PARIS, September 29 1995 --

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

POLITICAL SUCCESS FOR GREENPEACE AT FRENCH SUPREME COURT

Paris--29 September 1995--Greenpeace today said the French Supreme Court's recognition of the long term environmental threats of underground nuclear testing was a "true political success," despite the fact that the court rejected Greenpeace's case.

Greenpeace took French President Jacques Chirac to the Supreme Court (Conseil d'Etat) to challenge his right to make a decision to resume testing. Despite ruling at today's public hearing that the court was not competent to hear the case, the French Government's Commissioner recognised that long term environmental and health risks linked to underground nuclear testing did in fact exist.

"We are right -- President Chirac can no longer pretend that underground nuclear testing is safe," said Greenpeace France's Chairman, Mr Remi Parmentier. "Chirac did not take the precautionary principle into account when he decided to resume testing."

The precautionary principle means that activities that may seriously affect the environment cannot be justified by the absence of scientific certainty. This principle was incorporated into French law in February 1995, as well as within the Maastricht Treaty. The international community, including France, also undertook to apply this principle during the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992.

"We all have a duty to provide future generations with an environment at least as sane and safe as the one we inherited," said Parmentier. "In accordance with this principle, President Chirac should put an end to his nuclear test programme."

Greenpeace noted that the Government's Commissioner, while considering that the Supreme Court was not competent to rule on the case, recognised that if it had been, Chirac's decision would have been cancelled, given that Greenpeace was right to point out that the French Prime Minister's formal approval had not been issued.

"This demonstrates that we are correct in stating that the President acted alone in making his decision," said Penelope Komites, Executive Director of Greenpeace France.

CONTACT Greenpeace France 33 1 47 70 46 89.