BRUSSELS - 2nd OCTOBER 1995

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GREENPEACE CALLS ON EUROPEAN STATES TO PUT FRANCE IN DOCK OVER NUCLEAR TEST

Greenpeace condemned this morning's large nuclear test at Fangataufa Atoll and the seizure of the Greenpeace vessel Manutea in international waters as cowardly acts that defy the international community and attempt to prevent further protest off Moruroa.

Greenpeace urged European countries to take France to court over its 110 kiloton nuclear test (more than 10 times the size of Hiroshima), exploded at 1.13 pm local time.

The test it went ahead in defiance of the European Commission's call for France to provide full information under its EURATOM Treaty obligations on the environmental dangers of the tests before any further tests proceeded. Greenpeace urged the European Union to restore legal order in the Community and take France to the European Court of Justice.

"With this test, France breaches European law, and goes against the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by building new bombs which give France a massive escalation in its nuclear capability," Greenpeace's Penelope Komites said in Paris.

"President Chirac has not only insulted world opinion and again broken an international moratorium against nuclear testing; he is sabotaging global moves towards a nuclear free world."

A European Commission scientific team conducting a limited mission under Euratom Treaty powers last week was denied access to Fangataufa. EU Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard has said that the information so far received from France is inadequate and insufficient.

The test, was reportedly the 23rd and final 'certification' test for a new warhead for the new French Triomphant class submarines.

Greenpeace also called for the immediate release of all of its boats, one of which, the US-flagged Manutea, was seized only hours ago to facilitate the test, showing a cynical contempt for international law.

Komites, along with Greenpeace in Tahiti and around the world, called for renewed international protest against the test programme, but reiterated Greenpeace's call for all protest to be peaceful and non-violent.

Note to Editors:

This is the 14th underground test at Fangataufa and the 194th French test. Larger tests have taken place at Fangataufa since 1988 because of concerns about the ability of Moruroa atoll to withstand large explosions. No scientific mission has ever been permitted to visit Fangataufa, and no information about the atoll, which was seriously contaminated by atmospheric testing,

For more information, please contact

Simon Carroll, Greenpeace International ++31 20 523 6288

Lynette Thorstensen, Greenpeace in Tahiti ++689 770613 or

Desley Mather, Greenpeace Communications ++44 171 833 0600