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by Stephen Collinson WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Bill Clinton praised India for calling a halt to its nuclear testing program Friday, as he welcomed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to a White House summit.
"We welcome India's commitment to forego nuclear testing until the treaty banning all nuclear testing comes into force," he said, with Vajpayee by his side in a ceremony in the gardens of the White House. India, which sparked fears of a nuclear arms race in South Asia with its weapons tests in 1998, has refused to join the current Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, claiming it favors established atomic powers. Clinton signaled that he remained deeply concerned about the prospects for nuclear stability on the subcontinent, and the always-simmering conflict between India and Pakistan. "We will discuss our common desire to seek peace through dialogue in South Asia ... We will talk about our common interests in slowing the spread of nuclear weapons, and the broader consequences of proliferation in South Asia," he said. In later remarks in the Oval Office, Clinton proclaimed a new dawn in Indo-U.S. relations after years of estrangement during the Cold War when New Delhi leaned toward the Soviet Union. "I think we have worked hard together to move our relationship from one of too little contact and too much suspicion to one of genuine efforts to build a long-term partnership," Clinton told reporters. But even as the two leaders opened talks, new fears arose over the health of the 73-year-old prime minister, who had already been forced to reduce the length of his visit. White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said Indian aides had requested the cancellation of a planned joint press conference with the president due to fatigue. "It's been a very long trip for the prime minister and they felt the last event of the day, the press conference was a little bit too much," he said. Vajpayee betrayed clear signs of strain in his Oval Office appearance, speaking quietly and slowly, appearing to take time to marshal his thoughts. No immediate details were available on his condition, but Vajpayee is known to suffer from severe arthritis in his knees and sparked speculation on the state of his health with a fragile public appearance last month. Clinton, who spoke fondly of his trip to India in March, said that he hoped a new vibrancy in relations between India and Washington would outlast his presidency, which ends early next year. "I don't think it should be another 20 years before an American president goes to India. I think we should have a regular sustained partnership," he said. Both sides are using this visit to showcase burgeoning cooperation in technology, science and trade, areas on which they can agree despite differences on nuclear proliferation. "This is part of the continuing dialogue between the world's two largest democracies," said Vajpayee in the White House gardens. "This is a time of new hope and new opportunities in Indo-American ties." The United States still maintains economic sanctions and investment restrictions imposed after India conducted its 1998 tests - measures which Indian officials view as a barrier to better relations. Vajpayee was due to meet Vice President Al Gore for lunch on Friday, and is guest of honor at a White House banquet on Sunday. |
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