DATE=9/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238980
TITLE=INDIA - U-S TALKS (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY SENIOR U-S AND INDIAN OFFICIALS ARE
HOLDING AN IMPORTANT ROUND OF TALKS TUESDAY IN WASHINGTON, ON THE
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY. V-O-A NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT 
DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN HAS TALKED TO A SPECIALIST ON NUCLEAR ISSUES WHO
SAYS THE DISCUSSIONS MAY BE CRUCIAL.

TEXT:  TUESDAY'S MEETING WILL BE THE FIFTH BETWEEN INDIAN ENVOY 
JASWANT SINGH AND U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT, 
SINCE INDIA CONDUCTED A SERIES OF NUCLEAR TEST EXPLOSIONS IN MAY.
MR. SINGH HAS SAID THE SIDES WILL TRY TO NARROW THEIR DIFFERENCES
ON THE TEST BAN TREATY, BUT POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAYS THE TALKS 
COULD TAKE THINGS MUCH FURTHER.

AUTHOR BABANI SENGUPTA, WHO HAS WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY ON NUCLEAR 
ISSUES,SAYS THE STAGE IS SET FOR A MAJOR STEP FORWARD.  HE SAYS 
THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE IS UNDER 
PRESSURE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THETREATY. 

                      /// SENGUPTA ACT ///

         NOW THE TALKS HAVE GONE ON FOR QUITE A WHILE AND B-J-P 
         (INDIA'S RULING BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY) NEEDS (PROGRESS)
         FOR ITS IMAGE, AT HOME AND ABROAD.  I THINK THE PRIME 
         MINISTER NEEDS AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE UNITED STATES 
         ON THE C-T-B-T.  AND THEREFORE I SAY THAT THIS IS GOING 
         TO BE A VERY CRUCIAL ROUND. 

                         /// END ACT ///

THERE ARE OTHER INDICATIONS OF MOVEMENT ON THE TEST BAN TREATY. 
SENIOR INDIAN OFFICIALS IN RECENT WEEKS HAVE BEEN GIVING POSITIVE
SIGNS ABOUT POSSIBLY SIGNING THE TREATY. 

POLITICAL ANALYSTS ALSO SAY MR. VAJPAYEE'S PRESENCE IN THE UNITED
STATES FOR THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION WILL PUT 
MORE WEIGHT BEHIND THE TALKS.  ANALYSTS SAY MR. VAJPAYEE IS 
EXPECTED TO MAKE A DEFINITIVE STATEMENT ON INDIA'S NUCLEAR POLICY
WHEN HE ADDRESSES THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY. 

INDIA HAS LONG SAID IT WILL  NOT  SIGN THE TEST-BAN TREATY 
UNCONDITIONALLY.  NEW DELHI WANTS THE UNITED STATES TO LIFT A 
LONG-STANDING TECHNOLOGY BLOCKADE.  WASHINGTON FORBIDS THE 
TRANSFER OF ADVANCED CIVILIAN TECHNOLOGY TO INDIA THAT COULD BE 
USED FOR MILITARY PURPOSES.   (SIGNED)

NEB/DAB/WTW

21-Sep-98 6:12 AM EDT (1012 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.