Date:Tuesday 13th June. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Auckland, Tuesday June 13 -- (GP) The Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior leaves Auckland harbour today for France's Moruroa test site amid mounting international pressure on President Chirac not to resume nuclear testing.
President Clinton will discuss France's threatened resumption of testing with President Chirac when the two meet at the White House tomorrow (Wednesday June 14), and the issue will also be on the table at the Geneva Conference on Disarmament where negotiations on a comprehensive test ban treaty continue this week.
An emergency resolution is to be tabled in the European Parliament on Wednesday, urging France not to break the three year old moratorium on nuclear testing. Meanwhile, the Chilean Government has joined Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island states in formally protesting any resumption of French testing in the South Pacific, and the President of French Polynesia has said he now opposes tests at Moruroa. Russia has also expressed concern.
Greenpeace's Stephanie Mills said President Chirac must listen to the voice of the international community or risk France becoming ostracised for its refusal to honour its nuclear disarmament commitments.
"There is no doubt that the international community is united in condemning any resumption of French testing," Mills said. "It would be a scandal if the vested interests of the nuclear military establishment domestically are allowed to over-rule France's real interests. If testing resumes, this flagrant contradiction of commitments made just last month at Non-Proliferation Treaty talks on nuclear disarmament will severely undermine France's international reputation."
The SV Rainbow Warrior, which is sailing to Moruroa to attempt to prevent further nuclear tests, will depart Auckland's Princes Wharf at 12 noon local time on Tuesday June 13. The ship will be formally sent off at a ceremony on the dock at 10.30 a.m., by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr Les Mills, local musicians, political party representatives and elders of the Ngati Whatua Maori tribe in a traditional farewell ceremony. An escort of small boats will accompany the Rainbow Warrior from the port.
"The Rainbow Warrior sails on behalf of millions of ordinary people all over the world -- including a majority of French people -- who want an end to testing now," Greenpeace France's Jean-Luc Thierry said. "By bearing witness at Moruroa, Greenpeace aims to ensure President Chirac cannot remains deaf to their plea to rid the world of this nuclear threat."
*Footage and photos of the Rainbow Warrior's departure available.
Contact: Stephanie Mills, Jean-Luc Thierry, SV Rainbow Warrior: Inmarsat +00 872 1300 312 (costs $10 a minute).
Blair Palese, Greenpeace Communications: +44 171 833 0600
Michael Szabo, Glyn Walters, Greenpeace NZ +6493776128/025790817