20000314

Add Sattar

Pakistan wants

peace

Replying a question, the foreign minister said that credible nuclear deterrence was imperative for the security of Pakistan. He said that for 28 years every government in Pakistan had pursued the realisation of that deterrence.

Sattar said that Pakistan has been in the mainstream at the global efforts towards the nuclear restraints.

He said "We had some problem with the text of the CTBT when it was tabled in April 1996 and with the help and cooperation of China, Britain and Russia, Pakistan was able to convince the world community of an amendment which provides that the treaty will come into force 180 days after 44 states, which have been designated in the treaty, have ratified the treaty."

The minister said that if any of these 44 countries does not sign, or signs but does not ratify, the treaty will not come into force.

He stated that this was the most important amendment in the original draft that was adopted in September 1996.

He said that after the announcement was made from Washington that President Clinton would be visiting India and Bangladesh, Pakistan policy was that should the President of the United States decide to visit Pakistan he would be accorded a warm welcome, and should he decide otherwise that would be regrettable.ÑAPP