DATE=7/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235189
TITLE=INDIA/NUKES (L-O)
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   IN NEW YORK TODAY (WEDNESDAY), INDIA'S FORMER PRIME 
MINISTER, INDER K. GUJRAL (GOOZH RAL) SAID INDIA'S CURRENT 
GOVERNMENT CONDUCTED UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY TO 
SAFEGUARD INDIA'S SECURITY.  V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BARBARA 
SCHOETZAU REPORTS.

TEXT:   MR. GUJRAL SAYS INDIA WANTS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH 
CHINA AND PAKISTAN AND MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED 
STATES. BUT HE SAYS INDIA ALSO WANTS TO BE TREATED FAIRLY. 

MR. GUJRAL'S 11-MONTH-OLD GOVERNMENT WAS DEFEATED AT THE POLLS IN
FEBRUARY. BUT DESPITE POLITICAL CHANGES, HE SAYS THERE IS A 
WIDESPREAD CONSENSUS IN INDIA ON FOREIGN POLICY, ESPECIALLY 
SECURITY ISSUES.

THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE OBJECTS TO THE CLINTON 
ADMINISTRATION'S ADVICE TO CHINA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO PAY MORE
ATTENTION TO SOUTH ASIA. SUCH ADVICE, ACCORDING TO MR. GUJRAL, 
RECALLS OLD EFFORTS TO DIVIDE ASIA INTO SPHERES OF INFLUENCE.

DURING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, MR. GUJRAL SAYS, THE UNITED 
STATES DID NOT OBJECT WHEN NUCLEAR TRANSFERS TO PAKISTAN WERE 
TAKING PLACE BECAUSE IT WAS VIEWED IN THE U-S NATIONAL INTEREST. 
FURTHERMORE, HE SAYS THE TRANSFERS WERE UNDERTAKEN BY A SIGNATORY
TO THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY, N-P-T. 

                       /// GUJRAL ACT ////

         WE TAKE PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAS 
         PROGRESSED SO MUCH. BUT THIS PROGRESS IS BEING USED FOR 
         TWO PURPOSES WHICH IMPINGE ON MY SECURITY PERCEPTIONS. 
         ONE, IT IS NO SECRET NOW THAT THE TRANSFER OF NUCLEAR 
         TECHNOLOGY HAS TAKEN PLACE AND THE TRANSFER WAS GIVEN BY
         THOSE WHO SIGNED THE N-P-T.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. GUJRAL SAYS HE QUESTIONS HOW MEANINGFUL THE NUCLEAR 
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY CAN BE IF THERE ARE LOOPHOLES WHICH 
PERMIT SIGNATORIES TO VIOLATE ITS SPIRIT. 

INDIA HAS PLEDGED NOT TO CONDUCT ANY MORE NUCLEAR TESTS. BUT 
INDIA HAS REFUSED TO GIVE UP ITS RIGHT TO DEVELOP A NUCLEAR 
ARSENAL  -- THE CHIEF DEMAND THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE IN 
NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. 

INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES ARE SCHEDULED TO RESUME TALKS ON 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS SUNDAY.



NEB/NY/BJS/LSF/PT

08-Jul-98 5:41 PM EDT (2141 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.