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DATE=5/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232879
TITLE=STATE / PAKISTAN NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INTENSIVE AMERICAN EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO TRY TO 
PERSUADE PAKISTAN NOT TO FOLLOW INDIA IN CONDUCTING NUCLEAR 
TESTS.  THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN TOLD
BY PAKISTAN IT HAS NOT MADE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO TEST NUCLEAR
WEAPONS.  V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS A REPORT FROM THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT.
TEXT:  SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN TOLD A REGULAR BRIEFING PAKISTANI 
OFFICIALS PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY HAVE SAID NO DECISION ON WHETHER
TO TEST NUCLEAR WEAPONS HAS BEEN MADE.  HE SAID THE UNITED STATES
IS DEALING WITH THE ISSUE ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.
                        /// RUBIN ACT ///
         WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT PAKISTAN WAS IN A POSITION TO 
         TEST IF IT CHOSE TO DO SO.  THE QUESTION IS, WILL IT 
         CHOOSE TO DO SO AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IS STRONGLY URGING
         THE PAKISTANI LEADERSHIP NOT TO TEST.  SUCH AN ACTION 
         WOULD JEOPARDIZE, NOT ENHANCE, THEIR SECURITY, THE 
         SECURITY OF THE PEOPLE IN SOUTH ASIA, AND THE SECURITY 
         OF THE WORLD.
                         /// END ACT ///
IN INTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS, AMERICAN OFFICIALS ARE TELLING PAKISTAN
OF THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF TESTING AS WELL AS THE POSITIVE 
ASPECTS OF NOT TESTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
                        /// RUBIN ACT ///
         I THINK THAT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED WHAT HAPPENED 
         TO INDIA AS A RESULT OF THEIR TESTS, IT IS VERY CLEAR 
         THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S CONDEMNATION OF 
         INDIA'S DEFIANCE ON THIS SUBJECT HAS COST INDIA DEARLY.
                         /// END ACT ///
HE SAID ECONOMIC SANCTIONS--SUSPENSION OF LOANS AND LOSS OF 
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES--COULD COST THE INDIAN PEOPLE BILLIONS OF 
DOLLARS BECAUSE OF THE NUCLEAR TESTING.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN WOULD NOT GO INTO DETAILS BUT SAID
THE UNITED STATES IS ENGAGED IN A SERIOUS DISCUSSION WITH 
PAKISTANI OFFICIALS ABOUT PAKISTAN'S SECURITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF
THE INDIAN TESTING.  HE SAID PAKISTAN'S SECURITY WILL BE GREATER 
IF IT DOESN'T TEST THAN IF IT DOES.
A PAKISTANI PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IS ARRIVING ON FRIDAY FOR A 
WEEK-LONG VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, BUT IT IS BELIEVED THAT 
U-S/PAKISTAN DISCUSSIONS ON THE NUCLEAR ISSUE ARE TAKING PLACE AT
A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL.(SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/WDC/PT
27-May-98 4:10 PM EDT (2010 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.