Last chance, France

The South Pacific Forum

France comes under more attack as the Forum leaders lash out at nuclear testing

By Sudesh Kissun

AS expected, the resumption of

French nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll dominated the agenda of the 26th South Pacific Forum meeting in

Madang, Papua New Guinea which began

on September 13. The Forum leaders came out with an ultimatum to France: drop the tests or face expulsion from the Post- Forum Dialogue meetings. The Forum leaders said they were “extremely out raged” at France’s decision to resume test ing in the face of strong opposition from within the Pacific and abroad.

The Forum attracted a record 140 jour nalists to the meeting at the northern coastal town of Madang. Security for the three-day meeting was stepped up with nearly 400 policemen guarding the meet ing venue. Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the nuclear issues clouded the other important regional issues at the meeting.

Other important issues discussed by the leaders included securing development in the region beyond the year 2000, a new Code of Conduct on logging, tourism and

transportation.

France detonated a 20-kiloton nuclear device on September 5. The leaders decid ed that Forum chairman, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan, would call an emergency meeting if France conducted a second test.

The emergency meeting will review France’s status as a Post-Forum Dialogue partner. Mr Rabuka said the Pacific leaders

spoke very strongly against France. A

Forum statement said the decisions by France and China to continue nuclear test ing was cojnpletely contrary to the under taking at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review and extension conference in May this year.

The two nuclear powers had agreed to exercise “utmost restraint” in nuclear test ing pending the completion of negotiations on a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) that would ban nuclear tests for all time.

The conclusion of the CTBT is an objective of the higher importance for the international community, the Forum lead ers said.

The leaders welcomed New Zealand’s action to resume its 1973 International Court of Justice case against French for its nuclear testing and the effects those tests will have on the environment of the Pacific.

The leaders reiterated the call by Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders

through the Lakatoro Declaration, signed in August, and by the South Pacific Environment Ministers meeting in August this year for France to close its nuclear testing facilities in the Pacific, except as required for environmental monitoring.

Greenpeace Pacific Limited charged that the statement by the Forum leaders

was “strong on rhetoric and very weak on action”.

“The international community expects the Pacific to set the benchmark for oppo sition to the resumption of testing by France, and this statement falls far short of

that,” said spokesperson Bunny

McDiarmid.

The Forum decided that individual countries were free to penalise France.

The Forum opened with colourful tradi tional dances. The Forum’s newest mem ber, Palau was welcomed at the opening ceremony. A canoe carrying Palau’s flag travelled to PNG and berthed at a man made lake where the ceremony was held.

Based on the Forum theme. Securing Development beyond year 2000, three leaders were asked to present regional overviews on important issues.

Mr Rabuka spoke on regional co-oper ation and trade, Marshall Islands President Amata Kabua spoke on transportation and Sir Geoffrey Henry, of Cook Islands, spoke on tourism.

On economic policy issues, the Forum supported a number of national policy measures and regionally based activities which would secure development in the region beyond year 2000.

The Forum decided that by enhancing

competitiveness, implementing trade

reforms, promoting harmonious trade within and outside the region, improving

public sector efficiency and improving aid

management, economic goals could be achieved.

On regional air service, the Forum agreed to convene a meeting of civil avia tion ministers, aviation authorities, airline representatives and other experts to dis cuss the further development of civil avia tion services throughout the Forum region.

On Tourism, the Forum noted that Pacific Islands lay at the centre of one of the most rapidly growing networks in the world. “Leaders agreed, therefore, to direct their respective tourism authorities to explore options for increasing joint pro motions, both within and beyond the

region,” a Forum communique said. “In particular, they will examine transport needs, including national facilities and international links, as well as needs and opening for investment in relation to accommodation. ”

Another interesting topic of discussion at the Forum was the proposed Code of Conduct of Logging. The communique said Forum members endorsed the draft code and committed themselves to the implementation of its provisions as part of their national codes.

Forum Spokesman Sir Geoffrey explained that the code presented at the Forum was the final draft. He said member countries were asked to commit them selves to the code and the issue would not be brought up at the Forum again. The code was snubbed by Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, countries with con troversial logging records. Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating was pushing for the endorsement of the code in the region.

On fisheries, the Forum welcomed and

noted the significance of the adoption at New York on August 4 this year of the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to the conservation and management of

straddling fish stocks and highly migrato

ry fish stocks. The Forum expressed its appreciation for the outstanding work of the United Nations conference chairman,

Fiji’s Satya Nandan.

The Forum said that in light of the out come of the UN conference, the leaders

considered that comprehensive regional

fisheries management arrangements, and a structure consistent with UN conference outcomes to administer them should be development as a matter of urgency. On the Law of the Sea, the Forum urged all members to become parties to the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea at the earliest opportunity.

On social issues, the Forum noted with satisfaction the contribution made by Pacific Islands countries to the outcome of the recent international conferences of

population and development, social development and women. “It encour aged regional efforts to integrate popula tion and environ mental concerns,” the communique said Environmental issues touched by the leaders included climate change.

(global) environmental facility, biodiversi

ty and international coral reef initiative.

The Forum adopted a convention to ban the importation into Forum countries of hazardous and radioactive wastes and to control the trans-boundary movement and management of hazardous wastes within the Pacific Islands. It also expressed con tinuing concern about shipments of pluto nium and radioactive wastes through the

region.

“It noted with appreciation concern about shipments of plutonium and radioac tive wastes through the region,” the com munique said. “It noted with appreciation the co-operation of Japan in responding to the Forum’s concerns by the provision of, and consultation about the shipments.”

A review of the Forum Secretariat which called for streamlining of the secre tariat’s activities was endorsed by the lead ers.

Absent from this year’s Forum were Solomon Islands PM Solomon Mamaloni and Western Samoa’s Tofilau Eti Alesana.

Next year’s Forum will be held in the Marshall Islands. A

Sir Geoffrey