DATE=11/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241420
TITLE=U-S/INDIA-PAK (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS CALLING ON INDIA AND
PAKISTAN TO TAKE FURTHER STEPS TO EASE THE DANGER OF A SOUTH
ASIAN NUCLEAR ARMS RACE -- THIS, AFTER IT LIFTED MOST OF THE
SANCTIONS IMPOSED AGAINST THE TWO COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF THEIR
NUCLEAR TESTS LAST MAY. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM
THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: A MEASURE ALLOWING THE ADMINISTRATION TO EASE SANCTIONS
WAS TUCKED INTO A CATCH-ALL BUDGET BILL MR. CLINTON SIGNED INTO
LAW SEVERAL DAYS AGO. AND MR. CLINTON INVOKED THAT AUTHORITY WITH
LITTLE FANFARE LAST FRIDAY-- ALLOWING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
RESTORATION OF U-S GUARANTEED BUSINESS LOANS TO INDIA AND
PAKISTAN AND THE RESUMPTION OF SOME MILITARY AID.
THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN REQUIRED UNDER U-S NON-PROLIFERATION LAW
TO IMPOSE SWEEPING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST BOTH COUNTRIES
AFTER THEIR NUCLEAR TEST SERIES EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED
AT THE TIME THEY WOULD HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECT ON PAKISTAN
-- A MAJOR U-S TRADING PARTNER.
THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE SANCTIONS AND GLOBAL MARKET CRISIS
HAD BROUGHT PAKISTAN CLOSE TO DEFAULT ON ITS FOREIGN DEBT. WHITE
HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAID THE U-S SANCTIONS MOVE SHOULD
PROVIDE SOME RELIEF:
///LOCKHART ACTUALITY///
GIVEN THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND THE ISSUES THAT
PAKISTAN FACES, DOMESTICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY, THIS STEP
IS PRUDENT AND APPROPRIATE.
///END ACT///
MR. LOCKHART DENIED UNDER QUESTIONING THAT FRIDAY'S ACTION HAS
HAS DILUTED U-S NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION POLICY AND SAID MR.
CLINTON CAN PURSUE THAT OBJECTIVE MORE EFFECTIVELY IF HIS HANDS
ARE NOT TIED BY CONGRESSIONAL RESTRICTIONS:
///LOCKHART ACT TWO///
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN SOME STEPS FROM BOTH INDIA AND
PAKISTAN ON THAT ISSUE. IF YOU REMEMBER, AT THE U-N
GENERAL ASSEMBLY THERE WERE POSITIVE STATEMENTS TOWARDS
NON-PROLIFERATION. SO WE THINK, AS THE PRESIDENT HAS
OFTEN SAID ALLOWING HIM THE FLEXIBILITY IN USING THESE
SANCTIONS CAN OFTEN BE MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN THE RIGID
IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE.
///END ACT///
OFFICIALS HERE SAY VOLUNTARY NUCLEAR TEST MORATORIUMS AND
RESUMPTION OF DIALOGUE ON THE KASHMIR DISPUTE ARE AMONG THE
POSITIVE STEPS BY THE TWO POWERS. MR. LOCKHART SAID ADDITIONAL
ACTION BEING SOUGHT BY THE ADMINISTRATION INCLUDE THEIR SIGNING
OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY, A MORATORIUM ON THE
PRODUCTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL, AND ADOPTION OF RESTRAINTS ON
NUCLEAR-CAPABLE AIRCRAFT AND MISSILES.
IT'S HOPED THE RELAXATION OF SANCTIONS WILL ENCOURAGE FURTHER
STEPS AT HIGH LEVEL U-S/INDIAN TALKS IN ROME NEXT WEEK AND DURING
THE EARLY-DECEMBER WASHINGTON VISIT BY PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER
NAWAZ SHARIF.
MR. CLINTON SCRAPPED PLANS TO VISIT INDIA AND PAKISTAN AS PART OF
THE ASIAN TRIP HE BEGINS LATER THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF THE NUCLEAR
TESTS, BUT HAS LEFT OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF A VISIT NEXT YEAR IF
THERE IS SUFFICIENT PROGRESS ON THE PROLIFERATION ISSUE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/PT
09-Nov-98 5:52 PM EST (2252 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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