7 September 1995

TRANS-PACIFIC ALLIANCE AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTING

The initiative to convene a meeting with South Pacific Forum countries was the result of an extraordinary session of the Council of the Organisation for the Prescription of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) held between 18-19 August to consider strategies to obtain an immediate moratorium on nuclear testing.

In a communique reiterating its firm opposition to continued testing, the Council foreshadowed a meeting between member states of OPANAL and the South Pacific Forum/South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty countries. The meeting is scheduled to take place in New York in late September.

Senator Evans said he expected the OPANAL/South Pacific Forum meeting would result in a strong declaration expressing common opposition to continued nuclear testing and calling on all states immediately to stop all testing activity. The meeting will also consider approaches to a resolution at this year's United Nations General Assembly calling for a moratorium on nuclear testing in the interests of the early conclusion of a genuinely comprehensive test ban treaty and of international non-proliferation and disarmament efforts more generally.

Senator Evans said Australia saw symbolic and practical value in a trans-Pacific alliance opposed to nuclear testing. The OPANAL initiative to convene a meeting with like-minded South Pacific nations was an important step towards the goal of building coalitions among the nuclear weapon free zones of the Southern Hemisphere.

Senator Evans also welcomed the OPANAL Council's unanimous endorsement of a resolution presented by Mexico firmly condemning continued nuclear testing and exhorting all states to abstain from testing activity until a comprehensive test ban comes into effect. OPANAL members considered they had a common responsibility to work to prevent violation, through testing activity, of the integrity of other nuclear free zones operating elsewhere in the world.

Senator Evans said he applauded OPANAL members' collective activism towards nuclear policy goals we all share.

The most recent OPANAL statements add to the rising tide of international condemnation of nuclear testing activity, particularly occurring at this crucial stage in negotiations for a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and following this year's successful indefinite extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Senator Evans said Australia looked forward to the New York meeting and would continue to work on building coalitions to take forward our goals of an immediate end to testing and a treaty banning all nuclear testing by all states for all time.

MELBOURNE