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DATE=4/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247500
TITLE=INDIA / CODEL (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF TEN MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES 
CONGRESS IS IN INDIA THIS WEEK EXAMINING A BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES 
OF CONCERN TO THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA.  VOA'S JIM TEEPLE 
REPORTS THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION COMPLETED THEIR VISIT TO NEW
DELHI ON THURSDAY SAYING THEY EXPECT A FURTHER EASING OF 
SANCTIONS ON INDIA WHICH WERE IMPOSED FOLLOWING LAST YEAR'S 
NUCLEAR TESTS.  
TEXT:  THE DELEGATION IS LED BY INFLUENTIAL DEMOCRAT RICHARD 
GEPHARDT OF MISSOURI, THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER.  MR. GEPHARDT 
SAYS BASED ON DISCUSSIONS HE HAS HAD WITH SENIOR INDIAN OFFICIALS
OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS HE IS POSITIVE INDIA WILL SIGN THE 
COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY LATER THIS YEAR -- PAVING 
THE WAY FOR A VISIT TO INDIA BY PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON.    
                //  INSERT GEPHARDT ACTUALITY //
         THERE IS A CLEAR DESIRE ON THE PART OF INDIA AND ITS 
         LEADERS TO GET TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN 
         TREATY.  BUT THERE ARE A VARIETY OF ISSUES AND A PROCESS
         THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET TO THAT RESULT.  WE 
         EARNESTLY SEEK THAT RESULT, AND I AM POSITIVE THAT IT 
         CAN BE ACHIEVED AND I AM ALSO POSITIVE THAT THE 
         PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO VISIT INDIA AT 
         THE EARLIEST MOMENT AND I THINK ACHIEVING THAT RESULT 
         WOULD MAKE THAT A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY. 
                      //  END ACTUALITY  //
SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED ON INDIA AND PAKISTAN AFTER THE TWO SOUTH 
ASIAN NEIGHBORS CONDUCTED A SERIES OF NUCLEAR TESTS.  LAST JULY, 
CITING THE NEED FOR FLEXIBILITY, THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS 
GRANTED WAIVER AUTHORITY TO PRESIDENT CLINTON TO LIFT SOME 
SANCTIONS.
CONGRESSMAN GEPHARDT SAYS HE BELIEVES A MAJORITY IN THE UNITED 
STATES CONGRESS WILL VOTE TO EXTEND THAT WAIVER AUTHORITY FOR 
ANOTHER YEAR WHEN IT EXPIRES IN IN SEVERAL MONTHS. 
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN MARK FOLEY OF FLORIDA SAYS HE BELIEVES THE
SANCTIONS HAVE LED TO AN UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES 
AND INDIA ABOUT THE NEED TO CONTROL NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  MR. FOLEY 
SAYS HE TOO SUPPORTS AN EXTENSION OF WAIVER AUTHORITY FOR THE 
PRESIDENT.  
                  //  INSERT FOLEY ACTUALITY //
         AT LEAST AS WE ARE CONTEMPLATING AND DISCUSSING IN A 
         BIPARTISAN WAY. INDIA -- I THINK EVERYBODY -- HAS 
         CLEARLY GOTTEN THE MESSAGE THAT THE SANCTIONS WORKED AS 
         THEY WERE DESIGNED TO AND I THINK EVERYBODY IS 
         COOPERATING QUITE WELL. 
                      //  END ACTUALITY //
MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SAY THEY ALSO SUPPORT A 
CASE-BY-CASE REVIEW OF ABOUT 40 INDIAN COMPANIES AND THEIR 
SUBSIDIARIES AS WELL AS INDIAN GOVERNMENT RESEARCH AGENCIES WHO 
ARE NOW BLACKLISTED FROM DOING BUSINESS WITH AMERICAN FIRMS 
BECAUSE OF ALLEGED TIES TO INDIA'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM.   
INDIA SAYS THE BLACKLIST VIOLATES WORLD TRADE RULES. CONGRESSMAN 
GEPHARDT SAYS ANY COMPANY THAT FEELS IT HAS BEEN UNFAIRLY PUT ON 
THE LIST CAN APPEAL TO HAVE ITS NAME REMOVED, AND ITS CASE WILL 
BE REVIEWED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/JLT/KL 
01-Apr-99 6:31 AM EST (1131 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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