DATE=5/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232426
TITLE=PAK JAPAN UPDATE (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A JAPANESE ENVOY VISITING ISLAMABAD IS URGING PAKISTAN
TO EXERCISE THE "UTMOST RESTRAINT" IN REACTING TO INDIA'S FIVE
NUCLEAR TESTS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS.
TEXT: JAPANESE ENVOY SEIICHIRO NOBORU -- AFTER MEETINGS WITH
PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF AND OTHER TOP OFFICIALS --
SAYS JAPAN IS URGING ISLAMABAD TO USE THE "UTMOST RESTRAINT" WHEN
MAKING A DECISION ON NUCLEAR TESTING.
/// NOBORU ACT ///
I EXPLAINED TO THE PAKISTANI LEADERS THE NUCLEAR POLICY OF
THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES -- PARTICULARLY THAT NUCLEAR TESTING IS A
VERY SENSITIVE PHENOMENON TO THE JAPANESE PEOPLE AND THE
GOVERNMENT -- JAPAN BEING THE ONLY VICTIM OF THE NUCLEAR
EXPLOSION.
/// END ACT ///
MR. NOBORU SAYS HE DOES NOT THINK PAKISTAN HAS MADE A FIRM
DECISION ON WHETHER TO TEST A NUCLEAR DEVICE.
/// NOBORU ACT ///
WITH REGARD TO THE REQUEST BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT THAT
THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE UTMOST RESTRAINT BOTH PRIME
MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER TOLD ME THEY ARE -- AT THIS MOMENT
-- CAREFULLY CONSIDERING ALL THE FACTORS SO THAT THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO REACH A CONCLUSION REFLECTING PAKISTAN'S NATIONAL
INTEREST.
/// END ACT ///
THE JAPANESE ENVOY SAYS PAKISTAN WOULD GAIN INTERNATIONAL RESPECT
IF IT DOES NOT RESPOND TO INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS.
MR. NOBORU SAYS "WORLD OPINION IS ALREADY SYMPATHETIC TOWARDS
PAKISTAN."
JAPAN DONATES MORE MONEY THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY TO PAKISTAN --
ABOUT 500-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. TOKYO IS EXPECTED TO IMPOSE
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON ISLAMABAD IF THE GOVERNMENT TESTS A NUCLEAR
DEVICE.
JAPAN IMPOSED SUCH SANCTIONS ON INDIA SOON AFTER NEW DELHI'S
NUCLEAR TESTS LAST WEEK
ECONOMIC ANALYSTS SAY WITH ITS LARGER POPULATION AND BIGGER
ECONOMY INDIA IS IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION TO ABSORB SANCTIONS.
PAKISTAN'S ECONOMY RELIES HEAVILY ON OVERSEAS ASSISTANCE.
SHAHID-UR-REHMAN IS THE ISLAMABAD BUREAU CHIEF OF THE TOKYO-BASED
KYOTO NEWS AGENCY. HE SAYS IF WIDE-RANGING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
ARE IMPOSED PAKISTAN'S ECONOMY WILL BE IN A CRISIS SITUATION.
/// REHMAN ACT ///
SANCTIONS WILL BE DISASTROUS TO PAKISTAN. THEY WILL CREATE
HAVOC WITH PAKISTAN'S ECONOMY. BUT I DO NOT THINK THEY WILL
COLLAPSE PAKISTAN'S ECONOMY LIKE MANY PEOPLE ARE FORECASTING.
WHAT WILL IMMEDIATELY HAPPEN IS THAT MOST OF THE REFORMS THAT
PAKISTAN HAS UNDERTAKEN DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS WILL HAVE TO BE
ROLLED BACK. THEY WILL HAVE TO BE SHELVED.
/// END ACT ///
PAKISTAN HAS SENT ENVOYS TO THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE AND CHINA
TO EXPLAIN ITS POSITION ON NUCLEAR TESTING. PAKISTAN SAYS THE
INDIAN TESTS POSE A DIRECT THREAT TO ITS SECURITY AND STABILITY
IN THE REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/MB/WDC/PT
18-May-98 4:06 PM EDT (2006 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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