DATE=12/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243286
TITLE= PAKISTAN / U-S (L-ONLY)
BYLINE= AYAZ GUL
DATELINE= ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF SAYS (SATURDAY) A
LONG-STANDING DISPUTE WITH THE UNITED STATES OVER THE SALE OF 28
F-16 FIGHTER PLANES HAS BEEN RESOLVED. AYAZ GUL HAS DETAILS FROM
THE PAKISTANI CAPITAL.
TEXT: MR. SHARIF (SATURDAY) TOLD REPORTERS IN ISLAMABAD THAT
PRESIDENT CLINTON TELEPHONED HIM FRIDAY NIGHT WITH A SOLUTION TO
THE EIGHT-YEAR OLD DISPUTE OVER THE SALE OF THE F-16 FIGHTER
AIRCRAFT TO PAKISTAN.
THE PAKISTANI LEADER SAYS THE DISPUTE HAS BEEN A "PERSISTENT
IRRITANT" IN BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND THE UNITED
STATES, BUT HE SAYS THIS IS NOW OVER.
//SHARIF ACT//
IT GIVES ME PLEASURE TO INFORM YOU THAT THE F-16 MATTER
HAS NOW BEEN AMICABLY, AND TO OUR SATISFACTION,
RESOLVED. THE TWO GOVERNMENTS HAVE CLOSED THE ISSUE WITH
AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS. THIS IS A CONCRETE AND POSITIVE
OUTCOME OF MY VISIT TO WASHINGTON. NOT ONLY HAS A MAJOR
IRRITANT BEEN REMOVED, BUT AS A RESULT AN ATMOSPHERE OF
GREATER TRUST AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL COOPERATION HAS
BEEN FOSTERED.
//END ACT//
PRIME MINISTER SHARIF SAYS ISLAMABAD WILL GET A TOTAL OF 467-
MILLION DOLLARS FROM WASHINGTON -- MONEY THAT PAKISTAN PAID FOR
THE UNDELIVERED JETS.
MR. SHARIF SAYS THE U-S WILL REPAY PAKISTAN ABOUT 70-PERCENT OF
THE MONEY IN CASH BY THE END OF DECEMBER. THE REST WILL BE
PAYED BACK IN WHEAT AND OTHER PURCHASES FROM THE UNITED STATES
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THE UNITED STATES FROZE THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR AIRCRAFT DEAL
ALONG WITH ECONOMIC AND MILITARY AID TO PAKISTAN IN 1990 IN
PROTEST OF THE MUSLIM COUNTRY'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM.
LAST MAY PAKISTAN CARRIED OUT A SERIES OF NUCLEAR TESTS WHICH
TRIGGERED FURTHER ECONOMIC SANCTIONS BY THE UNITED STATES. BUT,
IN NOVEMBER PRESIDENT CLINTON PARTIALLY LIFTED THE SANCTIONS
AFTER PAKISTAN SAID IT WILL SIGN THE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY BY
SEPTEMBER, 1999. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/PLM
19-Dec-98 8:33 AM EST (1333 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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