Vega & La Ribaude Sail Into Papeete Harbour

[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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>> Vega and La Ribaude Sail Into Papeete Harbour
 
PAPEETE, March 22, 1996 (GP) The Greenpeace sailing vessels
'Vega'and the La Ribaude sailed into Papeete harbour this
morning one week after being freed from Moruroa. The 'Manutea'
released at the same time arrived yesterday. All three ships
are undergoing repairs in Tahiti before sailing for New
Zealand (Vega, LaRibaude) and the United States (Manutea).
 
The Greenpeace ships 'Rainbow Warrior' and 'Greenpeace' are
sailing together for safety, to New Zealand as both ships
require extensive repairs.  They will stop en route at the
Cook Islands.
 
"None of the ships are in a condition that Greenpeace would
choose to send them to sea in", said Stephanie Mills. The
ships will arrive in Rarotonga, Cook Islands on March 26th one
day after France, the United States and the UK sign the South
Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty -otherwise known as the
Rarotonga Treaty.
 
The signing of the Treaty by France, the US and the UK means
all five nuclear powers including China and Russia will be
committed to a ban on nuclear testing in the Pacific. "Now
they must show some real leadership and ensure  that a
worldwide test ban is achieved this year" Mills said.  China
still plans to conduct nuclear testing this year jeopardising
progress on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
 
The stop over in Rarotonga will allow the Greenpeace crews to
acknowledge the signing of the Treaty and thank the people of
the Cook Islands for their support during the protests against
French nuclear tests last year. The ships will reprovision,
take on fuel and carry out some repairs before heading for New
Zealand where they hope to arrive in early April.
 
For more information: 
Janet Dalziel (MV Greenpeace) +872 1300312                     
Bunny McDiarmid/Arnaud Apoteker +689 433282                    
Stephanie Mills +649 6306317

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