DATE=7/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235035
TITLE=INDIA NUCLEAR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A SENIOR INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SOURCE SAYS INDIA HAS 
BEGUN A DIALOGUE WITH MAJOR NUCLEAR POWERS THAT COULD LEAD TO THE
SIGNING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.  V-O-A NEW DELHI 
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS.  

TEXT:  THE SOURCE, WHO SPOKE ON THE CONDITION THAT HIS NAME  NOT 
BE USED, SAYS INDIA BEGAN DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS WITH 
FRANCE, RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES ON THE NUCLEAR ISSUE. 

THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SOURCE SAYS INDIA HAS INDICATED A READINESS 
TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.  HOWEVER, ANY 
AGREEMENT ON THE TREATY MUST ADDRESS INDIA'S STRATEGIC CONCERNS, 
INCLUDING ACCESS TO HIGH TECHNOLOGY. 

FOR YEARS, INDIA HAS BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO TRANSFERS OF WHAT IS 
CALLED DUAL-USE TECHNOLOGY.  THIS IS EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BOTH 
CIVILIAN AND MILITARY APPLICATIONS.  WESTERN POWERS FEAR SUCH 
TECHNOLOGY COULD BE USED IN INDIA'S MISSILE OR NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
PROGRAMS. 

THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SOURCE SAYS INDIA WANTS TO SIGN THE TEST BAN
TREATY AS A NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATE, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE EXISTING 
NUCLEAR POWERS HAVE OBJECTED TO THIS.  THE SOURCE SAYS THIS IS A 
REALITY AND IT MUST BE ACCEPTED.  THE MAJOR NUCLEAR POWERS HAVE 
CALLED ON INDIA TO SIGN THE TEST BAN TREATY WITHOUT CONDITIONS.  

INDIAN OFFICIALS HAVE SAID INDIA INTENDS TO GO AHEAD WITH 
WEAPONIZATION OF ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM.  DEFENSE MINISTER GEORGE 
FERNANDES SAYS THIS INCLUDES PUTTING NUCLEAR WARHEADS ON 
MISSILES.  

BRAHMA CHELLANY, A DEFENSE ANALYST WITH NEW DELHI'S CENTER FOR 
POLICY RESEARCH, SAYS INDIA IS USING THE TEST BAN TREATY TO 
EXTRACT CONCESSIONS FROM THE MAJOR NUCLEAR POWERS.  

                       //  CHELLANY ACT //

         UNLESS INDIA IS ACCOMMODATED, A TEST-BAN TREATY WILL  
         NOT  COME INTO FORCE.  THE TEST-BAN TREATY NEEDS INDIA'S
         SIGNATURE. AND UNLESS INDIAN SIGNS, PAKISTAN WILL  NOT  
         SIGN THE TREATY.  THEREFORE, THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE
         TO ACCOMMODATE INDIA AT SOME POINT. 

                         //  END ACT // 

INDIA SET OFF FIVE NUCLEAR DEVICES IN MAY, PROMPTING 
INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.  PAKISTAN ALSO
SET OFF A SERIES OF NUCLEAR BLASTS AFTER THE INDIAN TESTS.  
PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS AND ANALYSTS HAVE 
CALLED FOR STEPS TO EASE TENSIONS IN SOUTH ASIA FOLLOWING THE 
NUCLEAR BLASTS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/LTD/MMK

06-Jul-98 9:21 AM EDT (1321 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.