DATE=9/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238308
TITLE=CLINTON / SHARIF (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON CALLED PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ
SHARIF TUESDAY TO DISCUSS REGIONAL SECURITY AND NON-PROLIFERATION
ISSUES. THE CALL COMES AS THE U-S ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO
REVIEW WHETHER MR. CLINTON WILL GO AHEAD WITH A PLANNED TRIP TO
SOUTH ASIA. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS DESCRIBE THE 15-MINUTE CONVERSATION AS A
'FOLLOW UP' TO A MEETING BETWEEN U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
STROBE TALBOTT AND PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER SARTAJ AZIZ IN
LONDON LAST MONTH.
WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS MR. CLINTON AND MR.
SHARIF DISCUSSED NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION, REGIONAL SECURITY --
INCLUDING KASHMIR, AND PAKISTAN'S ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE WAKE
OF U-S SANCTIONS AGAINST THAT COUNTRY AFTER IT CONDUCTED NUCLEAR
TESTS IN MAY.
MR. CLINTON'S PLANNED TRIP TO THE REGION ALSO CAME UP IN THE
DISCUSSIONS, BUT OFFICIALS WOULD NOT ELABORATE.
THE PRESIDENT IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO VISIT PAKISTAN AS PART
OF A TOUR OF THE SUB-CONTINENT THAT IS TO INCLUDE INDIA AND
BANGLADESH.
BUT THE TRIP WAS THROWN INTO DOUBT AFTER ISLAMABAD AND NEW DELHI
CONDUCTED A SERIES OF NUCLEAR TESTS FOUR MONTHS AGO. SINCE THEN,
WASHINGTON HAS BEEN URGING BOTH GOVERNMENTS TO SIGN THE
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT REMAINS UNDER REVIEW --
BUT THEY SAY PAKISTAN AND INDIA NEED TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS ON
NON-PROLIFERATION ISSUES BEFORE MR. CLINTON GOES AHEAD WITH THE
TRIP.
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT HAS STRAINED U-S - PAKISTANI RELATIONS IS MR.
CLINTON'S DECISION TO ORDER MISSILE STRIKES AGAINST AN ALLEGED
TERRORIST BASE IN AFGHANISTAN. PAKISTAN HAS CONDEMNED THE
ACTION.
WHITE HOUSE AIDES SAY THE MATTER DID NOT COME UP IN MR.
CLINTON'S CONVERSATION WITH MR. SHARIF. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/KL
08-Sep-98 3:21 PM EDT (1921 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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