Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 08:54:22 -0500
 
     March 25, 1996 (Reuter) - France, Britain and the United
States signed the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty on
Monday, agreeing to ban nuclear weapons from the region. In a
simple signing ceremony in the Fijian capital, representatives
of the three nuclear powers put their long-sought signatures
to the 11-year-old treaty, joining other declared nuclear
powers Russia and China.


     March 25, 1996 (Reuter) - Japan praised the signing by
France, Britain and the United States of a treaty banning
nuclear tests in the South  Pacific.
The treaty, which prohibits tests, production, deployment and
procurement of nuclear weapons in the South Pacific and also
bans nuclear waste dumping in the South Pacific Ocean, was
originally introduced in 1985 in a bid to prevent French
nuclear tests and to stop Japan from dumping nuclear waste in
the area.


     March 25, 1996 (Reuter) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jim
Bolger hailed France's signature on a South Pacific
nuclear-free treaty, saying it paved the way for a gradual
improvement in rocky relations with Paris. In time, a freeze
on military procurement from France would also be removed, he
said.


     March 25, 1996 (Reuter) - South Korea welcomed the
signing by the United States, Britain and France of a treaty
banning the nuclear tests in the South Pacific.


     March 25, 1996 (Reuter) - Australian Prime Minister John
Howard welcomed the signing by three Western nuclear powers of
the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty. Howard said he
particularly welcomed France's intention to close testing
facilities, except those needed for environmental monitoring,
and to support a study on atomic test effects.


     March 26, 1996 (Reuter) - French enthusiasm for nuclear
power dimmed last year an opinion poll showed. The BVA survey,
commissioned by the French nuclear industry, said those
wanting to shut atomic power plants grew to 19 percent from 12
in 1994. In 1995, the number of French voters wanting to
continue building new nuclear plants fell to nine percent from
11 in 1994 while those saying that France instead keep on
operating existing plants dipped to 67 percent from 71.