Subject: HEADLINES 21 - 23 FEBRUARI 1996
 
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 12:41:18 -0500
 
Headlines 21-23 februari 1996

Feb 23 1996 (Reuter) - A broad coalition of groups blasted a new U.S. nuclear agreement with Europe on
Friday, claiming it undermines American nonproliferation goals by weakening controls to avoid friction
with the allies. It is noted by Ken Timmerman of the Middle East Data Project that France and Germany
both had big roles in developing Iraq's nuclear and weapons capability and that the United States and
Europe are divided on other issues, including restraining trade with Iran.

Feb 23 1996 (Reuter) - The world's first advanced boiling water reactor has been shut due to technical
problems, Tokyo Electric Power Co Inc (TEPCO)  said on Friday.  It is the first time the reactor has been
closed due to a problem since trial operations started on January 29. Commercial operation of the
Kashiwazaki number six reactor is scheduled to  start on December 6, TEPCO said.  

Feb 23 1996 (Reuter) - Japan on Friday welcomed France's decision to cut the size of its nuclear arsenal
and stop producing fissile material. Chirac, who faced worldwide criticism over the nuclear tests in French
Polynesia, said they had been technically perfect. Chirac said 18 ageing, land-based nuclear missiles in silos
in southern France would be scrapped.

Feb 23 1996 (Reuter) - Japan said on Friday it would contribute $19 million for fuel oil deliveries to North
Korea. "Supplies of fuel oil will help North Korea abandon its nuclear programme. It is also important for
Japan's security," a government official told reporters. KEDO's main role is to raise some $4 billion to
finance the construction of new North Korean light-water reactors.

Feb 22 1996 (Reuter) - President Jacques Chirac announced on Thursday that France would cut the size of
its nuclear arsenal and stop producing fissile material since it had now completed its bitterly-disputed series
of atomic tests. In a gesture to reassure Germany, he said he decided after talks with Chancellor Helmut
Kohl to dismantle Hades missiles, mothballed since 1991. The missiles had disturbed Bonn because they
could hit only German soil if fired from France.

Feb 22 1996 (Reuter) - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati on Thursday proposed a compromise
text for a global nuclear test ban treaty which he said would overcome obstacles to the treaty and accelerate
its signing this year. China is the only one not to announce a test moratorium.  

Feb 22 1996 (Reuter) - Sweden said on Thursday it was considering bringing nuclear waste it shipped to
Britain 15 years ago back home so that it cannot be enriched into weapons grade materials. "The
government cannot directly influence a decision on enrichment of the Swedish material," the ministry said. 

Feb 21 1996 (Reuter) - The European Union will agree next week to put five million European currency
units ($6.3 million) into a project to help North Korea convert its nuclear programme to peaceful uses,
diplomats said on Wednesday. "The money is not in question," one EU diplomat said. "What is still open is
the technical details of the EU's participation in KEDO." Diplomats said France wanted the money tied to
North Korea being obliged not only to dismantle its dirty nuclear facilities but also to buy "clean" European
technology -- particularly from France.  

Feb 21 1996 (Reuter) - France's nuclear agency has said that radioactive waste produced by underground
nuclear tests in the South Pacific was equivalent to only one cubic metre of waste produced by a
reprocessing plant.  Jacques Bouchard, head of the military branch of the Atomic Energy Commission
(CEA), told the defence committee of the National Assembly (lower house) on Tuesday the blasts had no
geological effect.   But many environmental groups are concerned that the atolls and surrounding waters
have been contaminated, arguing that radioactivity leaks out over time.

Feb 21 1996 (Reuter) - A controversial shipment of nuclear fuel rods from Germany arrived without
incident early on Wednesday at the Paks nuclear power station in south-central Hungary, government and
plant officials said. The train bearing the 235 fuel rods sparked protests by Greenpeace and other
environmental organisations when it departed from a shut-down power plant in Greifswald, eastern
Germany. No protests were reported in Hungary.  Opponents say it is irresponsible to keep operating the
Paks plant, since it is the same Soviet-built type as the Greifswald plant, which was shut down for safety
reasons after German unification.