DATE=6/1/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233169
TITLE=PAKISTAN-INDIA NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE FIVE COUNTRIES THAT MAKE UP THE
PERMANENT UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ARE TO MEET THIS WEEK
IN GENEVA TO CONSIDER URGENTLY HOW TO STABILIZE SOUTH ASIA IN THE
WAKE OF NUCLEAR TESTS BY PAKISTAN AND INDIA. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER
HAS MORE ON THAT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
TEXT: THE MEETING ON THURSDAY WILL BE CHAIRED BY CHINA. IT IS
DESIGNED, ACCORDING TO STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN,
NOT TO IMPOSE A COORDINATED REGIME OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON THE
TWO NEW NUCLEAR COUNTRIES, BUT TO PREVENT DETERIORATION OF THE
SITUATION.
/// RUBIN ACT ///
HOW DO WE PREVENT A FURTHER ESCALATION OF TENSION, A
FURTHER RATCHETING UP OF THE NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN INDIA
AND PAKISTAN AND WE WANT TO DISCUSS WAYS EACH OF THE
COUNTRIES CAN WORK TOGETHER AND BY THEMSELVES TO PROMPT
THE COUNTRIES IN THE REGION TO AVOID FURTHER PROVOCATIVE
STEPS INCLUDING ADDITIONAL MISSILE AND NUCLEAR TESTS,
INFLAMATORY RHETORIC AND ADDITIONAL MILITARY ACTIVITY OF
A MORE CONVENTIONAL TYPE.
/// END ACT ///
HE SAID THE LONG TERM ISSUES WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED. HOW TO
AVOID A REGIONAL NUCLEAR ARMS RACE AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT A MAJOR
UNDERLYING ISSUE--THE DISPUTED TERRITORY OF KASHMIR. INDIAN AND
PAKISTAN HAVE GONE TO WAR OVER THE KASHMIR IN THE PAST. MR.
RUBIN SAID IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE NUCLEAR TESTS, THERE IS WHAT
HE CALLED THE 'FRIGHTENING PROSPECT OF A CONFLICT OF A DIFFERENT
CHARACTER'.
PAKISTANI SENATOR MOHAMAD AKRAM ZAKI HEADS A DELEGATION WHICH HAS
BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE LAST WEEK. AT A NEWS CONFERENCE
IN WASHINGTON, HE NOTED THAT THE U-N PERMANENT FIVE SECURITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD MEET IN GENEVA. HE INDICATED THAT IN
PAKISTAN'S VIEW, THE NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION ISSUE IS NOT THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING--THAT IS KASHMIR.
/// ZAKI ACT ///
OUR POSITION IS THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT THINGS OBJECTIVELY
AS LONG AS THEY ARE NON DISCRIMINATORY--AS LONG AS THEY
DO NOT MAKE A DISCRIMINATION OR DISTINCTION BETWEEN
INDIA AND PAKISTAN. WE WILL LOOK AT IT OBJECTIVELY.
THE MORE IMPORTANT ASPECT IS TO ADDRESS THE FUNDAMENTAL
PROBLEM THAT HAVE CAUSED ALL THE POISON AND DIFFICULTY
BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS.
/// END ACT ///
SENATOR ZAKI SAID PAKISTAN HAS NO PRESENT INTENTION OF PUTTING
NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON MISSILES, BUT SUGGESTED THAT THE DECISION MAY
NOT BE PERMANENT IF INDIA WEAPONIZES FIRST. HE DISPUTED ANALISTS
WHO SAY THERE IS A DANGER THAT PAKISTAN WILL SHARE ITS NUCLEAR
WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY, SAYING HIS COUNTRY HAS NO INTENTION OF
TRANSFERRING ITS TECHNOLOGY, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS BEING
DEVELOPED WITHOUT OUTSIDE HELP.(SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/WDC/PT
01-Jun-98 4:36 PM EDT (2036 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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