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DATE=5/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232665
TITLE=CLINTON / INDIA-PAK (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS HAD ANOTHER TELEPHONE TALK WITH 
PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF -- THEIR THIRD IN RECENT 
DAYS -- TO URGE RESTRAINT IN THE FACE OF INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS. 
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: MR. CLINTON MADE THE CALL FROM THE U-S NAVAL ACADEMY IN 
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, WHERE IN AN ADDRESS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS 
HE SAID THE INDIAN TEST SERIES RAISES THE SPECTER OF A DANGEROUS 
ARMS RIVALRY IN SOUTH ASIA.
IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS HERE, THE PRESIDENT DECLINED TO 
CHARACTERIZE MR. SHARIF'S RESPONSE TO HIS APPEALS FOR RESTRAINT, 
BUT SAID HE IS MAKING AN ALL-OUT DIPLOMATIC EFFORT TO PREVENT A 
FURTHER ESCALATION OF REGIONAL TENSIONS:
                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
         I CONTINUE TO URGE HIM TO REFRAIN FROM TESTING. AND I 
         TOLD HIM I HAD DONE EVERYTHING I COULD TO DO GET OTHER 
         WORLD LEADERS INVOLVED IN BOTH SUPPORTING HIM IF HE 
         WOULD REFRAIN FROM TESTING, AND ENCOURAGING THE INDIANS 
         NOT TO FURTHER AGGRAVATE THE SITUATION WITH PRECIPITOUS 
         COMMENTS OR ACTION IN KASHMIR OR ELSEWHERE.
                          ///END ACT///
MR. CLINTON ALSO SPOKE TO MR. SHARIF LAST WEEK AND AGAIN IN A 
CALL FROM LONDON WITH BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR ON 
MONDAY. WHILE GIVING  NO  DETAILS, HE SAID HE WAS IMPRESSED BY 
THE GENUINE CONCERN AND DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING THE PAKISTANI 
LEADER HAS SHOWN ON THE ISSUES.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS IMPOSED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST INDIA 
IN RESPONSE TO THE TESTS THAT COULD COST THAT COUNTRY BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.  AT THE SAME TIME IT IS SEEKING INCENTIVES FOR PAKISTAN 
NOT TO MATCH THE INDIAN TESTS -- INCLUDING SETTLEMENT OF A 
LONG-RUNNING DISPUTE OVER U-S FIGHTER PLANES PAKISTAN PURCHASED 
IN 1990 BUT WERE NEVER DELIVERED BECAUSE A NON-PROLIFERATION LAW 
FROM CONGRESS.
IN HIS ADDRESS AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY, MR. CLINTON CALLED ON INDIA 
TO HALT ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM AND JOIN THE 149 OTHER 
NATIONS THAT HAVE SIGNED THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN 
TREATY.(SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/JO
22-May-98 4:43 PM EDT (2043 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.