DATE=10/13/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN - REACTION (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254955
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Asian governments reacted Wednesday to news of
the coup in Pakistan which has toppled Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif. As Amy Bickers reports from the V-O-A
Asia News Center, countries from Japan to Australia
are expressing concern and say they are closely
monitoring developments in Islamabad.
TEXT: Japan, Pakistan's largest bi-lateral aid donor,
said Wednesday that it wished for a peaceful
resolution to the military coup in Pakistan. A
statement released by the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo
says Japan hopes the government and the army refrain
from violence and solve the crisis through discussion.
The statement made no mention of imposing sanctions on
Pakistan. Tokyo stopped new loans to Islamabad last
year after the country's nuclear tests.
China, an important ally to Pakistan as well as a
provider of military and nuclear technology, says it
is very concerned by the military coup. In a brief
statement, Beijing said it is attempting to further
comprehend the situation. China's state-run media is
reporting the coup without any official commentary.
Australia is condemning the coup and calling for
democracy to be restored. Foreign Affairs Minister
Alexander Downer told parliament he wants to see
Pakistan's constitution and rule of law respected.
International financial institutions are also closely
eyeing events in Pakistan. The Manila-based Asian
Development Bank says it is assessing the coup's
impact on its operations in Islamabad.
The International Monetary Fund has also said it is
scrutinizing the situation.
Economists say Pakistan could lose billions of dollars
in badly-needed foreign loans as a result of the coup.
(Signed)
NEB/AB/FC/PLM
13-Oct-1999 05:48 AM EDT (13-Oct-1999 0948 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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