DATE=7/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235230
TITLE=U-N / SOUTH ASIA NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS (THURSDAY) HE IS 
TRYING TO ORGANIZE DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN AIMED 
AT REDUCING THE RISK OF NUCLEAR CONFRONTATIONS.  UNITED NATIONS 
CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT:  MR. ANNAN SAYS HE HOPES TO ARRANGE SUBSTANTIVE TALKS 
BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE TO DEAL 
WITH WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS AN ALARMING SITUATION.  HE SAYS THE TWO
COUNTRIES NEED TO REDUCE TENSION CAUSED BY THEIR RECENT NUCLEAR 
TESTS AND THEIR LONG RUNNING TERRITORIAL DISPUTE OVER KASHMIR.

MR. ANNAN MADE THE REMARKS IN A LETTER TO THE U-N SECURITY 
COUNCIL, AS REQUIRED UNDER COUNCIL RESOLUTION 11-72.  THAT 
RESOLUTION, APPROVED JUNE SIXTH, DEMANDS INDIA AND PAKISTAN STOP 
FURTHER NUCLEAR TESTS, RESUME DIALOGUE ON OUTSTANDING ISSUES, AND
SUBSCRIBE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY.  MR. 
ANNAN SAYS THERE ARE INDICATIONS THE LEADERS OF PAKISTAN AND 
INDIA WILL MEET AT A REGIONAL SUMMIT IN SRI LANKA AT THE END OF 
JULY -- THEIR FIRST FACE-TO-FACE MEETING SINCE THE NUCLEAR TESTS 
WERE CARRIED OUT.

MR. ANNAN SENT ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL ALVARO DE SOTO TO 
SOUTH ASIA IN LATE JUNE TO SPEAK WITH REGIONAL LEADERS ABOUT THE 
SITUATION.  SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT SERGEY LAVROV OF RUSSIA 
SAYS MR. DE SOTO BRIEFED THE COUNCIL (THURSDAY) ON HIS FINDINGS.

                       /// LAVROV ACT ///

         THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL STRONGLY CALL FOR THE FULL 
         IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTION 11-72.  THEY STRONGLY URGE 
         INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO ENHANCE THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THEM 
         ON ALL OUTSTANDING ISSUES.  THEY HOPE THAT THE 
         SECRETARY-GENERAL WILL CONTINUE HIS EFFORTS AS SET OUT 
         IN RESOLUTION 11-72 AND WILL REGULARLY INFORM THE 
         COUNCIL OF DEVELOPMENTS ON THE ISSUE.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. DE SOTO VISITED BANGLADESH, PAKISTAN, AND SRI LANKA ON HIS 
TRIP.  MR. ANNAN SAYS HE REGRETS INDIA DID NOT FIND IT POSSIBLE 
TO RECEIVE MR. DE SOTO DURING HIS MISSION.

INDIA HAS REJECTED OUTSIDE INVOLVEMENT IN ITS DISPUTE WITH 
PAKISTAN, DESPITE REPEATED OFFERS FROM MR. ANNAN TO MEDIATE OR 
PROVIDE ANY OTHER SERVICE THAT MIGHT HELP REDUCE TENSION OR 
PROMOTE DIALOGUE.   (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/RAE

09-Jul-98 2:46 PM EDT (1846 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.