DATE=3/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-INDIA TALKS (L)
NUMBER=2-260405
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton and Indian Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee have held talks in New Delhi, in
a meeting overshadowed to some extent by an attack on
Sikh villagers in Indian Kashmir hours earlier. More
than 30 people died there. The meeting followed an
official welcome for Mr. Clinton, who is making the
first visit to India by a U-S president in 22 years.
V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the Indian
capital.
TEXT: Both leaders condemn the Kashmir killings --
attributed to Muslim militants -- in strong terms,
with Mr. Vajpayee calling the village attack a
"premeditated act of barbarism" and a further example
of "ethnic cleansing" he says has been underway in the
region for a decade.
Without specifically blaming Pakistan for the
incident, the Indian leader says he rejects the notion
that "jihad" -- or holy war -- can be a part of any
country's foreign policy and says India has "the means
and the will" to eliminate the menace.
But, under questioning, he also said India is prepared
to solve all problems with Pakistan peacefully and
suggested concerns expressed by some analysts that
another war in South Asia might be imminent are over-
wrought:
///VAJPAYEE ACTUALITY///
The situation I not so bad as it has been made out to
be. There are differences. There have been clashes.
There is the problem of cross-country terrorism.
Innocent people are being killed. But there is no
threat of any war.
///END ACTUALITY///
President Clinton -- who postponed a trip to the
region two years ago because of the nuclear tests by
both South Asian powers -- says he urged Mr. Vajpayee
to roll back the regional arms race by, among other
things, signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. He
says he came away from the talks optimistic about
making progress.
Mr. Clinton also says he had urged restraint over
Kashmir and will make the same appeal when he meets
Pakistani military leader General Pervez Musharraf in
Islamabad Saturday:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
I can tell you that this is my same message: respect
the line of control, show restraint, stand against
violence, restore the dialogue.
///END ACTUALITY///
Mr. Clinton and Prime Minister Vajpayee signed what is
called a "vision statement" for improving a bilateral
relationship that Mr. Clinton says the United States
had neglected in the past. The Indian prime minister
accepted an invitation to visit Washington later this
year as part of what are to be regularized top-level
meetings between the two countries. (Signed)
NEB/DAG/WD
21-Mar-2000 04:45 AM EDT (21-Mar-2000 0945 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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