Greenpeace Makes Contact with Yachts at Moruora

[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 MAKES CONTACT WITH YACHTS AT MORUROA
 
PAPEETE, March 14, 1996 (GP) Greenpeace has made contact with
its crew at Moruroa, and learnt that the three Greenpeace
yachts there will leave Moruroa atoll tomorrow, after
essential repairs to them delayed their original departure
schedule of today.
 
Greenpeace's legal adviser Duncan Currie, who managed to
telephone from Moruroa to Greenpeace staff in Tahiti and New
Zealand, said that the yachts needed more time to assure their
safety and seaworthiness, as one vessel appeared to be taking
on water. In spite of insistence from the French authorities
that the vessels (Vega, La Ribaude and Manutea) leave by 2pm
this afternoon local time, he said Greenpeace would ensure the
vessels did not leave until it was safe to do so.  The French
authorities have also refused to allow the La Ribaude to sail
under a French flag, in spite of her French registration. This

is contrary to international law.  The La Ribaude will
therefore sail as a stateless vessel under a Greenpeace flag.
 
The vessels will be escorted out to the edge of the 12 mile
exclusion zone by the French navy, and will then sail for
Papeete for further assessment and repairs.
 
Further information: Stephanie Mills Greenpeace NZ +64 9 630
6317 or 025 790 817 
Bunny McDiarmid, Laurence Mermet, Greenpeace Tahiti, +689 
433282.
 

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