DATE=11/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241338
TITLE=INDIA/PAK SANCTIONS (L)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS DECIDED TO LIFT SOME SANCTIONS ON
INDIA AND PAKISTAN, IMPOSED IN RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR TESTS CARRIED
OUT BY BOTH COUNTRIES EARLIER THIS YEAR. U-S OFFICIALS ARE
POINTING TO PROGRESS BY THE ASIAN NEIGHBORS IN CURBING WHAT HAD
BEEN AN ESCALATING NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN THE REGION. WE GET
DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S NICK SIMEONE.
TEXT: WHEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN CARRIED OUT MULTIPLE NUCLEAR
TESTS LAST MAY, THERE WERE FEARS THAT ACCOMPANYING TENSIONS
BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES OVER THE DISPUTED TERRITORY OF KASHMIR
WERE PUSHING THE SUBCONTINENT TO THE BRINK OF NUCLEAR
CONFRONTATION.
PAKISTAN HAD IGNORED DIRECT APPEALS BY PRESIDENT CLINTON TO HOLD
OFF FROM RESPONDING TO INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS WITH TESTS OF ITS
OWN. IN RESPONSE, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS PUT BOTH
COUNTRIES UNDER SANCTIONS.
BUT FRIDAY, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED SOME OF THOSE
SANCTIONS -- INCLUDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF ECONOMIC AND
MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS -- WOULD BE LIFTED. WHITE HOUSE
SPOKESMAN P-J CROWLEY:
// CROWLEY ACT //
THE PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN THIS ACTION IN RESPONSE TO
POSITIVE STEPS THAT BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE TAKEN
SINCE THEIR NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY. WE HAVE SAID ALL
ALONG WE WANTED TO BE IN A POSITION TO RESPOND
POSITIVELY TO CONCRETE STEPS THAT BOTH COUNTRIES WOULD
TAKE TO EASE TENSIONS IN SOUTH ASIA.
// END ACT //
ONE OF THOSE CONCRETE STEPS WAS THE PLEDGE BY BOTH INDIA AND
PAKISTAN TO REFRAIN FROM FURTHER NUCLEAR TESTING. BUT A WIDE
RANGE OF SANCTIONS -- INCLUDING U-S TECHNOLOGY EXPORTS AND
MILITARY SALES IN THE CASE OF PAKISTAN -- REMAIN IN PLACE.
BOTH COUNTRIES DEPEND HEAVILY ON FOREIGN AID BUT THE SANCTIONS
HAD HIT PAKISTAN THE HARDEST. THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT, WITH
MORE THAN 30 BILLION DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBT, FACED A SUSPENSION
OF NEARLY ALL U-S AID AND LOANS FROM AMERICAN BANKS.
ANALYSTS PREDICTED THAT SUCH MEASURES WOULD PUSH THE COUNTRY TO
THE BRINK OF DEFAULT. ADDING ANOTHER FINANCIAL CRISIS TO AN
ALREADY TUMBLING WORLD ECONOMY WAS SOMETHING THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION WANTED TO PREVENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/JO
06-Nov-98 7:20 PM EST (0020 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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