September 23, 1998
Evening TransmissionIndia to take a decision soon on the issue of signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, CTBT. The Prime Minister told media persons enroute to New York that the final round of talks with the United States on the question is taking place in Washington shortly. Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee said that by declaring a unilateral moratorium on further nuclear tests, India has already virtually accepted an important aspect of CTBT. He said New Delhi recognises that as most countries have already accepted CTBT, it may not be practicable to change the Treaty's provisions. Our Special correspondent B.I. Saini reports that Mr. Vajpayee said if India signs the CTBT, it is after the Pokharan II explosion, when our scientists also are of the view that nothing more can be achieved by further nuclear tests. Mr. Vajpayee made it clear that India is a nuclear weapon state whether other countries accept the fact or not. Mr. Vajpayee said, he would try to forcefully raise the questions of terrorism and expansion of the Security Council during his stay at the UN Headquarters.
About his forthcoming meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharief in New York, Mr. Vajpayee said, they are likely to ask their officials to resume the bilateral dialogue on all issues including security and Kashmir.
Asked about the Bihar situation, Mr. Vajpayee said it justifies the centre's action. He said, he is hopeful of getting support of the allied parties on the matter. Mr. Vajpayee said, the President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan told him that he would consider all aspects of the matter.
Afternoon Transmission
A busy schedule awaits the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee on his arrival in New York this afternoon. He will have a crucial meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharief soon after landing .
Political and diplomatic observers in New York are watching the Vajpayee- Sharief meeting with high expectations that the two leaders might be able to break the deadlock over the stalled official level talks. It is expected that the two Prime Ministers will take steps towards confidence building after a setback in their relations in the post nuclear tests scenario. It may be recalled that the two leaders could not meet during the NAM Summit earlier this month as Mr. Nawaz Sharief had cancelled his visit to Durban following domestic compulsions. The Foreign Secretaries of the two countries however had prolonged discussions. AIR correspondent , Rattan Saldi covering the Prime Minister's visit, reports that during his address tomorrow, Mr. Vajpayee will voice India's concern for global nuclear disarmament and terrorism - the main items on the agenda before the UN General Assembly. He will also be meeting the UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan and a host of world leaders during his six-day stay in New York.
Speaking to newspersons at Delhi Airport before his departure, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that his meeting with Mr. Nawaz Sharief will be meaningful. Asked whether India would make any commitment at the session on signing the CTBT, Mr. Vajpayee replied in the negative.
The Prime Minister's special envoy, Mr.Jaswant Singh had another round of talks with the US Deputy Secretary of State, Mr.Strobe Talbot in Washington last night in an a t tempt to narrow down Indo-US differences on the nuclear issue. At the end of their more than two hour long discussions, both sides declined to disclose the details of the talks. According to Indian Embassy sources, the talks covered disarmament and Nuclear Non-Proliferation issues among other things. The sources said the discussions also covered measures being taken by the United States to lift economic sanctions against India imposed in the aftermath of the nuclear tests. Mr. Jaswant Singh also met the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Mr. Jesse-Helms.
Mr. Jaswant Singh is going to New York today to apprise the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee about the progress in his talks.
India today defended its decision to carry out nuclear tests earlier this year. The Prime Minister Mr. Vajpayee's statement read out to the General Assembly of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna said New Delhi was forced to conduct the tests in self defence. He pointed out that India has been the victim of externally aided and abetted terrorism and clandestine war.