Chirac Threat-Resume French N.Testing

[The.Greenbase@gb.greenpeace.org]

>> GREENPEACE CONDEMNS CHIRAC THREAT TO RESUME FRENCH TESTING


                    ************************
                    GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
                    ************************
 
>> GREENPEACE CONDEMNS CHIRAC THREAT TO RESUME FRENCH TESTING
 
LONDON, March 17, 1995 (GP) Greenpeace International today joined
Greenpeace France in condemning statements by leading French
Presidential candidate Jacques Chirac that he would
consider resuming testing nuclear bombs at Moruroa Atoll in the
South Pacific.
 
Greenpeace International's Stephanie Mills said M. Chirac's
statement threatened to derail test ban talks underway in Geneva,
and would undermine international confidence in France's
commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
 
Renewed testing would increase the risk of environmental
contamination from nuclear testing at Moruroa Atoll and
underline, in the most arrogant fashion, that France had no
intention of respecting the wishes of the people of the South
Pacific for a nuclear-free Pacific.
 
A resumption of testing would also send a dangerous signal to the
international community, Mills said.
 
"Renewed testing at Moruroa could blow apart the chance of
achieving a comprehensive test ban treaty altogether.  It could
create a new spiral of nuclear danger, providing a pretext for
China to continue testing and Russia, the US and UK to resume
their programmes," she said. 
 
"Under those circumstances, France would have to take
responsibility for catalysing the start of a new nuclear arms
race and creating new and more serious nuclear proliferation
dangers," Mills said.  "It is quite clear that non-nuclear
countries have strong justifications for calling for limited
extension of the Non-Proliferation Treaty linked to specific
disarmament commitments when the Treaty's future is decided at
April-May's Review and Extension Conference."
 
"France has already created obstacles for the Comprehensive Test
Ban Talks at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva by
advocating exceptions for tests up to 100 tonnes. M. Chirac's
statement would further undermine any confidence that France is
seriously committed to early agreement on a test ban treaty," she
said. 
 
In an open letter to M. Chirac, Greenpeace France today demanded
that he urgently reject the option of continued testing at
Moruroa and instead announce his support for extension of the
current moratorium on testing until a Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty is agreed and implemented.  Greenpeace also called on
President Mitterrand to exercise responsible leadership while he
still remained in office by committing France to urgent
conclusion
in principle of a nuclear test ban treaty before the start of the
Non-Proliferation Treaty talks.
 
ENDS
 
Contact: 
Stephanie Mills, Greenpeace UK: +44 171 354 5100
Penelope Komites or Ben Cramer, Greenpeace France:
 ++33 147 70 46 89
Blair Palese, Greenpeace Communications +44 71 833 0600