Saturday, October 28, 1995


   CANBERRA, Oct 28 (Reuter) -- Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating
strongly criticised on Saturday France's third nuclear test in the South
Pacific and said France's international reputation would be seriously
damaged.
   "France continues to seriously damage its international reputation by
its actions in the face of world opinion," Keating said in a statement.
   France set off the third in a series of nuclear tests in the South
Pacific at Mururoa atoll at 2200 GMT on Friday.  The strength of the
blast was described as under 60 kilotonnes, or 60,000 tonnes of TNT.
   Keating said the test flew in the face of the French government's
recent announcement that it would sign the Protocols of the South
Pacific Nuclear Free Zone (SPNFZ) Treaty.
   "It further brings into question the sincerity of France's commitment
to the security of the region and its environment," Keating said.
   "The French government should draw the logical conclusion from its
intention to sign the SPNFZ Protocols and end its tests now," he said.
   An army spokesman in Paris said there were a further three blasts to
go before the end of the controversial testing.
   Australia has been at the forefront of world opposition to the
programme, pushing an anti-nuclear resolution in the United Nations,
lodging a string of diplomatic protests with Paris and barring France
from bidding for a lucrative defence contract.
   Keating said on Saturday Australia would continue to pursue the
campaign until France stops testing.
   "Continued testing has triggered powerful reactions around the world
that reinforce the view that security based on nuclear weapons is
unsustainable in the longer term," he said.
   The U.N. General Assembly was scheduled in coming weeks to consider a
resolution calling for an immediate end to all nuclear testing, Keating
said.
   "France must acknowledge the force of this resolution and the fact
that it represents world opinion," he said.
   "To continue testing would be an affront to the wishes of the
international community as well as the South Pacific."