DATE=4/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229678
TITLE=INDIA U-S (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S ENVOY TO THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS HE IS URGING
INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO RESUME HIGH-LEVEL TALKS. NEW DELHI
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS THE ENVOY IS WRAPPING-UP A
TWO-DAY VISIT TO INDIA AND NEXT GOES TO ISLAMABAD (WEDNESDAY).
TEXT: U-N AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON SAYS ONE PURPOSE OF HIS
TRIP IS TO ENCOURAGE INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO RESUME A DIALOGUE
AIMED AT REDUCING TENSIONS.
// RICHARDSON ACT //
ONE OF THE THEMES THAT WE URGED HERE THAT WE WILL URGE
IN PAKISTAN IS THE RESUMPTION OF THE INDIA-PAKISTAN
DIALOGUE. WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE RHETORIC, THE WORDS
THAT HAVE COME FROM THE PRIME MINISTERS AND NOW THE
FOREIGN SECRETARIES WE HOPE WILL RESUME THAT DIALOGUE.
// END ACT //
THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTERS HAVE BOTH SAID THEY WILL
MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THEIR
COUNTRIES. TALKS BETWEEN THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES OF THE NATIONS
BROKE DOWN IN SEPTEMBER OVER KASHMIR, A DISPUTED TERRITORY OVER
WHICH THE SIDES HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS.
MR. RICHARDSON IS IN SOUTH ASIA TO PREPARE FOR A TOUR BY
PRESIDENT CLINTON LATER THIS YEAR. THE U-N ENVOY IS THE MOST
SENIOR AMERICAN OFFICIAL TO VISIT INDIA SINCE THE NEW HINDU
NATIONALIST B-J-P GOVERNMENT WAS INSTALLED IN MARCH.
// RICHARDSON ACT //
WE WANT TO SAY TO THE B-J-P GOVERNMENT THAT WE LOOK
FORWARD TO A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. WE THINK ON A
VARIETY OF SECURITY ISSUES THEY HAVE BEEN CAUTIOUS, THEY
HAVE BEEN RESTRAINED, THEY HAVE BEEN MODERATE. THIS IS
VERY IMPORTANT. WE HOPE IN THE DAYS AHEAD TO CONTINUE
SOLIDIFYING AN ALREADY STRONG RELATIONSHIP.
// END ACT //
MR. RICHARDSON SAYS WASHINGTON AND NEW DELHI HAVE HAD DIFFERENCES
IN THE PAST OVER MATTERS INCLUDING NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROLIFERATION
-- BUT HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT HAVE A ONE-ISSUE AGENDA
WITH INDIA. U-S OFFICIALS SAY WASHINGTON WANTS TO BROADEN AND
DEEPEN ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH NEW DELHI.
INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY KRISHNAN RAGHUNATH TOLD REPORTERS THE
TALKS WITH MR. RICHARDSON AND HIS DELEGATION WERE POSITIVE AND
COVERED TOPICS RANGING FROM TRADE TO ENERGY.
// RAGHUNATH ACT //
ALL THE DISCUSSIONS, STARTING FROM THOSE IN THE MORNING,
THE MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER (TUESDAY) -- ALL OF
THEM WERE HELD IN A VERY WARM AND CORDIAL ATMOSPHERE,
VERY CONSTRUCTIVE, THEY WERE POSITIVE.
// END ACT //
MR. RICHARDSON MET (WEDNESDAY) WITH HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS,
INCLUDING DEFENSE MINISTER GEORGE FERNANDES. HIS TALKS TUESDAY
INCLUDED A SESSION WITH PRIME MINISTER ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DAB/RAE
15-Apr-98 8:26 AM EDT (1226 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
