DATE=1/31/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244903
TITLE=U-S PAK TALKS ( L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS WILL ARRIVE IN ISLAMABAD MONDAY TO
BEGIN ANOTHER ROUND OF TALKS WITH PAKISTAN ON NUCLEAR ISSUES. AS
V-O-A'S SCOTT ANGER REPORTS, THE TALKS ARE PART OF CONTINUING
NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES, INDIA AND PAKISTAN
REGARDING NON-PROLIFERATION CONCERNS AND SECURITY IN SOUTH ASIA.
TEXT: AFTER THREE-DAYS OF TALKS IN NEIGHBORING INDIA, DEPUTY
SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT WILL MEET WITH PAKISTANI
OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION AND SECURITY.
U-S OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN URGING BOTH COUNTRIES TO SIGN THE
COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY -- SOMETHING PAKISTAN SAYS
IT WILL DO, BUT ONLY IN AN ATMOSPHERE FREE OF COERCION.
IN ADDITION TO DISCUSSING NUCLEAR ISSUES, PAKISTAN SAYS IT HOPES
TO SEE A STRONGER COMMITMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES TO HELP SOLVE
ITS DISPUTE WITH INDIA OVER KASHMIR. TARIQ ALTAF, SPOKESMAN FOR
PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY, SAYS PAKISTAN IS DISAPPOINTED NO
PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE. HE SAYS IT IS A HIGH PRIORITY IN THE
COMING TALKS.
///ALTAF ACT///
KASHMIR IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF TENSION IN THE REGION AS
WELL AS A KEY TO THE REALIZATION OF STABLE PEACE AND
SECURITY IN A NUCLEAR SOUTH ASIA.
///END ACT///
THIS IS THE EIGHTH ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES,
PAKISTAN AND INDIA. TALKS BEGAN LAST YEAR AFTER PAKISTAN AND
INDIA CONDUCTED A SERIES OF NUCLEAR TESTS.
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED ON BOTH COUNTRIES AFTER THE TESTS
AND PAKISTANI OFFICIALS SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL SANCTIONS
FINALLY LIFTED. THEY SAY A REMOVAL OF SANCTIONS WILL NORMALIZE
RELATIONS BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/JO
31-Jan-99 10:18 AM EST (1518 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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