- silence

- The struggle against the oil pollution in the Mediterranean Sea is the topic of a symposium in Calvi under the aegis of the Twin Cities International Federation.

- This initiative taken by the Union of Mediterranean Towns presided by Naples’ Mayor, Sir Valensi,

- allowed to gather around the same table oilmen and the representatives of the bordering populations of the Mediterranean Sea.

- For Xavier Colonna, the importance of this symposium is above all to be found at the level of the impact it will have in any case on the public.

- It is necessary that the bordering populations of the Mediterranean Sea become aware of the danger that threatens this sea around which we live and through which we live.

- So it is very important that people were aware and I think that it is the main aim of today and tomorrow’s meeting.

- So you will look for solutions to fight against pollution and as a fact what is important is that you invited here the oilmen who are the first ones to be concerned.

- It is obvious that the oilmen are able to give us the needed information.

- And then we will see with them what the efficient measures to take to avoid pollution at least as I said before to limit its effects are.

- And don’t you think Sir that the struggle of a town bureau of the towns of the Mediterranean Sea against multinational oil companies is quite an unfair struggle?

- Of course not, because if at governments’ level there are various considerations at stake and that may not permit a consensus,

- it is quite obvious that at the towns’ level we truly represent the populations

- and when the populations feel concerned they can react and you know that when popular opinion react

- then often the governments are thus compelled to take those reactions into account. And it is the purpose of today’s symposium.

- During this first day of debates, the drilling projects offshore the Corsican Cape were also dealt with.

- As we know, a permit was granted to the French companies. This offshore research method creates vivid reactions, Doctor Bombard’s for instance:

- I received great words from the Norwegian Minister for Environment when we talked about Ekofisk:

- she said that oil would last for 30 to 50 years, well, we will for sure make a lot of money within 30 or 50 years but after that everything will be dead.

- And we wish that fish would last forever. So it would be necessary that men stopped being a character

- who sees his life short-sighted and that they watched further away, for their children and their grand children. Well, for the children and the grand children my answer to oil is a no.