DATE=7/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235267
TITLE=INDIA U-S (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE SAYS INDIA 
WILL  NOT  BOW TO WESTERN PRESSURE TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST
BAN TREATY UNCONDITIONALLY, BUT NEW DELHI IS READY FOR TALKS ON 
THE PACT.  V-O-A NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS
HIS REMARKS COME AS INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES END TWO DAYS OF 
TALKS ON NUCLEAR ARMS.  

TEXT:  SPEAKING TO PARLIAMENT MR. VAJPAYEE SAID INDIA IS BEING 
TOLD TO SIGN THE TEST BAN TREATY UNCONDITIONALLY, BUT THAT THIS 
IS  NOT  ACCEPTABLE.  HE SAYS INDIA IS READY TO TALK ABOUT THE 
TREATY, BUT NOBODY SHOULD THINK THE COUNTRY IS WEAKENING -- 
REFERRING TO NEW DELHI'S LONG OPPOSITION TO THE PACT. 

HE SAYS NEW DELHI HAS A CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH AND IS WILLING TO 
TURN A SELF-IMPOSED MORATORIUM ON FURTHER NUCLEAR TESTS INTO A 
BINDING OBLIGATION.                     

HIS REMARKS COME AS INDIAN ENVOY JASWANT SINGH AND U-S DEPUTY 
SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT END TWO DAYS OF TALKS IN 
FRANKFURT, GERMANY, ON NUCLEAR ARMS.  THE PRESS TRUST OF INDIA 
NEWS AGENCY, QUOTING FROM A STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER THE TALKS, 
SAYS THE SIDES HAVE AGREED TO MEET AGAIN IN NEW DELHI ON JULY 
20TH AND 21ST.  THE STATEMENT SAYS THE DISCUSSIONS WERE 
CONSTRUCTIVE. 

ANALYSTS SAY INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES ARE SERIOUS ABOUT 
NARROWING THEIR DIFFERENCES ON THE TEST BAN TREATY.  THEY ALSO 
SAY BOTH SIDES ARE ENGAGED IN QUIET DIPLOMACY BECAUSE OF THE 
SENSITIVE MATTERS INVOLVED.  INDIAN AND U-S OFFICIALS SAY THIS 
WILL LIKELY BE A LONG DIPLOMATIC PROCESS. 

MR. VAJPAYEE'S GOVERNMENT IS SAID TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT DOMESTIC 
POLITICAL BACKLASH CONCERNING THE TALKS.  GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 
SAY THERE IS MUCH OPPOSITION IN PARLIAMENT TO SIGNING THE TEST 
BAN TREATY. 

INDIA HAS LONG SAID IT WILL  NOT  SIGN BECAUSE THE PACT 
DISCRIMINATES IN FAVOR OF NATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  NEW DELHI SAYS THE PACT ALLOWS THE RECOGNIZED 
NUCLEAR POWERS -- BRITAIN, FRANCE, CHINA, RUSSIA AND THE UNITED 
STATES -- TO IMPROVE THEIR ARSENALS WITH NON-EXPLOSIVE TECHNIQUES
WHILE HOLDING OTHER COUNTRIES BACK.  

INDIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS HE EXPECTS NEW DELHI TO GO AHEAD 
WITH A WEAPONIZATION PROGRAM, INDICATING THAT NEW DELHI WANTS TO 
REFINE ITS NUCLEAR DEVICES. 

INDIA SET OFF FIVE NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS IN MAY, AND PAKISTAN 
FOLLOWED WITH ITS OWN NUCLEAR TESTS, PROMPTING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
AGAINST BOTH NATIONS.  INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS 
IN THE PAST 50 YEARS, AND ANALYSTS HAVE EXPRESSED FEARS OVER 
RISING TENSIONS IN SOUTH ASIA FOLLOWING THE NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/DB/LTD/MMK

10-Jul-98 10:52 AM EDT (1452 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.