DATE=1/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA / U-S (L-ONLY) CQ
NUMBER=2-258192
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers,
visiting India, discussed economic cooperation issues
with senior Indian leaders saying President Clinton
will do the same during a planned visit to New Delhi
in the near future. VOA's Jim Teeple reports Mr.
Summers visit takes place as senior Indian and U-S
diplomats are meeting in London in talks aimed at
resolving differences between the two countries over
nuclear proliferation issues.
Text: Treasury Secretary Summers says he delivered a
letter from President Clinton to India's prime
minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, that outlined
proposals for closer economic cooperation between the
two countries. President Clinton is planning to
visit India in the near future - possibly in March.
Mr. Summers told reporters that economics will play a
big role in his visit -- and President Clinton's.
/// SUMMERS ACTUALITY ///
The basic objective of our trip is to carry out
economic dialogue between the United States and
India and to come to a greater understanding of
the economic situation in India and to lay the
groundwork for President Clinton's trip to
India.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Late last year President Clinton lifted nearly all
economic sanctions imposed on New Delhi following
India's nuclear tests in May 1998. Mr. Summers is the
highest ranking U-S official to visit India since New
Delhi those tests. Pakistan conducted nuclear tests
of its own a short while later, prompting the United
States to impose sanctions, sanctions which Washington
has yet to lift. U-S officials have said in the past
they will remain in effect until civilian rule is
restored in Pakistan.
Mr. Summers visit to India comes as senior Indian and
U-S diplomats are holding a 10th round of talks in
London aimed at resolving differences over nuclear
proliferation issues. The United States and other
leading nuclear powers are urging both India and
Pakistan to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Treaty, or C-T-B-T, which bans the testing of nuclear
weapons. India's Prime Minister says there must be a
national debate over the issue of signing the treaty.
Last year the U-S Senate rejected ratifying the treaty
- a vote President Clinton called "regrettable."
/// REST OPT /// Meanwhile relations between India
and Pakistan have deteriorated to their lowest point
in years. India has accused Pakistan of involvement
in the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane that was
seized by Kashmiri separatist militants in late
December - a charge Pakistani officials deny.
Following the arrest of an Indian embassy official in
Islamabad and the bombing of a market in the southern
city of Karachi, Pakistani officials this week accused
India of organizing terrorist attacks in Pakistan - a
charge that Indian officials deny. (Signed)
NEB/JLT/KL/gm
18-Jan-2000 18:36 PM EDT (18-Jan-2000 2336 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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