http://www.greenpeace.org/~comms/rw/jul01d.html (Einblicke ins Internet, 10/1995)
Fifteen members of the US Congress, including the ranking member of the House International Relations Committee, Lee H. Hamilton (D-Indiana), Asia-Pacific Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Doug Bereuter (R-Nebraska) and International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee Chairman Christopher H. Smith (R-New Jersey), have joined Congressman Eni Faleomavaega as co-sponsors ofa resolution opposing a resumption of French testing.
"I find it significant that several senior members of the House International Relations Committee have reached bi-partisan agreement that it is patently unfair and unconscionable that France force the peoples of French Polynesia and the South Pacific to bear the price of French nuclear adventurism," said Congressman Faleomavaega. "If the government of France must conduct nuclear tests that undermine the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and impede good faith negotiation of a comprehensive test ban treaty, then let it detonate and spread its nuclear poison on French soil."
State Department Assistant Secretary for East Asian And pacific Affairs, Ambassador Winston Lord, testified this week before the House International Relations Committee and confirmed that the U.S. would maintain its nuclear testing moratorium to create favorable conditions for a successful CTBT negotiation in 1996. Congressman Faleomavaega noted, "I applaud President Clinton's world leadership on this issue and would urge that his administration aggressive pursue the achievement of a genuine, zero-yield, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty."
Faleomavaega concluded, "The South Pacific Forum nations should be commended for their intensive efforts protesting France's planned resumption of nuclear testing - especially Australia, New Zealand, Western Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Kiribati for sending the delegation to Paris to meet firsthand with the French Government. By introduction of this legislation today, I and my colleagues in Congress send a strong message ofsupport for the island nations of the South Pacific that seek Frances' reconsideration of this ill-conceived decision."