ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:95041001.POL
DATE:04/10/95
TITLE:STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, MONDAY, APRIL 10

TEXT:
(Gaza bombing, Pakistan, Turkey/Iraq, Iraq/weapons, ABM Treaty) (1200)

NEWS BRIEFING -- Acting spokesman Christine Shelly discussed the
following topics:


PAKISTAN HAS NO CAPABILITY TO REPROCESS PLUTONIUM

Responding to questions, the acting spokesman said, "As far as we
know, Pakistan does not have the capability to reprocess plutonium."

She acknowledged the State Department has seen published reports that
Pakistan is building a small research reactor at Khushab, but she did
not specifically confirm the reports.

"Discussions of proliferation as well as a broad range of (other)
topics are on the agenda" for the April 11 meeting between President
Clinton and Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Shelly told
reporters.

Pakistan, like India, is not a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT) regime and "it continues unsafeguarded nuclear research,"
she noted, adding that "we have consulted with both countries on how
to limit nuclear weapons capabilities to ensure stability in the
region."

"We're going to continue our dialogue with Pakistan on
non-proliferation in South Asia," the acting spokesman said. "We're
also working with the Congress to try to find ways to improve our
relations with Pakistan while meeting our non-proliferation concerns."
.