Fijian Govt to allow nuclear ships’ visits

Press, 2 August 1983, Page 16

Fijian Govt to allow nuclear ships’ visits

NZPA Suva Fiji has decided to let nuclear-powered ships use its ports and transit its waters. In a statement, its Government said Fiji was obliged by international law, particularly the Law of the Sea convention, to guarantee right of passage to all vessels through its archipelagic waters, including ships powered by nuclear engines and carrying nuclear weapons. Under its new policy, Fiji would allow nuclear ships to enter its ports on the basis of individual application and under codes yet to be devised.

The policy was prompted by political defence, secur-

ity, and economic considerations. Australia and New Zealand felt that if Fiji permitted nuclear-powered ships to its ports, the capacity of A.N.Z.U.S. to meet the security needs of the region in times of conflict would be enhances, said the Government. The Government “is not unaware of the popular feeling existing in the Pacific on matters relating to nuclear weapon testing,” it said.

Fiji would continue to maintain concern for the dangers of nuclear pollution caused by open nuclear

weapons testing and dumping nuclear wastes irr Pacific waters, it said.