Скачать или смотреть USA: WHITE HOUSE: CLINTON WELCOMES ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE

(15 Sep 2000) English/Nat
XFA
United States President Bill Clinton welcomed Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the White House on Friday, praising his commitment to impose a voluntary moratorium on further nuclear testing.

The two men also acknowledged that India--U-S relations had reached a high point, after years of limited contact.

President Clinton also took the opportunity to make a comment about how the U-S was handling the recent rises in the price of fuel.

With India's Prime Minister standing at his side on an idyllic late summer day, President Bill Clinton praised the strengthening of the U-S--India relationship, after long years of strained relations.

The two men acknowledged that they shared similar objectives, at a ceremony in Washington D-C on Friday.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"Mr Prime Minister, from very different histories India and the United States have forged a bond, arising from our common commitment to freedom and democracy. Our challenge is to turn our common bond into common achievements.\"
SUPERCAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President

Prime Minister Vajpayee, who has been suffering from a knee ailment, remained seated during Clinton's remarks and spoke only briefly to mass of assembled guests, which included many Indian-Americans.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"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. At the same time we welcome India's commitment to forego nuclear testing until the treaty banning all nuclear testing comes into force.\"
SUPERCAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President

Clinton made no reference to the U-S opposition two years ago when India decided to carry out nuclear tests, a move that prompted neighbouring Pakistan to conducts tests of its own.

Vajpayee also welcomed the improvement in U-S-Indian relations, which received a major boost when Clinton visited the country last year.

He was the first U-S President to visit the country in more than 20 years.

Vajpayee acknowledged the historic potential of Clinton's visit and said that it set a positive precedent.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"Now we have some work to perform with your visit to India, the beginning has already been made. We have to pursue that path.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indian Prime Minister

After the ceremony, Clinton and Vajpayee met for an hour of one-to-one discussions.

At an Oval Office photo session after the ceremonial welcome, Clinton said the two countries had already taken steps to build a future based on dialogue and co-operation.

Questioned by reporters on the current global oil crisis, President Clinton said Americans did not have to worry about a oil-induced recession in the U-S.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President

The White House cancelled Friday afternoon's planned joint news conference due to Vajpayee's fatigue after his week-long U-S visit.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...