WILL HOLD SEPARATE MEETINGS TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY WITH EACH OF THEIR DIALOGUE PARTNERS TO DISCUSS SUCH
ISSUES AS THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC CRISIS AND SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS IN
CAMBODIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
27-Jul-98 1:39 PM EDT (1739 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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