Breizh - France pressed on language Charter

Celtic league - Press information

Breizh - France pressed on language Charter

This weekend marks the beginning of an important and exciting week ahead for the Breton language movement.

Today (Saturday 3rd May) is the end of “Ar Redadeg”, the three day sponsored run for Diwan - the Breton language education organisation - and also the 30th anniversary of the movement itself. This is followed on Wednesday (7th May 2008) by the first ever debate to take place in the French Parliament on the topic of 'regional' languages in the French state.

As reported recently in Celtic news, the Celtic League received a reply from the French Ministère Culture et Communication on 6th March 2008, to the League's letter about the possibility of France ratifying the Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The Ministère replied that even though the Charter's provisions were against the Constitution, the Minister of Justice had committed herself on behalf of the government, to set up a parliamentary debate on the question of 'regional' languages.

The debate however has been a long time coming and while the French have refused to recognise, protect or promote any of its 'regional' languages, languages like Breton have been suffering. The French state has given minuscule financial support to Breton education over the last 30 years and Diwan has had to rely heavily on charitable events like “Ar Redadeg” to make ends meet within the organisation. As is pointed out time and again, if France was an ascension EU state it wouldn't be allowed to become a member without severely reforming its laws concerning its state languages and peoples. Its poor EU human rights record in this area is comparable only to the Greek state.

Nevertheless, the French Parliamentary debate comes at an opportune time when the Breton language is receiving relatively large scale publicity as a result of these two important events this weekend.

The Kernow Branch of the Celtic League has sponsored a couple of 'Ar Redadeg' runners who both attend Diwan schools and will be running today. Riwana attends the lise (upper school) in Karaez and Talwyn attends the skolaj (secondary school) in Ar Releg Kerhuon near Brest and are family relations of a Kernow Branch member.

The Celtic League have written once again the Ministère Culture et Communication expressing our continuing concerns (see below) :

Christine Albanel Ministre de la Culture et de la Communication 3, rue de Valois 75100 Paris

Dear Christine Albanel

Breton language

Many thanks for you letter, dated 6th March 2008 and the news that a French Parliamentary debate will take place for the first time on the topic of languages in the French state, on 7th May 2008.

The Celtic League was encouraged to learn of this development, especially during the UN Year of International Languages and believe that a debate on this issue, at this time, is at least a minimum requirement. In your letter of 6th March, you say that :

‹‹ During the debate about the ratification of the Lisbon treaty, last January, some MPs presented some amendments aiming at the legal recognition of France's regional languages. These amendments were voted against. ››

Could you please clarify if those MP who voted against the above mentioned amendments were French and are you able to highlight what those amendments were ? In addition, if the MP's who voted against the above mentioned amendments were French, can you tell us if the Minister of Justice was in support of those amendments ?

We look forward to a lively debate later this week and hope that this marks the beginning of a new French governmental approach towards the human and linguistic rights of the peoples of the French state.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary