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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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CREWS AND SURVEYOR LEAVE FOR MORUROA TO FREE GREENPEACE YACHTS
Papeete, March 12th:- Greenpeace crews and a marine surveyor
nominated by Greenpeace will leave at 6am tomorrow morning
(Wednesday March 13th) for Moruroa atoll, to free three yachts
seized by the French military during anti-nuclear protests
there last year.
The presence of the surveyor, who will assess the safety of
the yachts, was agreed only yesterday by the French
authorities, after many months of negotiations by Greenpeace.
Greenpeace's xxx said the presence of the surveyor, an
independent and internationally recognised expert, was a
victory for common sense.
"Greenpeace sincerely hopes that the French authorities will
adopt a similarly open approach to future proposals by
indepedent scientists wishing to assess the condition of
Moruroa itself," xx x said.
Twelve crew, Greenpeace legal representatives and the surveyor
will take possession of the Vega (Canadian registered), La
Ribaude (French registerd) and Manutea (US registered).
"We are looking forward to the release of our vessels, but
they should never have been seized in the first place,"
Greenpeace's xxxx said. "France used massive military might to
try and block peaceful protest, but the fact is the presence
of the peace flotilla at Moruroa last year forced France to
reduce its number of tests and agree to support a 'zero yield'
test ban treaty."
"With France, the United States and Britain having agreed to
sign the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty on March 25th,
Greenpeace is now calling on China to end its testing
programme," xxx said.
China is the only nuclear weapons state still testing nuclear
weapons, and is stalling negotiations for a test ban treaty by
insisting that the treaty allow nuclear tests for "peaceful"
purposes.
"Greenpeace continues to focus on an end to all nuclear
testing and is actively campaigning for conclusion of a test
ban treaty this year," xxxx said. "We urge France to exercise
leadership and work with China to ensure this happens."
The Vega, La Ribaude and Manutea will head for Papeete to
enable further assessment of the state of the vessels before
heading to New Zealand (Vega and La Ribaude) and the United
States
(Manutea). Meanwhile, crews for the MV Greenpeace and Rainbow
Warrior will fly to Hao atoll over the next week. The
destinations of the larger ships will be decided once their
seaworthiness has been assessed.
ENDS
Further information: Stephanie Mills, Greenpeace NZ, +64 9
630 6317 or mobile +64 25 790 817
Blair Palese, Greenpeace Communications, +44 171 833 0600 or
Bunny McDiarmid/Laurence Mermet, Greenpeace Tahiti +689 43 32
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