PM Transcripts

PRIME MINJISTER 136/ 95
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
THE FOURTH FRENCH NUCLEAR TEST
I strongly condemn the latest French nuclear test at Mururoa Atoll.
I am appalled that the French Government continues to show disregard for the
feelings of the people of the South Pacific. It has further isolated itself from
international thinking on nuclear i ssues and significantly devalued its international
credentials.
Australia warmly welcomed the recent United Nations General Assembly resolution
calling for an immediate end to nuclear testing. It is clear the international
community shares Australia's conviction that continued nuclear testing is not
consistent with changed global strategic circumstances and changing world opinion.
The Government fully supports the recent Commonwealth statement on disarmament
in which the overwhelming majority of leaders condemned continued nuclear testing
and all leaders emphasised the importance of the determined pursuit of the
elimination of nuclear weapons. This confirmed to me the breadth and depth of
opposition to continued nuclear testing.
Continued testing raises the level of scepticism amongst non-nuclear weapon states
about the sincerity of some nuclear powers to pursue nuclear disarmament and
therefore advances the prospect that some non-nuclear weapon nations will pursue
their own nuclear weapons programs. The French Government must realise that by
sending the wrong signals about its nuclear intentions it is in fact undermining its
long term security, not strengthening it. Security in the next century will not be found
in the possession of nuclear weapons.
The Government calls on France to abandon immediately its testing program and to
desist from actions which undermine progress towards a Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty and measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
I will shortly be making a statement on the next steps Australia will be taking to
pursue the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons which I set out in my
United Nations Day speech on 24 October 1995.
CANBERRA 22 November 1995