Commission to start dialogue on the future Nantes airport – but expects it will be difficult

Date added: 20 December, 2012

After a week of sometimes violent clashes between opponents and police on the site of the future airport, near Nantes, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced on November 24 the creation of a commission, which will begin its hearings this Friday in Nantes. The hearings will continue till March 2013, and its report will take the form of proposals to the Prime Minister that will be made public. The commission will be chaired by Claude Chéreau – an experienced negotiator. ACIPA, the main opponents, have not yet agreed to take part, but can decide to do so over the next few months. They need as a prerequisite for their cooperation with the commission in early 2013 “the withdrawal of police forces from the area,” they need them to “stop evictions and destruction” and especially they want “a written confirmation that it is indeed possible to without restriction tackle substantive issues of the case.” The group that plans to build the airport, Airports Great West (AGO), a subsidiary of Vinci, say the talks cannot question the airport project.


 

Future airport: the dialogue commission begins hearings this Friday

 december 20, 2012
  • Claude Chéreau chairs the Committee on dialogue. The official, former adviser to François Mitterrand, is a specialist in international negotiations.

    Claude Chéreau chairs the Committee on dialogue. The official, former adviser to François Mitterrand, is a specialist in international negotiations.

     

 Appointed in late November by the Prime Minister, to appease the violence in Notre-Dame-des-Landes, the Committee begins its hearings dialogue in Nantes on Friday. “Our mission? Whether dialogue is possible, to try to ensure that the “pros” and “cons” are better understood, “ explains Claude Chéreau.
This senior official, an expert on agricultural issues and international negotiations, chairs this committee. “We are neutral, he says. . We will meet anyone who wishes “ until mid-March, Nantes, Paris, and even at Notre-Dame-des-Landes “if security is assured.”
The report will be given to the Prime Minister by the end of March. It will be public.  For now, the coordination opponents refuse the invitation of the Committee as the law and order forces remain on the occupied airport site.  The Anti-airport campaigners also pose as a condition to cessation of  the destruction and expulsion.
“If opponents do not come, it could be a failure, admits Claude Chéreau. We want facilitators of dialogue. But I’m not saying this will be a magic wand. “ During the work of the commission, destruction and expulsion appear to be suspended. “It does not facilitate the dialogue. It is necessary to have favourable conditions, “  Claude Chéreau recognizes. The occupants of the huts/cabins at Notre-Dame-des-Landes, therefore have obtained a stay until the end of March 2013
The original French:
Nommée fin novembre par le Premier ministre, pour apaiser les violences à Notre-Dame-des-Landes, la commission du dialogue débute ses auditions, à Nantes, ce vendredi. « Notre mission ? Voir si le dialogue est possible, essayer de faire en sorte que les « pour » et les « contre » se comprennent mieux », explique Claude Chéreau. Ce haut fonctionnaire, spécialiste des questions agricoles et négociations internationales, préside cette commission. « Nous sommes neutres,précise-t-il. Nous rencontrerons tous ceux qui le souhaiteront »,jusqu’à la mi-mars, à Nantes, à Paris, et même à Notre-Dame-des-Landes« si la sécurité est assurée ».
 
Le rapport sera rendu fin mars au Premier ministre. Il sera public. Pour l’instant, la coordination des opposants refuse l’invitation de la commission tant que les forces de l’ordre restent sur le site. Les anti-aéroport posent également comme condition l’arrêt des destructions et expulsions.
« Si les opposants ne viennent pas, ça pourrait être un échec, avoue Claude Chéreau. On se veut des facilitateurs du dialogue. Mais je ne dis pas que cela va se faire d’un coup de baguette magique. » Pendant le travail de la commission, les destructions et expulsions semblent suspendues. « Ça ne faciliterait pas le dialogue. Il faut l’entourer de conditions favorables »,reconnaît Claude Chéreau. Les occupants des cabanes, à Notre-Dame-des-Landes, obtiennent donc un sursis jusqu’à fin mars.

 

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Dialogue on the future Nantes airport will be difficult

20.12.2012 (Reuters)

  • Protesters and security forces on the site planned for the future airport of Nantes, Notre-Dame-des-Landes. The Chairman of the Committee for dialogue on the future airport Notre-Dame-des-Landes said Thursday that he did not intend to "converge all opinions" on this project, which is in strong opposition on the ground . / Picture taken December 12 2012/REUTERS/Stephane Mahé

    Reuters – Protesters and police at the site planned for the future airport of Nantes, Notre-Dame-des-Landes. The Chairman of the Committee for dialogue on the future airport Notre-Dame-des-Landes  announced on Thursday that he did not intend to “converge all opinions” on this project, which is in strong opposition on the ground. / Picture taken December 12

NANTES (Reuters) – The chairman of the commission for dialogue on the future airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes said  on Thursday that  he did not intend to “converge all opinions” on this project that elicits strong opposition on the ground.

After a week of sometimes violent clashes between opponents and police on the site of the future airport, near Nantes, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced on November 24 the creation of this committee, which will begin its hearings this Friday  in Nantes.

“We’re neutral and we will not discuss the technical issues at these hearings,” said its president, Claude Chéreau, during a press conference, noting that technical issues fell within the agricultural committee and the scientific committee equally created by government.

The hearings will continue until the end of March 2013 and the report will take the form of proposals to the Prime Minister.

“We’re here to see if it is possible to talk, not to converge all opinions. That we can not do” said Claude Chéreau.

Possible expulsion of opponents who are illegally installed in cabins on the perimeter of the future airport  does”not facilitate dialogue,” he agreed.

The ACIPA, the main opponents of the association, held on Tuesday, “the conditions are not met for a first meeting to take place.”

The association requires as a prerequisite for a possible interview with the commission in early 2013 “the withdrawal of police forces from the area,” “stop evictions and destruction” and especially “a written confirmation that it is indeed possible to without restriction tackle substantive issues of the case. “

The group Airports Great West (AGO), a subsidiary of Vinci and the project proponent, had welcomed the creation of this commission.

“The citizens’ associations have refused to meet us, despite our invitations to dialogue. Policy of the empty chair has its limits. Participation in this dialogue commission, this is the ultimate outstretched hand, the additional opportunity for different local actors, to comment, “he explained.

“On the other hand,  it is clear that the subject of the work does not question the airport project.”

http://fr.news.yahoo.com/le-dialogue-sur-le-futur-a%C3%A9roport-nantes-sannonce-184651297–finance.html

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Posted: Thursday, December 20th, 2012. Filed in News about Airports, Recent News.