http://www.greenpeace.org/~comms/rw/testchr2.html (Einblicke ins Internet, 10/1995)A chronology of opposition to France's decision to resume nuclear testing at Moruroa atoll since Jacques Chirac announced on June 13 that 8 such tests would be conducted this year. This announcement sparked international outrage and expressions of deep concern from around the world.
June 13: President Chirac announces France will resume testing at Moruroa atoll. Eight tests will take place between September 1995 and May 1996, he says, before France agrees to a comprehensive test ban treaty. The Socialist opposition oppose the decision.
June 14: A massive storm of international outrage and domestic protest is provoked by Chirac's decision.
France's former Socialist prime minister Laurent Fabius said Chirac's decision was a "slap in the face" for the other states which agreed to extend the NPT. French Socialist leader Henri Emmanuelli called the decision a "grave error" and said there was no military need for more tests since France's arsenal would be operational until the year 2010. The French Socialist Party has launched a nation-wide petition opposing the decision to resume tests. Demonstrations are planned in Paris at the Place de la Bastille, Cherbourg and Caen on Tuesday. An independent French laboratory, CRII-RAD, has challenged President Chirac to allow it to monitor the tests at Moruroa. A week of protest is planned at the Geneva Conference on Disarmament from June 27th. Famous French scientists and intellectuals have condemned the decision, saying it is a political not technical decision. In a full page article in the Liberation newspaper, Raymond Castaing (well-known for his work on radioactive waste), Professor Robert Guillaumont (professor at the University of Orsay and a specialist in pluonium chemistry), physicist Jean-Paul Schapiro, Nobel Prize winning physicists Louis Neal and Simon Van de Meer, the President of the French Academy of Sciences, Marianne Grunburg- Manago, sociologist Paul Virilio, geneticist Axel Kahn, famous biologist Jacques Testard, geneticist Albert Jacquard, physicist Raymond Sene and the president of the Group of Scientists for Information on Nuclear Energy, Monique Sene opposed the decision.
Notably, a scientist from the Commisariat a L'Energie Atomique (Atomic Energy Agency), the agency responsible for the testing programme made a public protest. Physicist Michel Cribier said he was ashamed to belong to an organisation promoting the resumption of testing. He said he would launch a special appeal to other scientists at an international gathering in Trieste and on electronic mail.
Australia announces it is freezing all military cooperation with France at existing levels.
New Zealand dismisses the French ambassador from a meeting with Foreign Minister Don McKinnon, and also freezes military cooperation. It says it does not rule out sending a NZ frigate Što the test zone. The military activities being cancelled include:
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Hon Don McKinnon, will no longer attend the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in the Pacific commemorations planned in New Caledonia and other Ministerial contact will be reviewed.
Belgium officially condemns the decision to resume testing: "Belgium is deeply disillusioned by the French decision to resume nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean. Belgium regrets the French attitude even more because it runs counter to the spirit of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which was signed last April in New York. The French decission threatens to undermine the solidarity which was convened by the extension of the NPT. Belgium notes that France wants to restrict the number of nuclear tests to 8 and that it intends to sign a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1996 at the latest." (Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement)
The United States says it 'regrets' France's decision to resume testing. Twenty one Congress representatives write to President Clinton asking him to urge President Chirac to reverse his decision. At a press conference after meeting President Chirac in Washington D.C., President Clinton says: "As you know, we regret the decision and we have worked hard to try to stop the test as a way of setting up greater willingness to have a comprehensive test ban treaty. We have foregone testing ourselves. But I do want to point out that the French have pledged before President Chirac came here -- and he has reaffirmed that pledge, which you just heard -- to achieve a comprehensive test ban treaty by next year. Also, France was very helpful in supporting the indefinite extension of the NPT."
