GREENPEACE CALLS FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE, IMMEDIATE BAN ON TESTS AS FRENCH GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS CONTAMINATION FROM WEAPONS TESTS

PARIS, January 23, 1996

The French government confirmed today that it knew about, but did not release, information concerning radioctive contamination from its nuclear testing program in the South Pacific in 1995. Greenpeace has called on the French government to fully disclose the contamination data, immdiately stop any further nuclear tests and to forge ahead with current talks in Geneva to ban all nuclear weapons tests.

According to Alain Barthoux, the director of the French nuclear agency CEA, French officials monitored the presence of radioactive iodine 131 after one of the nuclear weapons tests in 1995. The radioactive contamination found around Moruroa atoll is clear evidence that radioactivity from France's controversial nuclear tests has escaped into the environment.

The stunning revelation was made in the course of "closed door" talks in Washington last November regarding the Comprehensive Test Ban treaty currently being negotiated in Geneva. The informaton was apparently leaked to the press by officials in the meeting. In turn, the CEA's director was forced to confirm the now "public" statement.

"The French government has lied to the public and concerned governments around the planet," said Greenpeace's Damon Moglen. "Rather than spending time and energy in trying to erase the facts, President Chirac should now commit to a nuclear testing moratorium while the Comprehensive Test Ban is being negotiated."

Although France has promised to honor an international test ban it stills plans on continuing to conduct at least one more nuclear test in the next few days or weeks.

For more information:

Damon Moglen, Greenpeace International in Paris: +331-4770-4689

Blair Palese, Greenpeace Communications: +44171-833-0600

Josh Handler, Greenpeace International: +1202-319-2516