DATE=12/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242999
TITLE=INDIA NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE SAYS HIS 
COUNTRY WILL MAINTAIN A NUCLEAR DETERRENT, BUT ALSO REMAINS 
COMMITTED TO BRINGING INTO FORCE AN INTERNATIONAL BAN ON NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS TESTING.  VOA NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN 
REPORTS.

TEXT:  SPEAKING IN PARLIAMENT MR. VAJPAYEE SAID INDIA IS PREPARED
TO WORK FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF A GLOBAL NUCLEAR TEST 
BAN TREATY BY SEPTEMBER OF 1999.  HE SAYS NEW DELHI HAS BEEN ABLE
TO EXPRESS ITS SECURITY CONCERNS TO THE UNITEE STATES DURING THE 
ONGOING TALKS OVER THE TREATY. 

OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS HAVE QUESTIONED WHETHER INDIA IS GIVING UP 
TOO MUCH IN THE TALKS.  INDIA HAS REFUSED TO SIGN THE TREATY 
UNCONDITIONALLY.

MEANWHILE, MR. VAJPAYEE ALSO VOWS THAT NEW DELHI WILL MAINTAIN A 
NUCLEAR DETERRENT AND WILL  NOT  ACCEPT RESTRAINTS ON THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF MISSILES.

                       //  VAJPAYEE ACT //

         WHILE OUR DECISION IS TO MAINTAIN THE DEPLOYMENT OF A 
         DETERRENT WHICH IS BOTH MINIMUM BUT CREDIBLE, I WOULD 
         LIKE TO REAFFIRM TO THIS HOUSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL 
         NOT  ACCEPT ANY RESTRAINTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIA'S
         "R" (RESEARCH) AND "D" (DEVELOPMENT) CAPABILITIES.  SUCH
         ACTIVITY IS INTEGRAL (TO) ANY COUNTRY'S DEFENSE 
         PREPAREDNESS AND ESSENTIAL FOR COPING WITH NEW THREAT 
         PERCEPTIONS THAT MAY EMERGE IN THE YEARS AHEAD. 

                         //  END ACT //

INDIA AND ITS RIVAL PAKISTAN CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY AND 
BOTH NATIONS ARE DEVELOPING MISSILES.  THE COUNTRIES HAVE A 
HISTORY OF CONFLICT AND HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS. 

THE UNITED STATES ALSO WANTS PAKISTAN TO SIGN THE NUCLEAR TEST 
BAN TREATY AND WANTS BOTH NEW DELHI AND ISLAMABAD TO ISSUE A 
FORMAL MORATORIUM ON THE PRODUCTION OF MATERIAL USED IN NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS. (SIGNED)  

NEB/DB/CB/KL

15-Dec-98 7:31 AM EST (1231 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.