Sweden's Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson issues a formal statement, deeply regretting France's decision to resume nuclear tests. "We have also conveyed this directly to the French government," says prime minister Ingvar Carlsson. "The French decision is particularly disappointing because it comes only one month after the conference on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), where the nuclear weapons states promised to demonstrate the utmost constraint on continued nuclear testing. The Swedish government hopes that the ongoing negotiations in Geneva on a test ban treaty are not negatively affected by France's decision..." (Swedish Ministry of State, Press Release, June 14, 1995.)
Finland's Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms. Tarja Halonen, said: "Finland regrets the decision of France to continue nuclear testing between September 1995 and May 1996." She reminded all the nuclear weapon states of their commitment to agree a Comprehenisve Test Ban Treaty by 1996.
Denmark's Foreign Minister states: "It is with surprise and sincere regret that I learn that the President of France, Jacques ŠChirac, today has decided to carry out 8 nuclear tests within the period from September this year till May next year. In doing so, France lifts the temporary moratorium on nuclear tests it has maintained for a number of years. It is particularly regrettable because the 178 nations, including France, that have joined the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) only one month ago, agreed on a recommendation to the nuclear weapons states to demonstrate the utmost constraint on conducting nuclear tests. This recommendation must be seen in relation to the ongoing negotiations on a treaty on a comprehensive test ban. The French decision is also surprising because France had declared that is prepared to join such a ban. I will discuss this issue with my French colleague as soon as possible. ( Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Press Release, Jun 13, 1995.)
Japan's Foreign Minister Yohei Kono told French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette by telephone on Wednesday that the French decision had "seriously betrayed" the trust of nonnuclear states and the decision was disappointing. Kono told Charette that Prome Minister Tomiichi Murayama would take up the issue when he meets Chirac in Paris after the June 15-17 Halifax sumit of the G-7 countries. Kono said Japan would also raise the question during a Franco-Japanese summit in Paris next week.
Ireland protested at France's plans. The Prime Minister, Mr Bruton, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Spring, expressed "strong concern" to the French authorities. The decision would be viewed as a setback to the efforts to bring about an early and complete ban on nuclear testing, Mr Spring said. "There is still time for the French government to change its mind and I believe that they should reconsider that decision". Mr Spring pointed out that at the recent NPT review and extension conference in New York, the nuclear powers undertook to exercise the utmost restraint and to conclude a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty no later than 1996. "In the light of the outcome of the conference, it is particularly disappointing that two nuclear powers, France and China, have decided to continue testing", he said.
The Netherlands said it regretted France's decision to resume nuclear tests in the Pacific and called for the earliest possible conclusion of a general nuclear test-ban treaty. The foreign ministry said in a statement that the parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty had agreed last month that nuclear powers should exercise utmost restraint with respect to nuclear testing, pending the entry into force of a test ban treaty. "The government is of the opinion that the decision by France is at odds with this intention and continues to urge all nuclear states to refrain from conducting nuclear tests," it said.
Chile slammed the French decision to resume nuclear testing. A Foreign Ministry statement said: "Chile rejects France's decision which could be a serious threat for the development of talks for a treaty ending nuclear testing which is an aspiration of highest priority for our country. The Chilean government makes an urgent call to the French government to reconsider this decision which would benefit the protection of human life and the environment," it said.
Canada urged France to reverse its decision, saying it could result in an expansion of the number of nuclear powers. "Those who are nuclear powers have to agree to stop doing their testing as soon as possible," Foreign Minister Andre Ouellet said. "This is to us absolutely crucial to ensure that there will Šnot be a spinoff of encouraging others to do testing or to start to prepare to assemble nuclear armaments."
Austria expressed disappointment at France's decision. Austrian chancellor Franz Vranitzky said it could endanger a comprehensive test ban treaty. "I regret France's decision...Austria has always argued for a ban on nuclear testing and we will continue with this line...Everything must be done to ensure that France's decision does not endanger the planned comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty." Vranitzky spoke to French Prime Minister Alain Juppe by telephone to voice his protest.
