[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 149 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 149

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the recent announcement by 
     the Republic of France that it intends to conduct a series of 
 underground nuclear test explosions despite the current international 
                     moratorium on nuclear testing.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                July 12 (legislative day, July 10), 1995

Mr. Akaka submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

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                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the recent announcement by 
     the Republic of France that it intends to conduct a series of 
 underground nuclear test explosions despite the current international 
                     moratorium on nuclear testing.
Whereas the President of France stated on June 13, 1995, that the Republic of 
        France plans to conduct 8 nuclear test explosions over the next several 
        months;
Whereas the United States, France, Russia, and Great Britain have observed a 
        moratorium on nuclear testing since 1992;
Whereas a resumption of testing by the Republic of France could result in the 
        disintegration of the current testing moratorium and a renewal of 
        underground testing by other nuclear weapon states;
Whereas a resumption of nuclear testing raises serious environmental and health 
        concerns;
Whereas the United Nations Conference on Disarmament presently is meeting in 
        Geneva, Switzerland, for the purpose of negotiating a Comprehensive 
        Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which would halt permanently the 
        practice of conducting nuclear test explosions; and
Whereas the announcement by the President of France severely undermines the 
        efforts of the international community to conclude a CTBT by 1996, a 
        goal endorsed by 175 nations, including France and the United States, at 
        the recently completed NPT Extension and Review Conference (the 
        conference for the extension and review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation 
        Treaty): Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the Republic of 
France should abide by the current international moratorium on nuclear 
test explosions, refrain from proceeding with its announced intention 
of conducting a series of nuclear tests in advance of a Comprehensive 
Test Ban Treaty, and initiate preparations to close its underground 
test sites at the Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls.
                                 <all>