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DATE=1/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244860
TITLE=CLINTON / INDIA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON CALLED THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA, ATAL
BIHARI VAJPAYEE, FRIDAY TO REVIEW PROGRESS MADE IN BILATERAL 
TALKS ON NON-PROLIFERATION.  THE TWO LEADERS SPOKE AFTER A NEW 
ROUND OF TALKS BEGAN IN NEW DELHI BETWEEN U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF
STATE STROBE TALBOTT AND INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER JASWANT SINGH.  
V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT:  EVER SINCE INDIA CONDUCTED A SERIES OF NUCLEAR TESTS LAST 
MAY, THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN URGING NEW DELHI TO EXERCISE 
NUCLEAR RESTRAINT AND SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.
WHILE INDIA HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS TOWARD THAT END, U-S OFFICIALS
WANT TO SEE MORE.  
SPECIFICALLY, THEY ARE URGING NEW DELHI TO ADHERE TO THE TEST BAN
TREATY BY SEPTEMBER, STOP PRODUCTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL FOR 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS, AGREE TO RESTRAINTS ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF 
NUCLEAR-CAPABLE MISSILES, AND STRENGTHEN NUCLEAR EXPORT CONTROLS.
WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAYS THE CONCERNS ARE STANDING
IN THE WAY OF BETTER BILATERAL RELATIONS -- A POINT, HE SAYS, MR.
CLINTON UNDERSCORED IN HIS 10 MINUTE PHONE CONVERSATION WITH MR. 
VAJPAYEE. 
                    // LOCKHART ACTUALITY //
         HE SAID IT IS HIS BELIEF THAT AS THE TWO LARGEST 
         DEMOCRACIES IN THIS WORLD, WE SHOULD HAVE A STRONG AND 
         PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP.  HE EXPRESSED SOME 
         DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE RELATIONSHIP HAS  NOT  BLOSSOMED
         AS HE HAD HOPED, AND THAT HIS GOAL REMAINS TO WORK 
         THROUGH DIFFERENCES AND MOVE THE RELATIONSHIP FORWARD.
                          // END ACT //
MR. CLINTON CANCELLED A TRIP TO THE REGION AFTER INDIA CONDUCTED 
THE NUCLEAR TESTS, AND PAKISTAN RESPONDED IN KIND.
THE PRESIDENT WAS QUICK TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON BOTH GOVERNMENTS, 
AS REQUIRED BY U-S LAW.  HE LIFTED MOST OF THE PENALTIES IN 
NOVEMBER AFTER ISLAMABAD AND NEW DELHI TOOK STEPS TOWARD 
NONPROLIFERATION.
MR. LOCKHART SAYS THE PRESIDENT STILL HOPES TO RESCHEDULE THE 
TRIP TO SOUTH ASIA -- BUT ONLY AFTER INDIA AND PAKISTAN DO MORE 
TO EASE NUCLEAR TENSIONS ON THE SUBCONTINENT.  (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/KL
29-Jan-99 3:45 PM EST (2045 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.