DATE=5/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232952
TITLE=U-S PAKISTAN ONITER (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS IMPOSING WIDE-RANGING
SANCTIONS AGAINST PAKISTAN AFTER INTENSIVE U-S DIPLOMACY FAILED
TO PERSUADE THAT COUNTRY NOT TO CARRY OUT ITS NUCLEAR TESTS.
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAD BEEN PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN EFFORTS
OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS TO PERSUADE PAKISTAN NOT TO MATCH
INDIA'S NUCLEAR TEST SERIES. AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY HIS
REACTION TO THE NEWS OF THE FIVE TEST EXPLOSIONS WAS ONE OF
REGRET AND DISAPPOINTMENT.
MR. CLINTON HAD PLACED AN UNUSUAL MIDNIGHT PHONE CALL TO PRIME
MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF TO URGE RESTRAINT WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR TO
U-S INTELLIGENCE THE UNDERGROUND BLASTS WERE IMMINENT. OFFICIALS
CALLED THAT 25-MINUTE DISCUSSION VERY INTENSE. AND LATER A
CLEARLY DISAPPOINTED MR. CLINTON USED A WHITE HOUSE HEALTH CARE
EVENT TO DEPLORE THE PAKISTANI ACTION:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
BY FAILING TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT AND RESPONDING TO THE
INDIAN TEST, 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//
PRIME MINISTER SHARIF MADE A RETURN CALL TO PRESIDENT CLINTON
THURSDAY MORNING TO OFFICIALLY INFORM HIM THAT HIS GOVERNMENT HAD
GONE AHEAD WITH THE TESTS. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY
SAID MR. SHARIF EXPRESSED WHAT HE TERMED HIS RESPECT -- AND
RESPECTFUL DISAGREEMENT -- WITH THE ARGUMENTS MR. CLINTON HAD
MADE. HE ALSO MADE CLEAR THERE IS UNDERSTANDING WITHIN THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR THE DILEMMA MR. SHARIF FACED:
///MCCURRY ACTUALITY///
THE PRIME MINISTER CLEARLY STRUGGLED WITH WHAT WAS
APPARENTLY FOR HIM A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION. HE KNEW
THE COSTS. HE UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY THE PRESIDENT'S
ARGUMENT. I THINK HE HAD SOME SYMPATHY FOR THE ARGUMENT
THAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN
AND FOR PAKISTAN'S PLACE IN HISTORY WAS TO REFRAIN FROM
TESTING. BUT I THINK HE CLEARLY FELT THE PRESSURE AND
THE BURDEN OF BOTH DOMESTIC POLITICAL OPINION AND ALSO
THE REALITY OF THE PRESSURE HE FACED IN THE REGION
BECAUSE OF THE DECISION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
///END ACT///
MR. MCCURRY SAID U-S OFFICIALS RECOGNIZED A QUALITATIVE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDIA -- WHICH BEGAN THE LATEST CRISIS WITH
ITS SURPRISE TESTS -- AND PAKISTAN WHICH HAD FELT COMPELLED TO
RESPOND AND WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD ABOUT ITS SITUATION.
BUT HE SAID THE SANCTIONS AGAINST PAKISTAN ARE MANDATED BY
CONGRESS AND WILL MIRROR THOSE ALREADY IN PLACE AGAINST INDIA.
THE KEY PROVISION IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE UNITED STATES OPPOSE
LOANS TO PAKISTAN BY INTERNATIONAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS WHICH
COULD EVENTUALLY COST PAKISTAN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ALREADY MOVED TO THE NEXT PHASE OF ITS
DIPLOMATIC APPROACH TO THE CRISIS AS IT TRIES TO MOBILIZE
PRESSURE AGAINST BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO REFRAIN FROM
DEPLOYING NUCLEAR WEAPONS -- ESPECIALLY ON THE MEDIUM-RANGE
BALLISTIC MISSILES BOTH COUNTRIES NOW POSSESS.
MR. CLINTON DISCUSSED THE ISSUE IN HIS TELEPHONE TALK THURSDAY
WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND IT IS CERTAIN TO BE HIGH
ON THE AGENDA FOR HIS SUMMIT TALKS WITH CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG
ZEMIN IN BEIJING NEXT MONTH.
SPOKESMAN MCCURRY SAID HE DID NOT ACCEPT THE TURN OF EVENTS AS AN
AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY FAILURE -- SAYING DESPITE ALL ITS WEALTH
AND MIGHT THE UNITED STATES CANNOT INFLUENCE EVERY EVENT,
ESPECIALLY IN A SITUATION WHERE TWO GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN IN
CONFLICT FOR FIVE DECADES AMID WHAT HE TERMED "INCREDIBLE
TENSION." (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/TMD/KL
28-May-98 4:21 PM EDT (2021 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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