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MONT SAINT-MICHEL: ENCOURAGING AND WORRYING NEWS
may 21
Europa Nostra and the French heritage community are monitoring very closely developments which threaten the safeguard of the integrity of the World Heritage Site of Mont Saint-Michel. One small victory was won concerning the wind turbines project in Argouges. After months of protests, the Prefet finally decided to withraw the permission which was granted for the construction of these three giant wind turbines. While congratulating the Prefet on this decion, Europa Nostra and its members in France remain vigilant on other wind turbines projects in the co-visibility of the Mont Saint-Michel.
Another serious concern is caused by some aspects of the on-going project which has as its aim to restore the maritime character of the Mont Saint-Michel. The French Ministry of the Interior proposes, for security reasons, some building works which would disfigure the integrity of the site. The entire French heritage community, supported by Europa Nostra, is opposing this proposal. Europa Nostra's Executive President, Denis de Kergorlay, has sent letters both to the French Minister of Culture, Frédéric Mittérand, and to the World Heritage Centre in UNESCO, drawing their attention to this serious problem.
UNESCO is about to publish its own report on the Mont Saint-Michel case in the course of June. This report will be discussed during the forthcoming annual session of the World Heritage Committee in Saint-Petersbourg (24/06 - 6/07). Europa Nostra was granted an observer status at this meeting and will be represented bt Denis de Kergorlay, Executive President, and Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, Secretary General.
DOCUMENTS
Letter to the French Minister of Culture