3/21 MV GP Freed from French

[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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MV GREENPEACE FREED FROM FRENCH MILITARY AT HAO
 
Papeete, March 20th, 1996:- The MV Greenpeace, seized by the
French military in international waters during protests
against nuclear testing at Moruroa last year, has been
released.
 
The ship left Hao at around 6pm local time, and joined the
Rainbow Warrior in international waters.  The captains of the
two vessels now plan to proceed westwards, testing the
condition and sea-worthiness of the ships.
 
>From on board the MV Greenpeace, Janet Dalziell said the crew
were still testing much of the equipment damaged when French
commandos seized the vessel. A final destination for the ship
would depend on the captain's assessment of her condition over
the next 48 hours, she said. 
 
The MV Greenpeace was released a few days before France, the
United States and Britain sign the South Pacific Nuclear Free
Zone Treaty in Suva, Fiji, on March 25th. 
 
"With nuclear testing now ended in the Pacific forever,
Greenpeace is calling on its members world-wide to write to
the Chinese Premier Li Peng, urging China to stop testing,"
Dalziell said.  
 
China is currently a major obstacle to achieving a
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, as it still plans tests this
year prior to the treaty's conclusion, and wants so-called
"peaceful nuclear
explosions" exempted from the treaty.
 
Ends
 
Further information:
Bunny McDiarmid/Arnaud Apoteker, Tahiti +689 433282
Stephanie Mills, New Zealand +64 25 790 817
Penelope Komites/Laurence Mermet, France +33 1 47 70 46 89
Blair Palese, Greenpeace Communications, +44 171 833 0600 

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