DATE=10/24/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-187377
TITLE=E-U / TESTS  (L ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN FRASER
DATELINE=BRUSSELS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION SAYS IT BELIEVES THE 
CONTROVERSIAL FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC ARE SAFE.
AS JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYS IT 
WILL BE TAKING NO ACTION TO TRY TO PREVENT FURTHER EXPLOSIONS. 

TEXT:  EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER REVEALED THE 
RESULTS OF A HIGHLY-CHARGED MEETING OF HIS COMMISSION TEAM IN A 
STATEMENT TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT.

HE SAID AFTER SEVERAL REQUESTS, HE HAS BEEN GIVEN ENOUGH 
INFORMATION BY THE FRENCH TO ASSESS WHETHER THE TESTS POSE A 
DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH.  

MR. SANTER, SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, TOLD THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT HE IS SATISFIED THERE IS NO SERIOUS RISK.

                       /// ACT SANTER ///

         THE ANALYSIS OF THE VOLUME OF INFORMATION AND ALSO THE 
         EXPERTS' REPORTS, WHO WERE IN SITU, WE BELIEVE THAT 
         THESE TESTS DO NOT GIVE RISE TO A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO 
         WORKERS IN THE POPULATION, GIVEN THE PARTICULAR 
         CIRCUMSTANCE IN WHICH THEY TOOK PLACE.

                        /// END  ACT ///

PRESIDENT SANTER SAID THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION PLANS TO CONTINUE 
ITS MONITORING OF THE TEST SITES -- TO KEEP TRACK OF RADIATION 
LEVELS.  

HIS STATEMENT PROVOKED AN ANGRY RESPONSE FROM THE SOCIALIST 
LEADER IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, PAULINE GREEN.  SHE SAID THE 
CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE TESTS WILL CONTINUE.  SHE SAID SHE WAS NOT 
SURPRISED INFORMATION FROM PARIS SUGGESTS THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT
RISK FROM RADIATION, BUT SHE QUESTIONED WHETHER THE FRENCH 
INFORMATION IS TO BE BELIEVED.

/// OPT ///  SHE ALSO NOTED TWO TESTS TOOK PLACE BEFORE PRESIDENT
CHIRAC DISCLOSED TO THE EUROPEAN UNION ALL THE NECESSARY 
INFORMATION THAT HAD BEEN REQUESTED IN JUNE.  SHE SAID GETTING 
INFORMATION FROM PARIS IS LIKE EXTRACTING A BAD TOOTH.   /// END 
OPT /// 

MRS. GREEN ACCUSED THE FRENCH OF RISKING THE HEALTH AND DAMAGING 
THE ECONOMIES OF THE COUNTRIES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC REGION.  SHE 
SAID SHE HAS DEEP SYMPATHY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION.

                        /// ACT GREEN ///

         PEOPLE WHO DEEPLY RESENT THIS LATE 20TH CENTURY 
         COLONIALISM, AND WHO HAVE BEEN SHAMED BY THEIR INABILITY
         TO PREVENT THEIR PERSONAL SPACE BEING USED IN SUCH A 
         FASHION BY A FAR OFF POWER.  AND PRESIDENT, WE SHARE 
         THAT SHAME, BECAUSE WE TOO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PREVENT 
         ONE OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION FROM BEHAVING 
         WITH SUCH DISDAIN AND DISRESPECT.  (APPLAUSE)

         ///  OPT  ///  AND I RETURN PRESIDENT TO WHAT I SAID IN 
         JULY AND SEPTEMBER IN THIS HOUSE ON BEHALF OF THE 
         SOCIALIST GROUP.  OUR CRITERIA IS NOT WHETHER THESE 
         TESTS ARE SAFE OR NOT.  WE BELIEVE THESE TESTS ARE 
         UNWANTED AND UNNECESSARY.  WE ARE OPPOSED TO THEM IN 
         PRINCIPLE.  FOR US THE CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT THEM WILL 
         CONTINUE BOTH IN THIS HOUSE AND POLITICALLY OUTSIDE OF 
         IT.  /// END OPT ///

                         /// END ACT ///

IF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAD FOUND THE FRENCH FAILED TO ABIDE 
BY THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER EUROPEAN LAW, THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT 
COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN BEFORE THE EUROPEAN COURT.  AS IT IS, THE 
ISSUE HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN LAID TO REST.  ( SIGNED)

NEB/JF/JWH/RAE

24-Oct-95 8:58 AM EDT (1258 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.