The Community of Ariane Cities meets in French Guiana
An important delegation of mayors of European cities with industries working in the Ariane programme visited French Guiana to participate in the Mayor’s Council and the General Assembly of the Community of Ariane Cities that met on 14 October 2004.
On 13 October delegates were able to visit Europe’s Spaceport. This allowed them to fully appreciate how the efforts of their citizens working on the Ariane Programme all come together when an Ariane launcher lifts off. Fernando Doblas, ESA’s representative in French Guiana, welcomed the delegation from the Community of Ariane Cities (CVA) on behalf of ESA, CNES and Arianespace and escorted them round the site.
In the morning of 14 October, the delegation participated in a Conference on the subject of “French Guiana in the context of the European Space Transportation”. In addition to the delegation of European mayors, representatives of ESA, CNES, Arianespace and EADS-ST working at the CSG, as well as local authorities, also took part. During the conference participants were able to discuss at length the perspectives for French Guiana in the evolution of the launcher sector and the space sector in general.
During the CVA General Assembly that took place in the afternoon, Mr Henning Scherf, Mayor of Bremen and President of the CVA, handed over the presidency of the association to Mr Jaume Oliveiras, representing Mr J. Clos, the Mayor of Barcelona. The city of Barcelona will be hold the presidency of the CVA for the next two years.
The CVA is an Association of European cities hosting Ariane industries. Its objective is to contribute to the economic, cultural and pedagogic development of the cities and their citizens, to ensure cooperation among them in cultural, industrial, technological, commercial and tourist issues, to valorise space activity, and to promote the image and the know how present in their respective cities. Major space industries are also members of the CVA of which ESA is an honorary member.
