WELLINGTON, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- France has committed 80 million U.S. dollars to rehabilitate French Polynesian atoll of Hao, a key military base during the 20 years of nuclear weapons testing in the South Pacific.
An agreement on France's assistance was signed between the French High Commissioner in Papeete, Adolphe Colrat, the French Polynesian vice-president, Jules Ienfa, and the Mayor of Hao, the Pacnews reported on Monday.
Colrat said the clean-up will take seven years and marked a financial commitment by France 10 times bigger than what has been dispersed on Hao so far.
France quit its nuclear weapons testing regime in 1996 but continued to face complaints by veterans for failing to compensate those who suffered poor health because of exposure to the blasts.