PARIS, 27 December, 1995 -- (GP) With Christmas just two days
before, France ignored global tidings of peace on earth and
conducted its fifth nuclear test at Muroroa atoll in the South
Pacific. The nuclear weapons test comes on the heels of a
United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the
immediate cessation of all nuclear tests which Greenpeace called
yet another international rogue act on the part of France.
"As 1996 approaches, it is difficult to tell if the French
government is more unpopular at home or abroad," said Damon
Moglen of Greenpeace. "It is an outrage that President Chirac
has turned a deaf ear to international outcry against nuclear
testing and allow testing two days after Christmas."
The French nuclear test today measured some 30 kilotonnes. The
nuclear explosion took place under Morora atoll which has
already been seriously damaged by past French weapons tests.
The test is France's fifth since it broke a nuclear testing
moratorium with a first test in September, 1995.
The test comes just days after 85 nations forced a resolution
through the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which calls
for the "immediate cessation of all nuclear testing." The
resolution, which French officials strenuously fought, noted
that nations "deplored the current testing and urged the nuclear
weapons states observing moratoria to continue these moratoria
pending the entry into force of a comprehensive test ban
treaty".
While French President Chirac has stated that he supports a
comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty (CTBT), it is widely
recognized that the French tests have seriously undermined the
ongoing CTBT negotiations. Chirac has shown further contempt
for
the CTBT talks by stating that Frence's curret test series will
only end towards the end of the February 1996--weeks after the
January 1996 resumption of CTBT negotations in Geneva.
"Each and every one of these nuclear tests poses an immense
short
and long-term threat to the environment and human health," said
Moglen. "While people around the planet are hoping for a safe
and peaceful new year, President Chirac is instead guaranteeing
that nuclear testing and nuclear weapons development will be as
much a part of 1996 as it was of 1995."
Greenpeace is calling on the French government to immediately
cease its nuclear tests and start 1996 with a pledge to work
toward the immediate negotiation of a CTBT.
Contact:
Damon Moglen, Greenpeace USA: +1202-319-2513
Notes to Editors:
[1] Text of the December 12, UNGA Resolution against nuclear
testing is available from Greenpeace.
December 27th 1995
FIFTH
NUCLEAR TEST;
Blair Palese, Greenpeace Communications: +44171-833-0600