DATE=7/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235685
TITLE=U-S / INDIA / TALKS / L-O
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: DEPUTY U-S SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT COMES TO 
INDIA (EXPECTED TIME OF ARRIVAL: 14.30 HRS UTC) FOR TWO DAYS OF 
TALKS, BEGINNING MONDAY.  FROM V-O-A'S NEW DELHI BUREAU, ANJANA 
PASRICHA REPORTS THIS IS THE THIRD ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO
COUNTRIES SINCE THE RECENT INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS.

TEXT: DEPUTY SECRETARY TALBOTT BEGINS TALKS WITH INDIAN OFFICIALS
AT A TIME OF DEEP STRAIN IN RELATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND NEW 
DELHI.

THE TALKS ARE PART OF THE ON-GOING DIALOGUE ON NUCLEAR ISSUES 
WHICH BEGAN IN JUNE IN WASHINGTON BETWEEN MR. TALBOTT AND JASWANT
SINGH -- A KEY FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER TO PRIME MINISTER ATAL 
BEHARI VAJPAYEE.

THE TWO OFFICIALS MET LATER IN FRANKFURT.  FEW DETAILS HAVE 
EMERGED OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THESE MEETINGS.

INDIAN OFFICIALS SAY THIS QUIET DIPLOMACY WILL CONTINUE AT THE 
COMING TALKS.  THE AIM IS TO RECONCILE WASHINGTON'S GOAL OF 
BRINGING SOUTH ASIA INTO THE NON-PROLIFERATION REGIME AND INDIA'S
POSITION ON NUCLEAR ISSUES.

THE TOP U-S CONCERN IS TO GET INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO SIGN THE 
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY. WASHINGTON WANTS THE TWO NATIONS 
TO SIGN THE TREATY, UNCONDITIONALLY.  INDIA HAS INDICATED IT 
COULD BE WILLING TO JOIN THE TREATY IF NEW DELHI IS GIVEN THE 
STATUS OF A NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATE.

BRAHAMA CHELLANEY -- A DEFENSE ANALYST WITH NEW DELHI'S CENTER 
FOR POLICY RESEARCH -- SAYS THE TWO SIDES ARE SERIOUS ABOUT 
NARROWING THEIR DIFFERENCES ON THE TEST BAN TREATY.  BUT HE WARNS
THE POSITIONS OF THE TWO NATIONS REMAIN FAR APART AND NO QUICK 
BREAKTHROUGHS CAN BE EXPECTED. 

                         //CHELLANEY ACTUALITY//

         THE ROAD TO GETTING A DEAL ON THE C-T-B-T WITH INDIA IS 
         A LONG ROAD AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN EXPECT ANYTHING 
         DRAMATIC TO HAPPEN IN THE TALKS THAT ARE BEGINNING ON 
         MONDAY.  BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, BY ITSELF, THAT 
         THE TWO SIDES ARE TALKING, ARE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE ON 
         ISSUES THAT PREVIOUSLY WERE NOT NEGOTIABLE.  BOTH SIDES 
         REALIZE THAT IT IS IN THEIR INTEREST TO WORK OUT A DEAL.

                       // END ACTUALITY //

IN NEW DELHI, OFFICIALS WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED SAY ANY 
AGREEMENT ON THE TREATY MUST ADDRESS INDIA'S STRATEGIC CONCERNS. 
NEW DELHI IS ALSO ASKING FOR ACCESS TO HIGH TECHNOLOGY WHICH IS 
DENIED TO INDIA BECAUSE OF ITS POTENTIAL MILITARY APPLICATIONS.  

FROM NEW DELHI, MR. TALBOTT GOES TO ISLAMABAD FOR MORE TALKS ON 
NUCLEAR ISSUES. 

            // REST OPTIONAL //

 INDIA SET OFF FIVE NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS IN MAY, AND PAKISTAN 
FOLLOWED WITH ITS OWN NUCLEAR TESTS.  SINCE THE TESTS, 
INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION IS FOCUSSED ON THE NEED FOR NUCLEAR 
SAFEGUARDS IN SOUTH ASIA. (SIGNED)

NEB / WD / WD

19-Jul-98 6:42 AM EDT (1042 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.