DATE=12/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243475
TITLE=INDIA / FOREIGN (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT IS 
ATTEMPTING TO BUILD A NATIONAL CONSENSUS ON THE ISSUE OF SIGNING 
THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.  FROM NEW DELHI, ANJANA 
PASRICHA REPORTS.

TEXT:  FOREIGN MINISTER JASWANT SINGH SAYS THE GOVERNMENT WILL 
CONCLUDE DISCUSSIONS ON JOINING THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY
BY SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR, WHEN THE TREATY IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED. 

ACCORDING TO MR. SINGH, THE OBSTACLE THAT PREVENTED INDIA FROM 
SIGNING THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY IN 1996 HAS BEEN 
REMOVED.  THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY 
HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE COUNTRY TO MAINTAIN A CREDIBLE 
NUCLEAR DETERRENT.  HE SAYS THERE IS  NO  QUESTION OF HALTING 
THIS PROGRAM.  AS A RESULT, HE SAYS, INDIA IS  NO  LONGER AT A 
DISADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF ITS NATIONAL SECURITY. 

MR. SINGH SAYS INDIA DID  NOT  JOIN THE TREATY IN 1996 BECAUSE IT
WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE NATION FROM CONDUCTING THE NUCLEAR 
TESTS, TESTS WHICH HE SAYS ENABLED INDIA TO COLLECT IMPORTANT 
INFORMATION.  

                     ///INSERT SINGH ACT///

         USING THE DATA BASE GENERATED INDIA CAN MAINTAIN THE 
         CREDIBILITY OF ITS NUCLEAR DETERRENT USING COMPUTER 
         SIMULATION AND SUBCRITICAL TESTING.  THAT WAS THE 
         RATIONALE FOR THE 1998 (NUCLEAR) TESTS WHICH WAS  NOT 
         AVAILABLE IN 1996. 

                       ///END SINGH ACT///

ACCORDING TO MR. SINGH, A DEFENSE COOPERATION PACT INDIA RECENTLY
SIGNED WITH RUSSIA WILL  NOT  FUEL AN ARMS RACE WITH ARCH-RIVAL 
PAKISTAN.  ISLAMABAD HAS EXPRESSED FEARS THAT THE PACT WILL LEAD 
TO A NEW WEAPONS DRIVE IN SOUTH ASIA.

MR. SINGH ALSO REITERATED INDIA'S CONCERN OWER THE RECENT MISSILE
ATTACKS CY THE UOITED STATES AND BRITAIN ON IRAQ.

                    /// INSERT SINGH ACT ///

         THIS ATTACK RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 
         COLLECTIVE AND CONSULTATIVE PROCEDURES AT THE UNITED 
         NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. THE CHALLENGE CONFRONTING THE 
         INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NOW IS TO SEEK APPROPRIATE 
         METHODOLOGIES UNDER THE U-N AEGIS FOR RESOLVING THIS 
         PROBLEM DIPLOMATICALLY, BY PEACEFUL MEANS AND IN A 
         MANNER THAT MITIGATES THE SUFFERING OF PEOPLE OF IRAQ.

                      /// END SINGH ACT ///

LOOKING TOWARD THE NEW YEAR, MR. SINGH SAYS IN 1999 INDIA WILL 
ATTEMPT TO INCREASE COOPERATION WITH ITS NEIGHBORS IN SOUTH ASIA.
HE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE RELATIONS 
WITH CHINA. RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES SOURED AFTER THE 
NUCLEAR TESTS. (SIGNED)

NEB/AP/KL

24-Dec-98 9:04 AM EST (1404 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.