Title: "US Will Not Compromise on Non-Proliferation Issue." Statement by Nicholas Platt, President Bush's nominee to be the new Ambassador to Pakistan, in testimony before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (910625)
Date: 19910625
Text:
*NEA211
06/25/91 *
U.S. WILL NOT COMPROMISE ON NON-PROLIFERATION ISSUE (Text: Platt in SFRC on Pakistan, 6/25/91) (960)
Washington -- Nicholas Platt, President Bush's nominee to be the new U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, told Senate lawmakers that U.S. officials "hope" to resume aid to Pakistan, "but will not compromise our non-proliferation principles to do so."
Platt, who is currently serving as ambassador to the Philippines, made the comments during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee June 25.
He said that U.S. and Pakistani officials continue to discuss the issues involved in Washington's October 1990 cutoff of aid, but stressed that the suspension will be maintained until U.S. worries about Pakistan are satisfactorily addressed.
Turning to the tensions in the sub-continent, Platt said India and Pakistan "must leave behind their animosities and actively pursue, not just mutual coexistence, but a friendship that will build lasting trust."
He said the United States will continue to encourage confidence-building measures between the two states and "will pursue friendship and trade with both countries without regard to their mutual suspicions.
Platt spoke highly of the demonstrated strength of Pakistani democracy, and of the wide-ranging economic reforms being implemented by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He pledged to make "every effort in support of U.S. businesses wishing to invest in or trade with Pakistan."
Following is the text of Platt's opening remarks before the committee, as prepared for delivery:
(BEGIN TEXT)
It is a pleasure to appear before the subcommittee as it considers my appointment to be ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
I am a career foreign service officer, currently serving as U.S. ambassador to the Philippines. I have also served as ambassador to Zambia and had assignments in Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo and Washington. Washington assignments
GE 2 nea211 include tours as a National Security Council staff member, a deputy assistant secretary of defense and various State Department positions, including deputy assistant secretary of state for International Organization Affairs.
I am pleased to be going to Pakistan where we have a long, deep and mutually-beneficial friendship that spans the forty-three years of Pakistan's existence. We share important interests in regional peace and stability, including an honorable political settlement in Afghanistan. A vivid example of those shared interests was the Pakistani government's support of complete and unconditional Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait, implementation of all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and deployment of 11,000 troops in Saudi Arabia.
Elections that were held in Pakistan 1988 and 1990 give us hope for the future of a democratic Pakistan. We are supporting this democracy through USIS programs, and other government and private programs. An example of this is the visit of the twelve Pakistani parliamentarians who are arriving in Washington at the end of this week to learn about U.S. legislative processes.
Democracy will help Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif achieve his objectives for economic liberalization, which will create a dynamic, self reliant, market-based economy. A strong economy that can sustain high levels of growth over time will, in turn, broaden and strengthen the democratic base in Pakistan. The prime minister has made great strides in deregulating Pakistan's economy and privatizing inefficient public sector enterprises, thus encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign. We are confident that continued efforts in these areas along with renewed emphasis on the structural reforms that have been underway since 1988 will help Pakistan to achieve economic self- reliance. The government has been working closely with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in designing and implementing its economic reforms and we strongly support this cooperative relationship. I, of course, will make every effort in support of U.S. businesses wishing to invest in or trade with Pakistan.
Democracy will play an important role in other areas of mutual interest between our two countries, including the maintenance of law and order, human rights protection and fighting the scourge of narcotics trafficking.
The future of Pakistan is inextricably tied to how it manages its relations with India, with whom it has fought three wars. In the new world order of the post-Cold War period these two adversaries must leave behind their animosities and actively pursue, not just mutual coexistence, but a friendship that will build lasting trust. Only trust can lead to lasting resolutions of difficult problems like Kashmir and weapons proliferation.
GE 3 nea211 We will continue to encourage actively both countries to expand the confidence-building measures that were initiated during tensions over Kashmir in 1990. Meanwhile, we will pursue friendship and trade with both countries without regard to their mutual suspicions.
Pakistan has traditionally been one of the largest recipients of u.s. assistance with FY 90 levels at 584 million dollars, roughly equally balanced between military and economic assistance. As you know, new aid to Pakistan as well as U.S. government military deliveries have been suspended since October 1, 1990 because the president has not made the certification required under the Pressler Amendment that Pakistan does not possess a nuclear explosive device and that continuation of our assistance and military supply programs will significantly reduce the risk of its doing so. The issues involved with certification for Pakistan under the Pressler Amendment continue to be a subject of discussion with the government of Pakistan. We hope certification can be issued, but will not compromise our non-proliferation principles to do so. Without certification, aid will remain suspended. We are also pursuing ideas on a regional framework for nonproliferation with Pakistan and other governments.
Thus U.S.-Pakistani relations reflect the opportunities and challenges that are part of a close and long friendship. With your consent, I look forward to this exciting and challenging assignment.
(END TEXT) NNNN
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