DATE=5/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232204
TITLE=INDIAN NUKES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN A SHARP WARNING TO INDIA, PAKISTAN TOLD THE OPENING
SESSION (THURSDAY) OF THE U-N CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT IT WILL
TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT ITS PEOPLE FROM WHAT
IT CALLED THE GROWING MENACE OF INDIAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
PAKISTAN'S REPRESENTATIVE WAS THE FIRST OF MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES
TO CONDEMN INDIA'S UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR TESTS. MORE FROM LISA
SCHLEIN.
TEXT: PAKISTAN REJECTED INTERNATIONAL CALLS FOR RESTRAINT IN
RESPONDING TO INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS. AMBASSADOR MUNIR AKRAM,
TOLD THE U-N CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HIS COUNTRY WOULD DECIDE
ALONE WHAT MEASURES TO TAKE TO GUARANTEE ITS SECURITY. HE SAID
INDIA'S ACTIONS POSE AN IMMEDIATE AND GRAVE THREAT TO PAKISTAN'S
SECURITY AND WILL NOT GO UNANSWERED.
/// AKRAM ACT ///
WE WILL NOT ACCEPT UNILATERAL OBLIGATIONS OR
COMMITMENTS. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT COMMITMENTS WHICH
WOULD PERMANENTLY JEOPARDIZE THE ABILITY OF PAKISTAN TO
DETER THE NUCLEAR AND CONVENTIONAL THREATS WHICH INDIA
POSES TO OUR SECURITY ... WE WILL NOT ALLOW OURSELVES
TO BE SUBJECTED TO ANY CONSPIRACY TO COMPROMISE
PAKISTAN'S SECURITY.
/// END ACT ///
THE PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR CRITICIZED OTHER COUNTRIES FOR HAVING
IGNORED WARNINGS THAT INDIA WAS ABOUT TO CONDUCT NUCLEAR TESTS.
HE ALSO DENOUNCED SEVERAL INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES -- INCLUDING
CANADA, THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND -- FOR
WHAT HE CALLED ACTIVELY ASSISTING INDIA IN DEVELOPING ITS NUCLEAR
AND MISSILE PROGRAMS.
MR. AKRAM SAID THIS WEEK'S SERIES OF INDIAN NUCLEAR WEAPON TESTS
HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERED THE STRATEGIC AND SECURITY SITUATION
IN THE REGION. HIS FEARS AND CONDEMNATION OF INDIA'S ACTIONS
WERE ECHOED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM MORE THAN 30 OTHER COUNTRIES.
//OPT// ONE BY ONE, COUNTRIES WHICH INCLUDED THE UNITED STATES,
JAPAN, CHINA, RUSSIA AND GERMANY EXPRESSED SHOCK OVER INDIA'S
OPEN DEFIANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. ///END OPT///
BUT, INDIA'S AMBASSADOR SAVITRI KUNADI REMAINED UNREPENTANT.
///KUNADI ACT///
IN UNDERTAKING THESE TESTS, INDIA HAS NOT VIOLATED ANY
INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS OR UNDERTAKING. THE DECISION
TO UNDERTAKE THESE TESTS WAS TAKEN AFTER DUE
CONSIDERATION OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS.
///END ACT///
AMBASSADOR KUNADI SAID INDIA REMAINS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE
COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF ALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND WOULD PARTICIPATE
IN WHAT SHE CALLED EFFECTIVE, UNIVERSAL NEGOTIATIONS TO ACHIEVE A
NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
14-May-98 9:25 AM EDT (1325 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
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