01/29 France Ends N.Testing-1 CTBT Block Gone

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
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               GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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>>  GREENPEACE WELCOMES END TO FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING;
     CALLS IT "ANOTHER BARRIER TO GLOBAL TEST BAN REMOVED"  
 
PARIS, 29 January, 1996 (GP) With today's announcement by
French President Jaques Chirac that it's sixth nuclear test
conducted Saturday will be its last, Greenpeace welcomed the
news saying that a global ban on nuclear testing is now that
much more possible.
 
"After provoking worldwide outrage over the resumption of
nuclear testing, France has finally bowed to international
pressure and stopped its testing at six tests rather than the
originally planned eight," said Greenpeace Disarmament
Coordinator Josh Handler. "The onus is now on France to ensure
the passage of a zero-yield nuclear test ban (CTBT) currently
being negotiated."  
On Saturday France set of its sixth nuclear test at Fangataufa
atoll which measured 120 killotonnes.  This was one of the
largest tests carried out by France since it broke a testing
moratorium in September 1995.  
 
Last week, a controversy arose when France admitted a release
of radioactive iodine 131 was detected after one of its South
Pacific tests.  A number of nations have registered protests
and asked for clarification about this radioactive release as
well as about what other information France has withheld about
its nuclear tests.
 
"These reports raise great concern about the environmental
aftermath of global nuclear testing," Handler said.  "France
and all other nuclear weapons states must now stop testing and
close their test sites to show support for a CTBT.  
 
The United Nations Conference on Disarmament (CD) began CTBT
negotiations last week in Geneva.  A treaty text must be
agreed upon by the end of June if it is to be ready for
signing in 1996.*  With France halting its nuclear testing,
several major obstacles must be overcome before a CTBT can be
achieved.  
"China and Russia now pose the biggest threat to achieving a
CTBT in 1996," said Handler.  "Both must agree to a zero-yield
test ban, or one where no tests of any size are acceptable,
and China must immediately halt its ongoing nuclear testing if
a ban is to be achieved."
 
Greenpeace is calling for all nuclear test sites to be open to
independent, international monitoring.  Greenpeace is also 
calling for the immediate release of its vessels still being
detained in Polynesia by the French navy after peaceful
protests  against the resumption  of French nuclear testing in
the South  Pacific.
 
*Notes to Editors:
 
The CTBT treaty is still being negotiated. There are a number
of issues of importance that need to be resolved, including:   
  1.  Preamble:  A commitment to nuclear disarmament and     
reference to specific steps which lead to the elimination     
of nuclear weapons should be contained in the preamble.     
2.  Scope:  The treaty must ban nuclear explosions of any     
size, no matter how small, for any purpose.  China and     
Russia have not formally committed to a zero-yield treaty     
in the Geneva negotiations as yet.  In addition, China is     
seeking to exclude so-called "peaceful nuclear explosions"     
from the treaty.
 3.  Verification:  the treaty needs to include a package of  
methods to ensure compliance with its provisions. An     
essential element of the package is on-site inspection.     
4.  Entry Into Force of the CTBT: there should be no     
barrier to achieving rapid entry into force of the treaty,     
following its signature in 1996.
 
Contact:
Blair Palese, Greenpeace Communications: +44171-833-0600
Penelope Komites, Greenpeace France: +331-4770-4689
Manuel Pinto, Greenpeace Tahiti: +689-433282 or 689-454328  .

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