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DATE=5/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232973
TITLE=AUSTRALIA / PAK NUKE REACT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BRONWYN CURRAN
DATELINE=SYDNEY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO:  AUSTRALIA'S  GOVERNMENT FRIDAY LODGED A PROTEST AGAINST 
PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR TESTS.  BRONWYN CURRAN REPORTS FROM SYDNEY, 
AUSTRALIA FOLLOWED UP BY CANCELLING AID TO ISLAMABAD AND TAKING 
AWAY THE WELCOME MAT FROM A VISITING PAKISTANI DELEGATION.
INTRO:  AUSTRALIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER DOWNER TELEPHONED 
PAKISTAN'S  HIGH COMMISSIONER IN CANBERRA FIRST THING FRIDAY 
MORNING TO CONVEY AUSTRALIA'S OFFICIAL OUTRAGE.
MR. DOWNER THEN ANNOUNCED THE CANCELLATION OF A PROMISE TO DOUBLE
AUSTRALIA'S FOREIGN AID TO PAKISTAN TO MORE THAN THREE AND THREE 
QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS. 
        /// DOWNER ACTUALITY ///
  IT'S VERY IMPORTANT INS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TAKE A STRONG  
STAND AGAINST BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN BECAUSE NUCLEAR 
PROLIFERATION  IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING 
DEVELOPMENTS IN  INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
           // END ACTUALITY ///   
SOON AFTER, A PAKISTANI PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITING 
AUSTRALIA WAS ASKED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY.
PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD WENT ON COMMERCIAL RADIO TO EXPRESS 
HIS DISBELIEF.
 IT IS CRAZY IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT A COUNTRY AS DIRT POOR AS  
PAKISTAN SHOULD BE DIPLOMATICALLY ROMANCING OR STRATEGICALLY  
ROMANCING IN THE IDEA THAT IN SOME WAY IT HAS REACHED A PINNACLE 
OF  RESPECTABILITY BY ACQUIRING A NUCLEAR CAPACITY. 
LATER IN THE DAY ON FRIDAY CAME AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ALL 
NON-HUMANITARIAN AID TO PAKISTAN WOULD BE SUSPENDED, AND DEFENSE 
TIES CUT, AS THEY WERE TO INDIA.
INDIA RESPONDED TO THOSE CUTS FRIDAY BY ANNOUNCING IT IN TURN 
WOULD SEVER ALL MILITARY TIES WITH AUSTRALIA.
ACROSS THE TASMAN SEA, NEW ZEALAND ALSO CONDEMNED THE PAKISTANI 
TESTING.  PRIME MINISTER JEAN SHIPLEY EXPRESSED HER 
DISAPPOINTMENT THAT  PAKISTAN HAD FAILED TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT 
AND PREDICTED THAT  THE TESTS WOULD ONLY AGGRAVATE A TENSE 
SITUATION.  (SIGNED)
NEB/BC/FC
29-May-98 4:40 AM EDT (0840 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.