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DATE=1/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244873
TITLE=INDIA / U-S (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO: SENIOR OFFICIALS FROM INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE 
DECIDED TO EXTEND KEY TALKS ON NUCLEAR AND OTHER SECURITY RELATED
ISSUES AS PRESIDENT CLINTON STRESSES THE NEED FOR A STRONG AND 
PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. FROM NEW 
DELHI, ANJANA PASRICHA HAS A REPORT.  
TEXT: INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER JASWANT SINGH AND U.S. DEPUTY 
SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT ARE DESCRIBING THEIR ONGOING 
TALKS IN NEW DELHI AS POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING. MR. SINGH SAYS 
THE TWO OFFICIALS WILL CONTINUE THEIR TALKS SUNDAY TO "MAKE MORE 
PROGRESS".  
THE DECISION TO EXTEND THE TALKS CAME AS PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID 
THE TWO COUNTRIES SHOULD WORK TOGETHER FOR THE SUCCESSFUL 
CONCLUSION OF THEIR ONGOING DIALOGUE. THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS 
CAME IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL 
BEHARI VAJPAYEE.  
MR. CLINTON EXPRESSED SOME DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE RELATIONSHIP 
BETWEEN INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT BLOSSOMED AS HE HAD 
HOPED, BUT SAID HIS GOAL REMAINS TO WORK THROUGH DIFFERENCES AND 
MOVE THE RELATIONSHIP FORWARD.   
THE TALKS BETWEEN MR. TALBOTT AND MR. SINGH BEGAN AFTER THE 
INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS LAST YEAR, AND ARE AIMED AT RECONCILING 
INDIA'S SECURITY INTERESTS WITH U.S. CONCERNS ON NUCLEAR 
NON-PROLIFERATION.   
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVEN ROUND OF TALKS -- BUT NOT MUCH PROGRESS HAS
BEEN REPORTED IN THE DIALOGUE SO FAR. HOWEVER INDIAN OFFICIALS 
SAY THE TWO COUNTRIES HOPE TO BREAK NEW GROUND DURING THE CURRENT
TALKS.   
THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN URGING INDIA TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT IN 
ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND MISSILE PROGRAM, AND ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL
NON-PROLIFERATION ACCORDS.  
WASHINGTON ALSO WANTS NEW DELHI TO SPELL OUT ITS PLANS FOR A 
MINIMUM NUCLEAR DETERRENT, BUT INDIAN LEADERS SAY THEY WILL 
DECIDE THAT FOR THEMSELVES. INDIA HAS STRESSED THE NEED FOR A 
MINIMUM NUCLEAR DETERRENCE CITING REGIONAL THREATS FROM CHINA AND
PAKISTAN. (SIGNED)
30-Jan-99 6:10 AM EST (1110 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.