US explains Clinton's remarks on India

Apparently with the intention of avoiding any misunderstanding in India, United States officials have sought to put in proper perspective President Bill Clinton's remarks stressing the need for a strong US presence in South Asia.

"Perhaps, he was talking about the fact that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has said that she hoped to go to the region this year," state department spokesman James Rubin said on Thursday.

Rubin made this observation when a correspondent drew his attention to the president's "puzzling statement" that the US presence should be "heavily felt" in South Asia and asked: "Is he talking about physical presence of a military kind?"

"What the president meant," an administration official explained, "was that South Asia is an important region from the US point of view."

He said the president, in his remark, had highlighted two things: first, the long-standing US friendship with India, and secondly, the potential of the region.

In reply to a question at his press conference in Washington on Wednesday, Clinton had said that the United States's presence should be heavily felt in South Asia, because of the long relationship the US had with India and because of the enormous potential of the region.

In reply to another question, Rubin said the US wanted a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute. "We are prepared to be of assistance, if we think we can be."

"We have been encouraged by recent steps in that area, both by the Indian government and the Pakistani government," he added.

UNI

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