-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! World News No further nuclear tests, says Pakistan By CHRISTOPHER KREMMER ISLAMABAD Wednesday 10 November 1999 Pakistan's new military Government has vowed to maintain its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing, but has reserved the right to respond if other nations test first. Addressing his first news conference since being sworn in at the weekend, the Foreign Minister, Mr Abdus Sattar, said the military regime would try to build a national consensus for signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), and in the meantime would abide by its spirit. He said Pakistan could not afford to embark on a nuclear arms race, "nor is it necessary". "We will not be the first to conduct further tests. We have no plan whatsoever at present to conduct further tests," he said, adding that it was not always necessary to "respond to a bang with a bang". While describing the containment of the nuclear danger in south Asia as "our top priority", Mr Sattar said the treaty allowed for signatories to reconsider their commitments if their security was threatened. Pakistan conducted six nuclear tests in the remote Chagai Hills of western Baluchistan in May 1998, in response to India's test of five nuclear devices. It is believed to have a small arsenal of about 25 bombs, and has developed medium-range missiles capable of carrying them. Mr Sattar's comments came as the coup leader, General Pervaiz Musharraf, headed for Turkey on the second leg of a tour aimed at bolstering Pakistan's relations with its Muslim allies following the military's seizure of power on 12October. General Musharraf, who has styled himself as Pakistan's chief executive, earlier visited the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Pakistani migrant laborers work. As officials prepare for a summit of Commonwealth leaders in Durban, Pakistan confirmed that it would not attend, but insisted this did not amount to its suspension from the organisation. "We have been told that under the rules it is not possible for Pakistan to be invited but that Pakistan remains a valued member of the Commonwealth and that there's no question at present of Pakistan's suspension as a member of the Commonwealth," Mr Sattar said. The minister confirmed his reputation as a hardliner towards India, saying there were no prospects for a resumption of a dialogue agreed to in 1997 because New Delhi refused to talk to the new regime. **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
