DATE=5/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233063
TITLE=PAK NUKES (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN SAYS IT HAS CONDUCTED ONE MORE NUCLEAR TEST
DESPITE INTERNATIONAL PLEAS TO STOP FURTHER NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS.
AS V-O-A ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS --
PAKISTAN IS CALLING ON INDIA TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS TO EASE
TENSIONS IN SOUTH ASIA.
TEXT: PAKISTAN SAYS IT DETONATED ONE MORE NUCLEAR DEVICE
SATURDAY.
THE LATEST EXPLOSION FOLLOWS THURSDAY'S FIVE NUCLEAR BLASTS WHICH
MATCHED INDIA'S TESTS EARLIER THIS MONTH.
EARLIER SATURDAY STATE RUN RADIO AND THE COUNTRY'S OFFICIAL NEWS
WIRE ANNOUNCED TWO TESTS HAD TAKEN PLACE.
HOWEVER, FOREIGN SECRETARY SHAMSHAD AHMED CLARIFIED THE
SITUATION.
// AHMED ACT //
AFTER SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTING FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS ON 28TH
MAY 1998 PAKISTAN COMPLETED THE CURRENT SERIES BY
ANOTHER NUCLEAR TEST TODAY. LET ME CLARIFY HERE THAT
THERE WAS ONLY ONE TEST CONDUCTED TODAY. ALL THE TESTS
CONDUCTED WERE FULLY CONTAINED. THERE WAS NO RELEASE OF
RADIOACTIVITY.
// END ACT //
ALTHOUGH THE FOREIGN SECRETARY SAYS SATURDAY'S EXPLOSION
COMPLETES THE CURRENT ROUND OF TESTS HE DID NOT ANNOUNCE A
MORATORIUM ON TESTING.
MR. AHMED SAYS PAKISTAN'S SIX NUCLEAR TESTS ARE AN "EXPRESSION OF
SELF-DEFENSE."
// AHMED ACT //
IN RESTORING THIS STRATEGIC BALANCE PAKISTAN HAS GIVEN
ONLY A BARE MINIMUM RESPONSE. IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION
TO ENTER INTO AN ARMS RACE.
// END ACT //
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY CALLED ON INDIA TO ENTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH
PAKISTAN TO TRY TO EASE TENSIONS IN THE REGION.
// AHMED ACT //
WE ARE PREPARED TO ENTER INTO DISCUSSIONS WITH INDIA FOR
TAKING ALL STEPS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO INSURE MUTUAL
RESTRAINT AND EQUITABLE MEASURES FOR NUCLEAR
STABILIZATION IN OUR REGION. WE HAVE ALREADY STATED AT
THE HIGHEST LEVEL THAT PAKISTAN HAS NOT -- AND WILL NOT
-- TRANSFER SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO OTHER STATES OR
ENTITIES.
// END ACT //
MR. AHMED DECLINED TO DISCUSS SPECIFICS OF PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR
TESTS OR COMPARE THEM WITH INDIA'S TESTS. HE DID SAY PAKISTAN'S
MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILES HAVE NOT BEEN ARMED WITH NUCLEAR WARHEADS.
IN THE PORT CITY OF KARACHI, STREET DEMONSTRATIONS WERE HELD TO
CELEBRATE PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR TESTS.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN LAHORE GAVE PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ
SHARIF A LARGE WELCOME WHEN HE RETURNED TO HIS NATIVE PUNJAB
PROVINCE.
BUT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS WIDELY CONDEMNED PAKISTAN AND
INDIA'S TESTS SAYING THEY COULD LEAD TO A DANGEROUS NUCLEAR
WEAPONS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/MB/TMD/JO
30-May-98 1:15 PM EDT (1715 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
