DATE=7/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235732
TITLE=INDIA NUCLEAR (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  SENIOR INDIAN AND U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE HELD 
CONSTRUCTIVE TALKS ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AND OTHER ISSUES BUT 
NEED TO CONTINUE THEM NEXT MONTH.  V-O-A NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT 
DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS.  

TEXT:  INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER JASWANT SINGH AND U-S DEPUTY
SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT SPOKE BRIEFLY WITH REPORTERS 
AFTER A DAY OF TALKS IN NEW DELHI.  MR. TALBOTT SAID THE 
DISCUSSIONS WERE WIDE-RANGING AND WOULD CONTINUE IN AUGUST. 

                       //  TALBOTT ACT //

         THE TALKS HAVE COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF SECURITY ISSUES, 
         ARMS CONTROL, DISARMAMENT, NON-PROLIFERATION ISSUES AS 
         WELL AS REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS, AND I 
         CAN'T IMPROVE ON MR. JASWANT SINGH'S CHARACTERIZATION.  
         THEY HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTIVE,THEY ARE ONGOING, AND HE HAS
         BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO SAY THAT HE IS PREPARED FOR A 
         FOLLOW-UP ROUND IN WASHINGTON IN THE LATTER PART OF 
         AUGUST.

                         //  END ACT //

MR. TALBOTT SAYS BOTH SIDES HAVE MORE WORK AHEAD.  AN INDIAN 
FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS THERE WAS MOVEMENT ON BOTH SIDES 
AND THE GAP BETWEEN BOTH GOVERNMENTS HAS BEEN NARROWED IN, WHAT 
HE CALLED, TERMS OF PERCEPTION. HE DID  NOT  ELABORATE. 

THE UNITED STATES WANTS INDIA TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN 
TREATY UNCONDITIONALLY.  INDIA HAS LONG OPPOSED THE TREATY SAYING
IT ALLOWS RECOGNIZED NUCLEAR POWERS TO FINE-TUNE THEIR ARSENALS 
WHILE HOLDING OTHER POWERS IN CHECK.  HOWEVER, NEW DELHI HAS 
INDICATED IT COULD BE WILLING TO JOIN THE TREATY IF INDIA IS 
GIVEN THE STATUS OF A NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATE.  

INDIA AND PAKISTAN CARRIED OUT NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY THAT PROMPTED
INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.  WASHINGTON 
WANTS TO BRING BOTH NATIONS UNDER THE TEST BAN TREATY. 

ON ANOTHER TOPIC MR. TALBOTT SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PROPOSED 
TRIP TO INDIA LATER THIS YEAR IS STILL UNDER REVIEW.  MR. TALBOTT
MONDAY EVENING HAD AN HOUR-LONG MEETING WITH INDIAN PRIME 
MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE AND GAVE HIM A LETTER FROM 
PRESIDENT CLINTON EXPRESSING HIS RESPECTS.    

MR. TALBOTT TUESDAY IS SCHEDULED TO MEET SONIA GANDHI, LEADER OF 
THE MAIN OPPOSITION CONGRESS PARTY, AND IS TO MEET BRIEFLY AGAIN 
WITH JASWANT SINGH BEFORE GOING ON TO PAKISTAN FOR 
NON-PROLIFERATION TALKS THERE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/LTD/MMK

20-Jul-98 11:28 AM EDT (1528 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.