PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM,
THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
RESUMPTION OF NUCLEAR TESTING BY FRANCE
On behalf of South Pacific Forum heads of government as current Chair of the Forum,
I condemn France's decision to resume nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
Individual Forum governments have already issued statements and protests that reflect
the depth of their disappointment. The immediate widespread public antagonism to
France's decision right across the South Pacific reflects the resentment felt by our
peoples.
Forum heads of government understand and share these feelings. On their behalf, I
express our unequivocal opposition to France's decision.
The statements that have been issued by other nuclear powers, and by other countries
in Asia and in other parts of the world are welcome. Forum leaders hope that France
will hear and take note of what the world is saying.
France has exercised a choice about the nature of its engagement in the South Pacific.
Forum members had welcomed the improved relations between France and countries
in the region. France's decision is a major setback to this trend which was partly
founded on its 1992 moratorium on nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
The wider implications of France's decision are also of deep concern to Forum heads of
government. France's decision undermines the outcome of the recent Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty Review and Extension Conference ( NPTREC). The decision is particularly
regrettable in the light of agreement reached at that conference, including by France,
that negotiations on a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty ( CTBT) should be completed
by no later than 1996 and that, pending such a treaty, nuclear weapon states would
exercise the utmost restraint. t'Vi
The South Pacific Forum remains strongly committed to a CTBT as a key step in
global efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and eventually eliminate nuclear
weapons. It offers the prospect of ending testing completely in the South Pacific as
elsewhere. The heads of government have noted President Chirac's commitment that
France would sign such a treaty. They will hold France to that commitment.
Heads of government also called on France to abide by the Protocols of the South
Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.
I am in contact with my fellow heads of government about arrangements for a Forum
delegation to convey to the French Government the depth of the Forum's concern. I
envisage that the delegation would be led by the Australian Foreign Minister, Senator
Evans. CANBERRA JUNE 1995