DATE=10/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240272
TITLE=CLINTON / PAKISTAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:    PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS INVITED PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER
NAWAZ SHARIF TO THE WHITE HOUSE LATER THIS YEAR.  THE MOVE COMES 
AFTER MR. CLINTON DECIDED TO CANCEL A TRIP TO PAKISTAN AND INDIA 
NEXT MONTH BECAUSE OF CONCERNS OVER THE TWO COUNTRIES' NUCLEAR 
TESTS LAST MAY. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE 
HOUSE.                                                           
     

TEXT:   THE VISIT WILL GIVE MR. SHARIF AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS 
THE PROGRESS HIS COUNTRY HAS MADE TOWARD NON-PROLIFERATION IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THE NUCLEAR TESTS FIVE MONTHS AGO.  

PAKISTAN -- AND INDIA -- HAVE MOVED TO CURB THEIR NUCLEAR 
PROGRAMS AND HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR INTENTIONS TO SIGN THE 
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY  -- ACTIONS THAT WASHINGTON HAS 
WELCOMED.  

BUT U-S OFFICIALS WANT BOTH COUNTRIES TO DO MORE TO LIMIT THE 
PRODUCTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL THAT CAN BE USED IN NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS.    

DURING HIS TALKS WITH MR. SHARIF -- WHICH U-S OFFICIALS SAY WILL 
LIKELY BE SCHEDULED FOR EARLY DECEMBER -- MR. CLINTON IS ALSO 
EXPECTED TO DISCUSS PROSPECTS FOR LIFTING U-S SANCTIONS AGAINST 
PAKISTAN.

MR. CLINTON WAS REQUIRED BY LAW TO IMPLEMENT THE SANCTIONS 
AGAINST BOTH ISLAMABAD AND NEW DELHI FOR THEIR NUCLEAR TESTS.  
THE EMBARGO  HAS HIT PAKISTAN -- WHICH WAS ALREADY DEALING WITH A
WEAK ECONOMY -- ESPECIALLY HARD.

THE PRESIDENT MAY ALSO USE THE MEETING TO EXPRESS U-S 
APPRECIATION FOR PAKISTAN'S HELP IN FINDING THE SUSPECTS IN THE 
BOMBINGS OF U-S EMBASSIES IN NAIROBI AND DAR ES SALAAM IN AUGUST.
                         

THE WHITE HOUSE MADE NO MENTION OF A SIMILAR INVITATION TO 
INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE, BUT U-S OFFICIALS 
SAY MR. CLINTON WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH HIM HERE AT SOME POINT.  

ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT DROPPED PLANS TO VISIT INDIA AND PAKISTAN 
NEXT MONTH, AIDES SAY HE HOPES TO RESCHEDULE THE TRIP NEXT YEAR. 
(SIGNED)



NEB/DAT/WDC/PT



15-Oct-98 6:43 PM EDT (2243 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.