Labour promises signature - action awaited
French renague on language promise

Language Charter that Labour should ratify

A call for the UK Labour government to ratify the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages has been made.

 It was pointed out that in September of last year, Chris Smith MP had written to League members saying "I have now heard back from Robin Cook, but you will be pleased to know the Labour Party are in full support of this Charter".

 Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook are now to be requested by the League's General Secretary to honour their pledge and sign up to the 23 Article Charter.

 Last year the Celtic League attacked French President Jacques Chirac for reneging on a pledge to commit France to the Charter made whilst on a tour of Brittany and Breton delegates to the AGM urged that any British ratification should also be used to renew pressure on France (see below).

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Ruling blow to Breton Language - 22-02-97

Chirac accused of reneging on promises made to ratify Languages Charter

 Language campaigners and intellectuals have expressed dismay at the decision of France's senior judicial body, the Conseil d'Etat. It has ruled that the French constitution was incompatible with the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.

 The charter was passed in Strasbourg in November 1992 and states, "that the protection and promotion of regional and minority languages in the different countries and regions of Europe represents an important contribution to the building of diversity".

 The Conseil d'Etat, which is made up of political appointees from all parties, has argued that the 1992 constitution of France states that "the language of the republic is French" and therefore signing the charter, which would provide the many minority languages with both active and financial support, is incompatible.

 The latest move has drawn criticism of French President Jacques Chirac who when pressed recently on the issue of ratification said, "C'est dans la poche" (It's in the bag). Now he is accused of reneging on promises made when he visited Quimper last year and expressed his wish that France should fall into line with other European countries in recognising minority languages.

 Corsicans, Alsatians and Basques all have their own languages, but the Bretons are likely to be particularly incensed because the Breton language during the past decade has enjoyed a positive renaissance and this latest move is sure to reinforce divisions between the French and Bretons. The centre-right MP for Finistere has already gone on the record saying that the decision "stresses the inability of France to respect her own minorities".

 The General Council of the Celtic League will be issuing a protest to the French government over the ruling, and National branches in Cornwall, Wales, Ireland, Mann and Scotland will be asked to voice protest and also seek support from language groups. The issue will also feature on the agenda of the Celtic League AGM, which is to be held in Wales this summer.

 J. B. Moffatt, General Secretary, Celtic League.