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Title:  "Talbott, Bhutto Discuss Non-Proliferation Issues in Islamabad." Joint US-Pakistan statement by Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and Pakistani Prime Minister Bhutto reaffirming joint commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. (940411)

Date:  19940411

Text:
*NEA104

04/11/94

TALBOTT, BHUTTO DISCUSS NON-PROLIFERATION ISSUES IN ISLAMABAD (Text: Joint U.S.-Pakistan statement, 4/10/94) (760) Islamabad -- Deputy Secretary of State Srobe Talbott met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto here April 9 and discussed nuclear non-proliferation in South Asia and the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship.

"Overall, there was a wide degree of convergence in the positions of the two sides, reflecting their common commitment to international peace and global prosperity," according to a joint statement issued April 10 by the U.S. Embassy and the Government of Pakistan at the conclusion of Talbott's visit.

During the talks, Talbott reaffirmed a U.S. "proposal that Pakistan agree to a verifiable cap on the production of fissile materials in association with enhanced U.S. cooperation with Pakistan in various fields."

Pakistan, in turn, "expressed support for the objectives underlying the proposal, especially the strengthening of U.S.-Pakistani relations and the promotion of regional and global nonproliferation.

"The two sides agreed to proceed with further consideration of the U.S. initiative, with a view to developing an approach acceptable to both the U.S. and Pakistan," the statement said.

The joint statement also expressed support for an "early convening of multilateral talks on arms control, nonproliferation, and security in South Asia, and decided to consult one another and other interested states to develop an appropriate framework for such talks."

The following is an official text of the joint statement: (BEGIN TEXT) The Deputy Secretary of State of the United States of America, Mr. Strobe Talbott, accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State Robin Raphel, and other U.S. officials, held talks in Islamabad on 9 April 1994 with President Farooq Leghari, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Foreign Minister Assef Ahmed Ali, Foreign Secretary Najmuddin Shaikh, and other Pakistani officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Prime Minister hosted a lunch in Mr. Talbott's honor, and the Foreign Minister hosted a dinner for him.

The Pakistan-U.S. talks covered various aspects of their bilateral relationship as well as the regional and international situation, including developments in Central Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia. Pakistan reiterated its concerns about the situation in Kashmir.

The two sides agreed that the end of the Cold War offered Pakistan and the United States an opportunity further to develop a close, cooperative and friendly relationship based on their common desire to promote democracy, human rights and social infrastructure development, the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts, conventional arms control and the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. would value a broader and deeper relationship with Pakistan, an important Islamic country, a practicing democracy and a vibrant market economy, committed to trade liberalization and offering attractive opportunities for foreign investment. The United States believes that Pakistan can play an important role in promoting peace, stability and economic cooperation in South Asia as well as Central and West Asia. Pakistan desires further to strengthen and enlarge its relationship of friendship and cooperation with the United States in various fields on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual benefit. Overall, there was a wide degree of convergence in the positions of the two sides, reflecting their common commitment to international peace and global prosperity.

The two governments expressed their support for global and regional efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missiles capable of delivering them. In this connection, they agreed to pursue the goal of capping, then reducing, and finally eliminating weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles in South Asia.

The U.S. side reaffirmed its recent proposal that Pakistan agree to a verifiable cap on the production of fissile materials in association with enhanced U.S. cooperation with Pakistan in various fields. Pakistan expressed support for the objectives underlying the proposal, especially the strengthening of U.S.-Pakistani relations and the promotion of regional and global nonproliferation. The two sides agreed to proceed with further consideration of the U.S. initiative, with a view to developing an approach acceptable to both the U.S. and Pakistan.

Pakistan and the United States recognized the destabilizing consequences of ballistic missile deployments in South Asia and expressed the hope that all parties would forgo such deployment.

Pakistan and the United States supported the early convening of multilateral talks on arms control, nonproliferation, and security in South Asia, and decided to consult one another and other interested states to develop an appropriate framework for such talks.

(END TEXT) NNNN