Mururoa testing opposed in U.N.

Press, 10 October 1984, Page 8

Mururoa testing opposed in U.N.

NZPA-AFPUnited Nations, New York New Zealand and Australia have reaffirmed their total opposition to French nuclear testing in the Pacific. New Zealand’s delegate, Mr Bryce Harland, yesterday told a United Nations General Assembly committee on atomic radiation that his Government had “grave concern” about reports that France intended to continue nuclear testing on Mururoa until the year 2000. If the information were true, it would be a bitter blow for the peoples of the

South Pacific, he said. Recalling New Zealand’s strong protests to France, Mr Harland said that efforts would continue to prevent further French nuclear tests. Australia’s delegate, Mr W. J. Farmer, told' the assembly that all countries in the region were opposed to France’s tests on Mururoa. He called for a “denuclearisation” treaty in the South Pacific. Mr Harland reported bn a scientific mission’s visit to Mururoa at France’s invitation, saying that the scientists had found no trace of

dangerous radiation, but that slight fissures in the atoll’s crust could eventually allow radiation from below-the-surface explosions to escape. “I must emphasise that New Zealand’s strong opposition to French, or any, nuclear activity in our part of the world is in no way diminished by the scientific mission’s report,” he said. “New Zealand regards a prohibition on the testing of nuclear weapons by any country in any environment as a critical first step in reversing the arms race.”