PM Transcripts

EL: 28. Jan. 96 10: 43 No .004 P-Q2/
PRIME MINISTER 10/ 96
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
THE SIXTH FRENCH NUCLEAR TEST
The French Government is to be strongly condemned for this latest test at
Fangataufa and for conducting it during negotiations for a Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty, which are entering the final critical stages in Geneva.
Such an Irresponsible action sends the worst possible signal to nations that aspire to
possess nuclear weapons, and damages efforts to advance nuclear disarmament
and non-proliferation.
Australia will continue to press France to end its testing program immediately and
respond to the legitimate demands of South Pacific nations as expressed in the
declaration of the meeting of South Pacific Environment Ministers, which Australia
Initiated and hosted, on 17 August 1995.
This declaration called for an immediate end to testing of nuclear weapons in the
South Pacific and the closing of associated facilities, except thope required for future
environmental monitoring; for France to accept full and exclusive responsibility for
any adverse impacts from French testing on the South Pacific environment and
people; and to provide access by the international community to all French scientific
data and to the testing sites themselves to enable an independent and
comprehensive assessment of the effects of testing. If, as the French Government
claims, It seeks to retain a role in the South Pacific then it must respond positively to
the demands of the nations which it would call neighbours and friends.
I call on the French Government to announce immediately the cessation of its testing
program, In line with statements by President Chirac; to sign without delay the
protocols of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty:, and to put all of its energy
towards the successful conclusion of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty this year.
CANBERRA 28 January 1996 TEL