DATE=5/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232362
TITLE=CLINTON/PAKISTAN (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=BIRMINGHAM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE IS STILL HOPEFUL PAKISTAN CAN
BE PERSUADED NOT TO CONDUCT ITS OWN NUCLEAR TEST IN RESPONSE TO
INDIA'S TEST SERIES. MR. CLINTON SPOKE AT THE CLOSE OF THE
EIGHT-COUNTRY SUMMIT IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, WHERE THE
SOUTH-ASIAN ARMS RACE WAS A KEY ISSUE. CORRESPONDENT DAVID
GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: DESPITE A SWIRL OF SPECULATION THAT PAKISTAN IS PREPARING
A TEST, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE REMAINS HOPEFUL THE GOVERNMENT
OF PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF WILL HEED U-S AND OTHER APPEALS
FOR FOR RESTRAINT.
IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS AFTER A MEETING WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT
BORIS YELTSIN, MR. CLINTON SAID THERE ARE WAYS THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY CAN HELP PAKISTAN MEET ITS SECURITY NEEDS WITHOUT
TESTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS. HE SAID PAKISTAN STANDS TO BENEFIT
IMMEASURABLY IF IT DOES RESIST THE PRESSURE TO TEST:
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
I THINK THAT OVER THE LONG RUN, AND INDEED BEFORE THEN,
THE POLITICAL, THE ECONOMIC, AND THE SECURITY INTERESTS
OF PAKISTAN -- AND PAKISTAN'S STANDING IN THE WORLD --
WOULD BE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED IF THEY WALKED AWAY FROM
A TEST. THE WHOLE REST OF THE WORLD WOULD THINK THEY
WERE STRONGER AND WOULD BE PROFOUNDLY IMPRESSED.
/// END ACT ///
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT, JUST BACK FROM A
MISSION TO ISLAMABAD TO URGE RESTRAINT, TOLD REPORTERS PRIME
MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF AND OTHER PAKISTANI LEADERS PROMISED TO
TAKE MR. CLINTON'S ARGUMENTS INTO ACCOUNT, BUT MADE NO COMMITMENT
NOT TO TEST:
/// TALBOTT ACTUALITY ///
THE SENSE WE HAD THROUGHOUT OUT OUR MEETINGS WAS THAT
THE PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE MET WERE WRESTLING WITH WHAT FOR
THEM WAS -- AND NO DOUBTS CONTINUES TO BE -- AN
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND VEXING DILEMMA. IN REPORTING TO
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT FROM THE PLANE ENROUTE HERE AND TO
THE PRESIDENT THIS MORNING, I SAID THAT I COULD NOT
PREDICT WHAT THEY WOULD DO. BUT IS WAS VERY CLEAR THAT
IS WAS A HARD DECISION.
/// END ACT ///
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DANGLED POSSIBLE CONCESSIONS TO PAKISTAN,
INCLUDING RESOLUTION OF A LONG-RUNNING DISPUTE OVER FIGHTER JETS
PAKISTAN PAID FOR, BUT NEVER RECEIVED BECAUSE OF U-S
NON-PROLIFERATION LAW. BUT MR. TALBOTT SAID PAKISTAN HAD NO
"WISH LIST" (REQUESTS) FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AND SAW THE ISSUE IN
MORE FUNDAMENTAL AND SOPHISTICATED WAYS.
PRESIDENT CLINTON SERVED NOTICE EARLIER IF PAKISTAN DID TEST A
WEAPON, THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO IMPOSE THE
SAME FAR-REACHING SANCTIONS INDIA FACES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/RAE
17-May-98 11:55 AM EDT (1555 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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