PARIS, 29 January, 1996 -- With today's announcement by French
President Jaques Chirac that the sixth French nuclear test
conducted Saturday will be the last, Greenpeace welcomed the news
saying that a global ban on nuclear testing is now that much more
possible.
"After provoking worldwide outrage over the resumption of nuclear
testing, France has finally bowed to international pressure and
stopped its testing at six tests rather than the originally
planned eight," said Greenpeace Disarmament Coordinator Josh
Handler. "The onus is now on France to ensure the passage of a
zero-yield nuclear test ban (CTBT) currently being negotiated."
On Saturday France set of its sixth nuclear test at Fangataufa
atoll which measured 120 kilotonnes. This was the largest test
carried out by France since it broke a testing moratorium in
September 1995.
Last week, a controversy arose when France admitted a release of
radioactive iodine 131 was detected after one of its South
Pacific tests. A number of nations have registered protests and
asked for clarification about this radioactive release as well
as about what other information France has withheld about its
nuclear tests.
"These reports raise great concern about the environmental
aftermath of global nuclear testing," Handler said. "France and
all other nuclear weapons states must now stop testing and close
their test sites to show support for a CTBT.
The United Nations Conference on Disarmament (CD) began CTBT
negotiations last week in Geneva. A treaty text must be agreed
upon by the end of June if it is to be ready for signing in
1996.* With France halting its nuclear testing, several major
obstacles must be overcome before a CTBT can be achieved.
"China and Russia now pose the biggest threat to achieving a CTBT
in 1996," said Handler. "Both must agree to a zero-yield test
ban, or one where no tests of any size are acceptable, and China
must immediately halt its ongoing nuclear testing programme if
a ban is to be achieved."
Greenpeace is calling for all nuclear test sites to be open to
independent, international monitoring. Greenpeace also calling
for the immediate release of its vessels still being detained in
Polynesia by the French navy after peaceful protests against the
resumption of French nuclear testing in the South Pacific - and
for full compensation for damages to them.
Contact:
Blair Palese/Cindy Baxter Greenpeace Communications:
++44 171-833-0600
Notes to Editors:
The CTBT treaty is still being negotiated. There are a number of
issues of importance that need to be resolved, including:
1. Preamble: A commitment to nuclear disarmament and
reference to specific steps which lead to the elimination
of nuclear weapons should be contained in the preamble.
2. Scope: The treaty must ban nuclear explosions of any
size, no matter how small, for any purpose. China and
Russia have not formally committed to a zero-yield treaty
in the Geneva negotiations as yet. In addition, China is
seeking to exclude so-called "peaceful nuclear explosions"
from the treaty.
3. Verification: the treaty needs to include a package of
methods to ensure compliance with its provisions. An
essential element of the package is on-site inspection.
4. Entry Into Force of the CTBT: there should be no
barrier to achieving rapid entry into force of the treaty,
following its signature in 1996.
GREENPEACE WELCOMES END TO FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING;
CALLS IT "ANOTHER BARRIER TO GLOBAL TEST BAN REMOVED"
Penelope Komites, Greenpeace France: +331-4770-4689
Manuel Pinto, Greenpeace Tahiti: +689-433282 or 689-454328