DATE=6/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233210
TITLE=DISARMAMENT - INDIA / PAKISTAN (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GORDON MARTIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MORE THAN 40 MEMBER NATIONS OF THE U-N DISARMAMENT
CONFERENCE HAVE CONDEMNED THE NUCLEAR TESTS CONDUCTED BY INDIA
AND PAKISTAN. GORDON MARTIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA.
TEXT: FORTY-SIX MEMBERS AND OBSERVER NATIONS JOINED IN THE
CONDEMNATION, AND IN A CALL TO INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO CEASE ALL
FUTURE TESTING IMMEDIATELY.
THE TWO-PAGE STATEMENT -- PROPOSED BY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
-- SAID THE NATIONS THAT SIGNED IT ARE ALARMED AND DEEPLY
CONCERNED AT THE TESTING CARRIED OUT BY THE TWO COUNTRIES.
THE STATEMENT SAID THE 46 NATIONS CONDEMN ALL NUCLEAR TESTING AND
CONSIDER SUCH ACTS TO BE CONTRARY TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS
BANNING NUCLEAR TESTS.
THE DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE STATEMENT WAS SUPPORTED BY ALL FIVE
DECLARED NUCLEAR POWERS -- BRITAIN, CHINA, FRANCE, RUSSIA, AND
THE UNITED STATES. IT SAID THE ACTIONS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN
THREATEN AND UNDERMINE THE PROCESS OF DISARMAMENT AND THE GOAL OF
ELIMINATING NUCLEAR WEAPONS ALTOGETHER.
THE STATEMENT SAID THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTS BY INDIA AND
PAKISTAN ARE TOTALLY IRRECONCILABLE WITH CLAIMS BY BOTH COUNTRIES
THAT THEY ARE COMMITTED TO NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT.
IT ADDED THAT THE APPROACH INDIA AND PAKISTAN SEEM DETERMINED TO
PURSUE BELONGS TO A BYGONE AGE.
AND THE STATEMENT SAID IT WAS NOW CRUCIAL THAT INDIA AND PAKISTAN
ANNOUNCE IMMEDIATELY A CESSATION TO ALL FURTHER TESTING OF THESE
WEAPONS, RENOUNCE THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAMS, AND
UNCONDITIONALLY SIGN AND RATIFY THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN
TREATY.
THE COUNTRIES ALSO CALLED ON INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO ACCEDE,
WITHOUT DELAY, TO THE NEARLY THREE-DECADE-OLD NUCLEAR
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY, ALREADY SIGNED BY 186 COUNTRIES.
/// OPT /// "THIS IS A MOMENT FOR ALL COUNTRIES TO EXERCISE CALM
AND RESTRAINT," THE STATEMENT CONCLUDED. "WE CALL ON INDIA AND
PAKISTAN TO ABANDON IMMEDIATELY THE COURSE OF ACTION THEY ARE
PURSUING AND TO SETTLE THEIR SECURITY CONCERNS AND DIFFERENCES
THROUGH POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT." /// END OPT ///
FURTHER PRESSURE WILL BE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON THURSDAY, WHEN THE
FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE FIVE DECLARED NUCLEAR POWERS MEET IN
GENEVA TO JOINTLY ASSESS THE NEW SITUATION CREATED BY THE INDIAN
AND PAKISTANI TESTS, AND TO TRY TO CHART A POLICY TO PREVENT ANY
FURTHER WORSENING OF THE SECURITY BALANCE IN SOUTH ASIA.
(SIGNED)
NEB/GM/JWH/MMK
02-Jun-98 12:21 PM EDT (1621 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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