DATE=5/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233055
TITLE=INDIA REACT (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SENIOR INDIAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE NOT SURPRISED BY A
SECOND NUCLEAR TEST IN PAKISTAN. V-O-A'S JIM TEEPLE REPORTS
INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER ON SATURDAY INDICATED HE IS WILLING TO
CONSIDER MAKING A SELF-IMPOSED MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR TESTING
BINDING.
TEXT: RESPONDING TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS ON SATURDAY, INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER ATAL BIHARI
VAJPAYEE SAID INDIA WAS, IN EFFECT, ALREADY COMPLYING WITH THE
NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY BY ITS SELF-IMPOSED MORATORIUM ON
TESTING. THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT PUT THE MORATORIUM INTO EFFECT
TWO WEEKS AGO AFTER EXPLODING FIVE NUCLEAR DEVICES.
MR. VAJPAYEE ALSO INDICATED HE WAS WILLING TO CONSIDER MAKING THE
MORATORIUM ON TESTING PERMANENT.
MEANWHILE, SENIOR INDIAN OFFICIALS SAID THEY HAVE BEEN CLOSELY
MONITORING PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND THEY WERE NOT
SURPRISED BY A SECOND TEST ON SATURDAY.
ECHOING STATEMENTS MADE BY INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER, K.C. SINGH A
SPOKESMAN FOR INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY, SAID WHAT THE INDIAN
GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE IS A "NO-FIRST USE" AGREEMENT ON NUCLEAR
WEAPONS WITH PAKISTAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.
// INSERT SINGH ACTUALITY //
THERE IS A NEED FOR A "NO-FIRST USE" AGREEMENT WITH
PAKISTAN AND THERE IS ALSO A NECESSITY FOR PEACE AND
SECURITY IN THE AREA.
// END ACTUALITY //
INDIAN OFFICIALS SAID THEY WOULD NOT CONDEMN THE MOST RECENT
PAKISTANI TEST BECAUSE, AS THEY PUT IT, INDIA RECOGNIZES
PAKISTAN'S SECURITY CONCERNS IN THE REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/JO
30-May-98 10:34 AM EDT (1434 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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