DATE=12/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242999
TITLE=INDIA NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE SAYS HIS
COUNTRY WILL MAINTAIN A NUCLEAR DETERRENT, BUT ALSO REMAINS
COMMITTED TO BRINGING INTO FORCE AN INTERNATIONAL BAN ON NUCLEAR
WEAPONS TESTING. VOA NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
REPORTS.
TEXT: SPEAKING IN PARLIAMENT MR. VAJPAYEE SAID INDIA IS PREPARED
TO WORK FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF A GLOBAL NUCLEAR TEST
BAN TREATY BY SEPTEMBER OF 1999. HE SAYS NEW DELHI HAS BEEN ABLE
TO EXPRESS ITS SECURITY CONCERNS TO THE UNITEE STATES DURING THE
ONGOING TALKS OVER THE TREATY.
OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS HAVE QUESTIONED WHETHER INDIA IS GIVING UP
TOO MUCH IN THE TALKS. INDIA HAS REFUSED TO SIGN THE TREATY
UNCONDITIONALLY.
MEANWHILE, MR. VAJPAYEE ALSO VOWS THAT NEW DELHI WILL MAINTAIN A
NUCLEAR DETERRENT AND WILL NOT ACCEPT RESTRAINTS ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF MISSILES.
// VAJPAYEE ACT //
WHILE OUR DECISION IS TO MAINTAIN THE DEPLOYMENT OF A
DETERRENT WHICH IS BOTH MINIMUM BUT CREDIBLE, I WOULD
LIKE TO REAFFIRM TO THIS HOUSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL
NOT ACCEPT ANY RESTRAINTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIA'S
"R" (RESEARCH) AND "D" (DEVELOPMENT) CAPABILITIES. SUCH
ACTIVITY IS INTEGRAL (TO) ANY COUNTRY'S DEFENSE
PREPAREDNESS AND ESSENTIAL FOR COPING WITH NEW THREAT
PERCEPTIONS THAT MAY EMERGE IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
// END ACT //
INDIA AND ITS RIVAL PAKISTAN CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY AND
BOTH NATIONS ARE DEVELOPING MISSILES. THE COUNTRIES HAVE A
HISTORY OF CONFLICT AND HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS.
THE UNITED STATES ALSO WANTS PAKISTAN TO SIGN THE NUCLEAR TEST
BAN TREATY AND WANTS BOTH NEW DELHI AND ISLAMABAD TO ISSUE A
FORMAL MORATORIUM ON THE PRODUCTION OF MATERIAL USED IN NUCLEAR
WEAPONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/CB/KL
15-Dec-98 7:31 AM EST (1231 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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