France’s Nuclear
p. 16 · Read in the full issue
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AUSTRALIA’S Foreign Minister, Mr Hayden, says his Government will maintain its strong opposition to French nuclear testing in the Pacific re gardless of where tests are conducted.
French newspaper reports say a deci sion has been made to move the under ground nuclear test program from Mururoa Atoll to nearby Fangataufa Is land for safety reasons.
The Commander-In-Chief of French Naval Forces in the Pacific, Pierre Thi reaut, is reported to have said the move follows concern that repeated under ground blasts might eventually damage geological formations beneath Mururoa.
Mr Hayden said that this corroborated the views expressed by a scientific inves tigation several years ago. The scientists stated that long-term testing was likely to cause degeneration of the coral reef and possible leakage of radioactive material.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Govern ment has issued a statement saying the re ported move to Fangataufa has caused serious doubts about Mururoa’s safety. □