DATE=2/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245625
TITLE=INDIA/CODEL (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FOUR UNITED STATES CONGRESSMEN VISITING INDIA SAY THEY
WILL SUPPORT A RESUMPTION OF WORLD BANK LENDING TO INDIA --
LENDING THAT HAS BEEN BLOCKED SINCE LAST YEAR'S NUCLEAR TESTS.
VOA'S JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI THE CONGRESSMEN ALSO SAY
THIS SATURDAY'S TRIP TO PAKISTAN BY INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL
BEHARARI VAJPAYEE IS THE BEST SIGN OF HOPE FOR EASING TENSIONS
IN THE REGION.
TEXT: WORLD BANK LENDING TO INDIA COULD RESUME THIS WEEK.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORTS IN WIRE SERVICES AND NEWSPAPERS, SENIOR
OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON SAY ENOUGH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON
NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL ISSUES TO ALLOW A RESUMPTION OF LENDING.
FOUR MEMBERS OF THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VISITING INDIA
SAY THEY SUPPORT SUCH A MOVE. THE FOUR ARE GARY ACKERMAN OF NEW
YORK, DAVID PRICE OF NORTH CAROLINA, LLOYD DOGGETT OF TEXAS AND
JIM MCDERMOTT OF WASHINGTON STATE. THE FOUR ARE ALL DEMOCRATS
AND ALSO MEMBERS OF THE INDIA CAUCUS, AN INFORMAL GROUP OF
LEGISLATORS WHO TAKE AN INTEREST IN INDIAN AFFAIRS.
EVEN THOUGH THEY SUPPORT A RESUMPTION OF WORLD BANK LENDING TO
INDIA AND THE EVENTUAL LIFTING OF ALL SANCTIONS ONCE INDIA SIGNS
THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY THE FOUR CONGRESSMEN
ALSO SAY LAST YEAR'S NUCLEAR TESTS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN
ANYTIME SOON. CONGRESMAN LLOYD DOGGETT SAYS THERE IS STILL TIME
TO STOP A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE FROM DEVELOPING IN THE REGION.
// INSERT DOGGETT ACTUALITY //
I THINK, AND A NUMBER OF MY CONSTITUENTS IN TEXAS THINK,
THAT THE WORLD IS A MUCH LESS SECURE PLACE AFTER THE
EXPLOSIONS THAT OCCURED HERE IN SOUTH ASIA LAST YEAR.
NOW WE ARE HOPEFUL GIVEN THE REPORTS THAT WE HEAR FROM
OUR GOVERNMENT, FROM THE COMMENTS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED
HERE IN INDIA THAT WE MIGHT MAKE THE BEST OF THE BAD
SITUATION THAT DEVELOPED, AND PREVENT A NUCLEAR ARMS
RACE FROM GROWING HERE IN SOUTH ASIA.
// END ACTUALITY //
THE FOUR CONGRESSMAN SAY THE BEST SIGN OF HOPE FOR EASING
TENSIONS IN THE REGION IS THIS SATURDAY'S BUS TRIP TO PAKISTAN
BEING UNDERTAKEN BY INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE.
CONGRESSMAN JIM MCDERMOTT SAYS GREAT THINGS CAN DEVELOP OUT OF
SYMBOLIC GESTURES.
// INSERT MCDERMOTT ACTUALITY //
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA BEGAN WITH PING-PONG GAMES
AND I THINK YOU COULD LOOK AT THAT AND SAY WHAT A SILLY
WAY TO START BUT THAT WAS A GOOD WAY TO START. IT LED
TO A CHANGE TO A CHANGE IN A VERY CONTENTIOUS
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
// END ACTUALITY //
THE CONGRESSMAN SAY THEY HOPE THE LAHORE SUMMIT WILL LEAD TO
SERIOUS TALKS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN ON NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL
AND OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS KASHMIR. THEY ALSO SAY CHINA SHOULD BE
INCLUDED IN SUCH TALKS SO THAT A TRULY REGIONAL NON-PROLIFERATION
REGIME CAN BE CREATED. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/LTD/KL
17-Feb-99 7:46 AM EST (1246 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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