DATE=5/31/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233088
TITLE=INDIA NUKE PROPOSAL (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HAS (SUNDAY) ISSUED A STATEMENT 
CALLING ON ALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATES TO NEGOTIATE A GLOBAL 
AGREEMENT GOVERNING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE 
REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, INDIA'S GOVERNMENT SAYS EXISTING 
AGREEMENTS CONTROLLING BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS COULD BE 
USED AS A MODEL FOR A PROPOSED NUCLEAR WEAPONS CONVENTION. 

TEXT:  A STATEMENT FROM INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS 
NEGOTIATIONS TO CREATE A GLOBAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS CONVENTION SHOULD
BEGIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE STATEMENT SAYS ANY GLOBAL AGREEMENT FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS SHOULD BE NON-DISCRIMINATRY IN NATURE AND DRAFTED ALONG 
THE LINES OF THE BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTIONS -- 
TWO INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS DESIGNED TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF 
OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.   

THE STATEMENT SAYS INDIA'S GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE ITS 
SELF-IMPOSED MORATORIUM ON FURTHER NUCLEAR TESTING -- WHICH IT 
PUT IN PLACE AFTER DETONATING FIVE NUCLEAR DEVICES MORE THAN 
TWO-WEEKS AGO.

ECHOING STATEMENTS MADE SATURDAY BY INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER ATAL 
BIHARI VAJPAYEE, THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS INDIA IS ALSO WILLING 
TO NEGOTIATE A BINDING MORATORIUM ON ALL FURTHER NUCLEAR TESTING.
THE STATEMENT CRITICIZES THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, SAYING IT 
FAILED TO RECOGNIZE INDIA'S SELF IMPOSED MORATORIUM ON TESTING 
WHEN IT ADDRESSED THE MOST RECENT PAKISTAN NUCLEAR TEST.

THE STATEMENT ALSO SAYS INDIA REMAINS COMMITTED TO 
FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH PAKISTAN, AND IS WILLING TO SETTLE ALL 
OUTSTANDING DISPUTES WITH ITS NEIGHBOR IN BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS.


MEANWHILE, A POLL RELEASED SUNDAY BY "THE TIMES OF INDIA" 
NEWSPAPER SHOWS 81-PERCENT OF URBAN DWELLERS IN INDIA SUPPORT THE
GOVERNMENT'S RECENT DECISION TO CONDUCT NUCLEAR TESTS.  THE POLL 
TAKEN BEFORE PAKISTAN CONDUCTED ITS OWN NUCLEAR TESTS LAST WEEK 
SAYS 69-PERCENT OF INDIANS SURVEYED IN EIGHT CITIES SAY THEY FEEL
GOOD ABOUT INDIA'S SELF-DECLARED STATUS AS A NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
STATE.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/JLT/TM/RAE

31-May-98 7:54 AM EDT (1154 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.