DATE=9/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239505
TITLE=CLINTON / INDIA-PAKISTAN (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE WHITE HOUSE -- EXPRESSING CONCERNS OVER RECENT 
NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN -- HAS CONFIRMED THAT 
PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL NOT BE TRAVELING TO EITHER COUNTRY THIS 
YEAR.  V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. 

TEXT:  OFFICIALS HAD BEEN SIGNALLING IN RECENT DAYS THAT MR. 
CLINTON WOULD NOT MAKE HIS SCHEDULED TRIP TO INDIA AND PAKISTAN, 
WITH A STOP IN BANGLADESH, IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE NEW DELHI AND 
ISLAMABAD HAVE NOT MADE ENOUGH PROGRESS TOWARD CURBING THEIR 
NUCLEAR PROGRAMS.

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY MADE IT OFFICIAL WEDNESDAY, 
BUT LEFT OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THE TRIP COULD BE RESCHEDULED FOR 
NEXT YEAR.

                      // MCCURRY ACTUALITY 

          UNTIL MORE PROGRESS IS ACHIEVED, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE
         ABLE TO LIFT THE SANCTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE, AND WE ARE
         NOT IN A POSITION TO STRENGTHEN THE KIND OF BILATERAL 
         TIES WITH BOTH GOVERNMENTS THAT WE WOULD NATURALLY WANT 
         TO MAKE A FEATURED ELEMENT OF ANY TRIP BY THE PRESIDENT 
         TO THE REGION.

                          // END ACT //

MR. MCCURRY SAYS THE PRESIDENT MADE THE POINT IN CORRESPONDENCE 
TO INDIAN, PAKISTANI, AND BANGLADESHI LEADERS EXPLAINING HIS 
DECISION.

SINCE THE NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN FOUR MONTHS AGO, 
THE UNITED STATES -- FEARING THE POTENTIAL FOR A NUCLEAR ARMS 
RACE -- HAS BEEN IN INTENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS WITH BOTH GOVERNMENTS.

MR. CLINTON WAS FORCED BY LAW TO IMPOSE BROAD ECONOMIC SANCTIONS 
ON BOTH COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF THE TESTS.

BUT WASHINGTON HAS WELCOMED RECENT STATEMENTS BY THE TWO 
COUNTRIES EXPRESSING THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE 
TEST BAN TREATY.  STILL, IT WANTS TO SEE THEM MAKE MORE PROGRESS 
ON THE ISSUE OF CURBING THE PRODUCTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL THAT 
CAN BE USED IN NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

IT IS THE SECOND TIME MR. CLINTON'S SOUTH ASIA TRIP HAS BEEN 
POSTPONED.  IT HAD INITIALLY BEEN SCHEDULED FOR EARLY THIS YEAR, 
BUT INDIAN ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY PROMPTED THE ADMINISTRATION TO 
DELAY THE VISIT UNTIL NOVEMBER TO COINCIDE WITH THE PRESIDENT'S 
TRIP TO MALAYSIA FOR A REGIONAL TRADE MEETING.

OFFICIALS SAY MR. CLINTON WILL GO AHEAD WITH HIS TRAVEL TO 
MALAYSIA, AND WILL ADD TWO ADDITIONAL STOPS -- JAPAN AND SOUTH 
KOREA.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/WFR

30-Sep-98 4:56 PM EDT (2056 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.