Russia regretted France's decision and urged President Chirac to reconsider his decision. Yeltsin's spokesperson said: "Russia finds the announcement of the French leadership that it may conduct a series of nuclear tests in the fall regrettable. If they do it, it could become a serious blow to the progress in nuclear disarmament that we have been watching for the past several years. We would like to hope that France would, in an appropriate way, study all the circumstances and consequences which a realisation of the decision on nuclear tests will bring about," an official statement said. Sergei Yushenkov, chairman of the State Duma defence committee, described the decision by President Jacques Chirac to authorise eight more tests at France's South Pacific site, as a mistake. "Russia must make the request to the French president not to carry out testing, certainly not in such a quantity," Yushenkov said. Members of the Russian Duma, led by former environment Minister Nicolai Vorontsov, who are members of GLOBE (a global parliamentarians group) condemn further French tests.
Italy's Foreign Ministry said the French decision to conduct eight underground tests in the South Pacific from September ran counter to a moratorium on testing observed by France, Britain, Russia and the United States since 1992. But it added that Chirac's simultaneous announcement that testing would end next May in time to sign a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty was positive news.
Norway urged France to change its nuclear test plans. The French decision could endanger a comprehensive test ban treaty, Foreign Minister Bjoern Tore Godal said in a statement. "The government strongly regrets the French decision to resume nuclear testing," he said. "Norway calls on French authorities to alter the decision."
French Polynesia's political leaders opposed the decision. A Polynesian representative to the French Parliament and former mayor of Papeete, Jean Juventin said an alternative could have been found. "I can't deny that there will be a local reaction. As a parliamentarian I reject this decision and I will write to the president...to express my dissatisfaction," he said. Jackie Drollet, a Polynesian independence campaigner, deplored the decision, and Centrist senator Daniel Millaud dubbed the decision "perhaps the first big blunder of the president" and said a nuclear weapon simulation could have been used instead of a real test. Polynesian independence leader Oscar Temaru also expressed strong opposition to a resumption of testing and said protest action was planned.
The Cook Islands expressed concern at a resumption of French nuclear tests. Minister of Marine Resources Tepure Tapaitau said he was "both concerned and opposed to nuclear testing resuming especially if research shows it will affect our waters." Š
The South Pacific Forum, representing 15 Pacific Island nations, condemned France's decision. Forum Secretary General Ieremia Tabai said in a statement that French testing in the South Pacific would severely damage its relations with region's island nations. "This flagrant disregard for world and regional opinion will do considerable damage to France's relations with the forum region," Tabai said, describing the decision as a provocative act.
Luxembourg officially condemned the resumption of French testing.
Switzerland officially protested at France's decision.
Western Samoa's Prime Minister Tofilau charged France with displaying insensitivity to South Pacific nations. "The resumption of tests in the South Pacific by France can only be interpreted as insensitivity to the deep concerns of the South Pacific nations on the effects of nuclear testing to the environment," Tofilau said.
European ecologists, "green" politicians and anti-nuclear pressure groups joined the global chorus condemning France for its decision to resume nuclear testing in the South Pacific. "This decision by the French President shows an appalling disregard for France's partners within the European Union," Green Group co-presidents Claudia Roth and Alexander Langer said at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. "Europeans do not want to have their security policy defined by the narrow and totally outdated dictates of the French nuclear establishment," they said. The German Green Party called Chirac's announcement a return to "nuclear superpower politics" and a "fatal signal to the despots of the world."
June 15: Europe's Parliament passed an emergency resolution condemning France's decision to resume tests. It stated that member nations were "shocked by the decision of French President Chirac" and urged France to reconsider its decision. It also condemned the continuing nuclear tests by China and warned that if nuclear powers breach the spirit or the letter of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), other states could follow suit. European Council, the European Commission, to all Governments who signed the NPT and to the Chairman of the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. Those voting for the resolution included the Fianna Fail conservative group, allies of the French RPR MEPs in the Parliament.
June 17: A delegation from the South Pacific Forum countries leaves for Paris to try and persuade President Chirac to reverse his decision on nuclear testing.