Mururoa testing data arrives—in French

Press, 2 August 1983, Page 3

Mururoa testing data arrives—in French

Preparations for a scientific team inspection of Mururoa Atoll have run into a hitch — background information on underground nuclear testing has arrived in French. The director of the National Radiation Laboratory, Mr Hugh Atkinson, said the first French data, which arrived in Christchurch last week, would cause a short delay. After an “amateurish” attempt at translation, he has had to ask the French Government for another copy translated into English. “I am slightly surprised, but if I write them a letter they would most assuredly

get it in English,” he said. France has agreed to allow a team of Pacific scientists, headed by Mr Atkinson, to inspect the nuclear test site. French data was promised to the laboratory for study before the visit, expected to take place later this year. The first data came from French scientists who looked at safety aspects during a short visit to Mururoa in July 1982. Mr Haroun Tazieff led the investigation.

Mr Atkinson said he was more interested in the appendices of the Tazieff report than its already-pub-

lished conclusions. There was also a lot more technical data he was trying to obtain that was unlikely to need much translation. The wait for a translation of the Tazieff report was not a real problem, he said. Details of the inspection were still being negotiated.

“The indications are that there is a fair bit of time,” Mr Atkinson said. Australia had still not said it was “coming to the party.” The Australian Government was not expected to decide if it was sending a scientist on the team inspection until after a meeting of the South Pacific Forum in Canberra later this month.