DATE=10/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240272
TITLE=CLINTON / PAKISTAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS INVITED PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER
NAWAZ SHARIF TO THE WHITE HOUSE LATER THIS YEAR. THE MOVE COMES
AFTER MR. CLINTON DECIDED TO CANCEL A TRIP TO PAKISTAN AND INDIA
NEXT MONTH BECAUSE OF CONCERNS OVER THE TWO COUNTRIES' NUCLEAR
TESTS LAST MAY. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE.
TEXT: THE VISIT WILL GIVE MR. SHARIF AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS
THE PROGRESS HIS COUNTRY HAS MADE TOWARD NON-PROLIFERATION IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THE NUCLEAR TESTS FIVE MONTHS AGO.
PAKISTAN -- AND INDIA -- HAVE MOVED TO CURB THEIR NUCLEAR
PROGRAMS AND HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR INTENTIONS TO SIGN THE
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY -- ACTIONS THAT WASHINGTON HAS
WELCOMED.
BUT U-S OFFICIALS WANT BOTH COUNTRIES TO DO MORE TO LIMIT THE
PRODUCTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL THAT CAN BE USED IN NUCLEAR
WEAPONS.
DURING HIS TALKS WITH MR. SHARIF -- WHICH U-S OFFICIALS SAY WILL
LIKELY BE SCHEDULED FOR EARLY DECEMBER -- MR. CLINTON IS ALSO
EXPECTED TO DISCUSS PROSPECTS FOR LIFTING U-S SANCTIONS AGAINST
PAKISTAN.
MR. CLINTON WAS REQUIRED BY LAW TO IMPLEMENT THE SANCTIONS
AGAINST BOTH ISLAMABAD AND NEW DELHI FOR THEIR NUCLEAR TESTS.
THE EMBARGO HAS HIT PAKISTAN -- WHICH WAS ALREADY DEALING WITH A
WEAK ECONOMY -- ESPECIALLY HARD.
THE PRESIDENT MAY ALSO USE THE MEETING TO EXPRESS U-S
APPRECIATION FOR PAKISTAN'S HELP IN FINDING THE SUSPECTS IN THE
BOMBINGS OF U-S EMBASSIES IN NAIROBI AND DAR ES SALAAM IN AUGUST.
THE WHITE HOUSE MADE NO MENTION OF A SIMILAR INVITATION TO
INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE, BUT U-S OFFICIALS
SAY MR. CLINTON WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH HIM HERE AT SOME POINT.
ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT DROPPED PLANS TO VISIT INDIA AND PAKISTAN
NEXT MONTH, AIDES SAY HE HOPES TO RESCHEDULE THE TRIP NEXT YEAR.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/WDC/PT
15-Oct-98 6:43 PM EDT (2243 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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