[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 12 (Monday, March 25, 1996)]
[Page 544]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Joint Statement by France, United Kingdom, and the United States on the 
South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty

March 22, 1996

    The governments of the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great 
Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America will sign 
on Monday, March 25, 1996 the three additional protocols to the South 
Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, which is also known as the Treaty of 
Rarotonga.
    Last year's NPT Review and Extension Conference agreed that 
internationally recognized nuclear weapon free zones, based on 
arrangements freely arrived at among the states of the region concerned, 
enhance international peace and security. The Conference also agreed 
that the cooperation of all the nuclear weapon states and their respect 
and support for the relevant protocols is necessary for the maximum 
effectiveness of such zones and the relevant protocols.
    Our decision to sign the protocols to the Treaty of Rarotonga 
demonstrates our clear support for a nuclear weapon free zone in the 
South Pacific.
    It is also an important further milestone in demonstrating our 
commitment to nuclear nonproliferation.
    It underlines our wish to see a permanent end to nuclear testing 
throughout the world. It will give a further boost to the negotiations 
for a comprehensive test ban treaty, which we believe should be 
completed in the first half of 1996.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this statement.