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India, Pak to sign CTBT by year-end: Albright

C K Arora in Washington

US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has said that both India and Pakistan have agreed to adhere to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty by the year-end, join negotiations for the Fissile Materials Cut-off Treaty and tighten export controls.

Testifying before the senate foreign relations committee yesterday, she also said that ''both have taken encouraging steps to improve bilateral relations with the other. The two prime ministers just concluded a very successful summit in Lahore. In the months ahead, we will be pressing for further stabilising actions.''

Apparently referring to the tit-for-tat nuclear tests by the two countries, she said, ''If the past year was a time of disappointment and unfulfilled promise in South Asia, we are working hard to see that the coming year is one of opportunity and progress. Following last May's nuclear tests, we worked with India and Pakistan to prevent a nuclear arms race.

''Throughout the region, we will be working hard to advance our core foreign policy objectives of strengthening democracy, enhancing economic ties, countering terrorism, extending the rule of law and promoting respect for human rights -- including religious freedom, worker rights and women's rights,'' Albright observed.

Speaking about the US policy in East Asia, she said, ''We have continued our strategic dialogue with China, a nation of increasing economic influence, diplomatic prominence and military strength.''

Since the dialogue began, Albright pointed out, ''China moved from being part of the nuclear proliferation problem to becoming part of the solution, endorsing extension of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, signing the CTBT and becoming party to the Chemical Weapons Convention. It had promised not to assist unsafeguarded nuclear facilities and agreed to study membership in the Missile Technology Control Regime.''

Referring to her visit to Beijing next week, she said, ''I will bear with me from President Bill Clinton a two-part message. The first is a firm commitment to our continued dialogue and to the spirit of mutual respect with which it has been conducted. We will seek serious discussions about possible Chinese accession to the World Trade Organisation, export controls and the prevention of renewed tensions related to Taiwan.''

She would also bring ''a strong message of American concern about areas where we have differences, including human rights. In our human rights dialogue with China, Assistant Secretary of State Harold Koh has emphasised the importance of Chinese compliance with international human rights standards including a free press, freedom of religion and freedom of political expression. And we have urged China to open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama regarding the protection of Tibet's religious, cultural and linguistic heritage within China,'' she added.

UNI

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