22 November 1995

Fourth French Nuclear Test

I told him that the test program was continuing in contemptuous disregard of what was clearly the overwhelming opposition of the international community - demonstrated most recently in last week's vote at the United Nations, and before that at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Every test that takes place not only creates new risks for the environment of the South Pacific, but makes more difficult the achievement of the nuclear weapons free world to which all the nuclear weapons states are committed under Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Each new test reinforces the scepticism - now, unhappily, widely felt - about the intentions of all the nuclear weapons states, and in particular throws further doubt on France's credibility and bona fides.

Through the Ambassador, I called again upon France to

• abandon now any plans for further nuclear tests;
• commit itself now to close once and for all its nuclear test facilities in the South Pacific;
• provide to the international community full and unrestricted access to all the scientific data it holds and to the test sites to enable an independent and comprehensive environmental assessment to take place; and
• accept full and exclusive responsibility for any adverse impacts from the tests on the South Pacific environment and people.