DATE=7/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236109
TITLE=ASEAN / NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS AND ITS 10 
SO-CALLED DIALOGUE PARTNERS MET (MONDAY) IN MANILA AS THE ASEAN 
REGIONAL FORUM.  THEY ISSUED A WATERED-DOWN DENUNCIATION OF THE 
RECENT NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN.  CORRESPONDENT  ROGER
WILKISON REPORTS ASEAN PREFERRED TO TAKE A LESS CONFRONTATIONAL 
APPROACH TO THE TWO SOUTH ASIAN POWERS, DESPITE PRESSURE FROM 
MANY OF ITS PARTNERS TO CONDEMN THE TESTS.

TEXT:  THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM STRONGLY DEPLORED THE TESTS, 
SAYING THEY EXACERBATE TENSION IN THE REGION AND RAISE THE 
SPECTER OF A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE.  THE 21-MEMBER FORUM URGED INDIA 
AND PAKISTAN TO CEASE TESTING AND SIGN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS 
PROHIBITING TESTING AND PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

THE UNITED STATES, THE EUROPEAN UNION, JAPAN AND AUSTRALIA, AMONG
OTHER MEMBERS, HAD URGED THE GROUP TO CONDEMN THE TESTS.  

FORUM CHAIRMAN, PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SECRETARY DOMINGO SIAZON, 
ISSUED A DRAFT USING SUCH LANGUAGE, BUT HE SAID HE LATER ADAPTED 
HIS POSITION TO SUIT ASEAN'S TRADITION OF NON-CONFRONTATION WITH 
ITS ASIAN NEIGHBORS.

                    /// SIAZON ACTUALITY ///

         ASEAN MEMBERS ARE GENERALLY MORE RESERVED IN THEIR 
         EXPRESSIONS OF JUDGMENT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ASEAN 
         CONDITIONS AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS, ALTHOUGH THEY OF 
         COURSE CONSIDER THE SOUTH ASIA TESTING AS A MAJOR CHANGE
         IN THE STRATEGIC SITUATION IN ASIA-PACIFIC.

                      /// END ACTUALITY ///

AS EXPECTED, THE MEETING'S FINAL REPORT DID NOT MENTION INDIA AND
PAKISTAN BY NAME.  ONE REPORTER ASKED IF THE DELEGATES HAD 
FORGOTTEN THEIR GEOGRAPHY BY NOT IDENTIFYING THE TWO COUNTRIES.  
MR. SIAZON HAD A QUICK RETORT.

                     /// SIAZON ACTUALITY //

         NO, ON THE CONTRARY.  SINCE THEY KNEW THEIR GEOGRAPHY 
         TOO WELL, IT WAS UNNECESSARY TO IDENTIFY THEM.

                      /// END ACTUALITY ///

THE PHILIPPINE DIPLOMAT SAID INDIA -- ONE OF ASEAN'S PARTNERS -- 
EXPRESSED ITS OWN VIEW ON THE MATTER.  PAKISTAN IS NOT A MEMBER 
OF THE FORUM THAT WAS CREATED TO PROMOTE CONFIDENCE-BUILDING 
MEASURES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.

THE GROUP ALSO CALLED FOR EXISTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATES TO MAKE
FURTHER EFFORTS TOWARD ELIMINATING SUCH WEAPONS ALTOGETHER.

SUBJECTED TO AGGRESSIVE QUESTIONING BY INDIAN REPORTERS, MR. 
SIAZON SUGGESTED INDIA HAD LOST ITS RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE 
ACTIONS OF THE FIVE ESTABLISHED NUCLEAR POWERS -- BRITAIN, CHINA,
FRANCE, RUSSIA, AND THE UNITED STATES.

                    /// SIAZON ACTUALITY ///

         INDIA COULD HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS MORAL ADVANTAGE IF IT 
         WERE CLEAN, SAYING "YOU SINNERS -- YOU SHOULD SIN NO 
         MORE."  BUT WHAT DID YOU CHOOSE?  YOU DECIDED TO JOIN 
         THE SINNERS.  AND NOW YOU WANT TO SAY "LET US ALL NOT BE
         SINNERS ANY MORE."  I DO NOT FOLLOW THAT LOGIC.

                      /// END ACTUALITY ///

THE NINE ASEAN STATES WILL HOLD SEPARATE MEETINGS TUESDAY AND 
WEDNESDAY WITH EACH OF THEIR DIALOGUE PARTNERS TO DISCUSS SUCH 
ISSUES AS THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC CRISIS AND SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS IN 
CAMBODIA.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

27-Jul-98 1:39 PM EDT (1739 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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