Joint Media Release
Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer Minister
for Veterans' Affairs Danna Vale
11 March 2002
Australia must be consulted on airport's war graves impact
The Australian Government would expect full consultation from France
on plans for a new international airport in the Somme that might force
the relocation of Australian war graves.
The French Government late last year announced plans to explore the
development of a third international airport for Paris, at Chaulnes
in the Somme. While initial proposals did not affect any cemeteries
containing Australian war graves, authorities have now proposed nominating
an enlarged zone to facilitate public consultation on the final choice
of a site.
As many as eight Commonwealth cemeteries may be affected, three
of which contain the remains of 61 of Australia's war dead. These
are the Fouquescourt British Cemetery, the Bouchoir New British Cemetery
and the World War II Meharicourt Communal Cemetery.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission will hold a meeting on 13
March in London to discuss the latest proposals for the third Paris
airport. At this meeting, our High Commissioner to Britain, Michael
L'Estrange, who represents Australia on the Commission, will register
the Australian people's deep concern about any development that would
impact upon the graves of Australia's war dead.
Our Ambassador to France, William Fisher, will also register Australia's
concerns with French authorities in Paris, stressing our strong desire
that the graves be left undisturbed and our expectation of full consultation.
We recognise that France must balance the preservation of her wartime
heritage against the country's infrastructure needs.
However, these graves are the resting places of men who died for
freedom. Among them are the comrades of surviving Australian diggers
who 80 years later were decorated by France with the Legion of Honour
for their service on the Western Front.
Any development on the battlefields of the Western Front raises the
possibility that unmarked graves might also be uncovered.
This is not an unusual occurrence and procedures have been developed
to identify fallen soldiers and move their remains to a war cemetery.
We would wish France to ensure that the remains of any Australian
found in an unmarked grave would be treated with all the respect and
reverence due to one of our war dead.
Media inquiries: Rachael Thompson (02) 6277 7820
Matt Francis (02) 6277 7500
Local Date:
Tuesday, 22-May-2012 06:46:58 EST
