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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release October 1, 1995

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Today, France conducted an underground nuclear test at the Fangataufa test site in the South Pacific. The United States regrets this action.

All of the nuclear weapon states agreed at the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review and Extension Conference in New York in May 1995 to exercise "utmost restraint" in nuclear testing pending the entry into force of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). We continue to urge all of the nuclear powers, including France, to refrain from further nuclear tests and to join in a global moratorium as we work to complete and sign a CTBT in 1996. In this regard, we take note of President Chirac's strong commitment to sign a CTBT banning all nuclear tests regardless of level no later than the fall of 1996.

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