Ed Markey: “after exploding six nuclear weapons tests, the French Government has announced an end to its nuclear testing program.…”

“after exploding six nuclear weapons tests, the French Government has announced an end to its nuclear testing program. Last Saturday's explosion, it turns out, was the ``last thermonuclear tango in Paris.'' First, however, France joined China as the only nation to break a nuclear testing moratorium in effect since 1992. Then it was forced to admit that radioactive chemicals from its test site in the South Pacific have leaked into the sea. When President Chirac visits Washington this week, the gentleman from Washington [Mr. McDermott] and I will deliver a letter to the French Government along with several of our House colleagues praising France's decision to stop detonating nuclear test devices. In our letter, we also urge France to permanently close its testing site in the South Pacific and to begin a complete cleanup operation. France's pledge to sign a comprehensive test ban treaty outlawing all nuclear weapons is a good position to take. But France should close its testing site as an act of good faith with the rest of the world.”