Excerpts from the Joint Press Conference by
Prime Minister Vajpayee and
President Clinton on March 21, 2000

Prime Minister Vajpayee on
India-U.S. Relations:

“President Clinton and | have just
signed a vision statement. The state-
ment outlines the contours of and
defines the agenda of our partnership
in the 21st century. We both agreed
that our commitment to the principles
and practice of democracy constitutes
the bedrock of our relations and for
our cooperative efforts internation-
ally for peace, prosperity and
democrative freedom.”

Terrorism:

“We share a common concern at the
growing threat of terrorist violence
and its links with religious extremism
and illegal trade in narcotics, Both of
us expressed our firm opposition to
the use of any form of violence,
whether as an instrument of terror
against democratic society or as a
means of realizing territorial ambi-
tion. Nothing justifies the use of such
matters against innocent people. We
expressed our determination to in-
tensify our cooperation in this area."

Disarmament:
“President Clinton and | had a frank

discussion on the issues of disarma-
ment and nonproliferation of weap-
ons of mass destruction. The dia-
logue which is in progress between
our two countries on these issues has
enhanced the mutual understanding
of our respective concerns. I've ex-
plained to President Clinton the rea-
sons that compel us to maintain a
minimum nuclear deterrent. | have
reiterated our firm commitment not
to conduct further nuclear explosive
tests, not to engage in a nuclear arms
race, and not to be the first to use
nuclear weapons against any coun-
try.”

President Bill Clinton on

India- U.S. Relations:

“| have come to India because | want
us to build a dynamic and lasting
partnership, based on mutual respect
and mutual benefit. India and America
should be better friends and stronger
partners. In a world of increasing glo-
balization, our futures plainly are in-
tertwined.”

Terrorism:

“| recognize that India has real secu-
rity concerns. We certainly share your
outrage and heartbreak over last

statement, in New Delhi on March 21, 2000.

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U.S. President Clinton and Prime Minister Vajpayee making a joint press-statement after the signing of India-U.S. vision

night's brutal attack in Kashmir. We
offer our profoundest sympathies to
the people, especially to the families
of the victims. It reminds us of what
tremendous suffering this conflict has
caused India. The violence must end.
This should be a time for restraint,
for respect for the line of control, for
renewed lines of communication.”

Disarmament:

“I felt today that there was a possibil-
ity that we could reach more com-
mon ground on the issues of testing,
on the production of fissile material,
on export controls and on restraint,
generally.

With regard to the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty, you heard the Prime
Minister’s statement about his posi-
tion on testing. | would hope that the
democratic process will produce a
signing and ultimately a ratification
of the Comprehensive Test Ban in
India, just like | hope the democratic
process will ultimately produce a rati-
fication of the Test Ban Treaty in
America that | signed. These are con-
tentious issues. But I'm actually quite
optimistic about our ability to make
progress on them.”

INDIA NEWS ¢ April 2000 3