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DATE=5/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232926
TITLE=U-S REACT / PAKISTAN (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS DEPLORED THE PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR 
TESTS, WHICH CAME DESPITE A LAST-MINUTE PERSONAL APPEAL BY MR. 
CLINTON TO PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF FOR RESTRAINT. VOA'S DAVID
GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: MR. CLINTON HAD BEEN INTENSIVELY INVOLVED IN DIPLOMATIC 
EFFORTS OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS TO PERSUADE PAKISTAN  NOT  TO 
MATCH INDIA'S TEST SERIES WITH ITS OWN EXPLOSIONS. AND HE MADE 
ONE LAST PERSONAL APPEAL TO PRIME MINISTER SHARIF AT MIDNIGHT 
WASHINGTON TIME, WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR TO U-S INTELLIGENCE THAT 
THE UNDERGROUND BLASTS WERE IMMINENT.
A CLINTON SPOKESMAN CALLED THE 25-MINUTE TELEPHONE DISCUSSION 
VERY INTENSE. AND LATER A CLEARLY DISAPPOINTED MR. CLINTON USED A
TALK AT A WHITE HOUSE HEALTH CARE EVENT TO DEPLORE THE PAKISTANI 
ACTION:
                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
         BY FAILING TO EXERCISE A RESTRAINT IN RESPONDING TO THE 
         INDIAN TESTS, PAKISTAN LOST A TRULY PRICELESS 
         OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN ITS OWN SECURITY, TO IMPROVE 
         ITS POLITICAL STANDING IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD.  AND 
         ALTHOUGH PAKISTAN WAS NOT THE FIRST TO TEST, TWO WRONGS 
         DON'T  MAKE A RIGHT. I HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE LEADERS
         OF PAKISTAN THAT WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO IMPOSE 
         SANCTIONS PURSUANT TO THE GLENN AMENDMENT AS IS REQUIRED
         BY LAW.
                          ///END ACT//
THE SANCTIONS BEING  PREPARED BY THE WHITE HOUSE WILL MATCH THOSE
IMPOSED AGAINST INDIA AND WILL INCLUDE U-S OPPOSITION TO LOANS TO
PAKISTAN BY INTERNATIONAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAD BEEN OFFERING INCENTIVES FOR PAKISTAN TO 
SHOW RESTRAINT, INCLUDING A PLEDGE TO WORK WITH CONGRESS TO LIFT 
CURBS ON U-S AID AND MILITARY COOPERATION WITH ISLAMABAD.
A SPOKESMAN SAID THAT WHILE DISAPPOINTED WITH PAKISTAN'S ACTION, 
MR. CLINTON UNDERSTANDS THE PRESSURE THE SHARIF GOVERNMENT WAS 
UNDER AND RESPECTS THE PRIME MINISTER PERSONALLY.
MR. CLINTON SAID IT IS NOW MORE IMPORTANT THAT INDIA AND PAKISTAN
JOIN THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY AND MOVE TO REVERSE WHAT 
HE CALLED A DANGEROUS ARMS RACE. HE SAID HE FINDS IT UNBELIEVABLE
THAT AS THE 21ST CENTURY NEARS, THE SOUTH ASIAN POWERS WOULD 
REPEAT THE WORST MISTAKES OF THE 20TH CENTURY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/LTD/KL
28-May-98 11:33 AM EDT (1533 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.