Chirac Expected to Tackle Asbestos Issue

Article Added February 14th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

French President Jacques Chirac walked into a messy legal standoff on Tuesday when he began preparations to visit India. The asbestos-laden Clemenceau is expected to be forefront in discussions when he arrives.

The decommissioned warship is still anchored outside Indian waters, since the country’s top courts have banned the ship from entering until a final decision has been reached regarding the scrapping of the boat. The Alang scrap yard would be the site of the ship being broken down if the council will allow the Clemenceau entrance. France had declared that the ship contained 45 tons of asbestos only in order to keep the ship afloat. Ecologist say the ship holds ten times that amount, and poses a health hazard to ill equipped Indian yard workers.

The 1991 Gulf War veteran has been drifting from one port to another over the last two years in an attempt to find a ship yard that would scrap it. A spokesman for the French president has noted that, due to the amount of time already involved, that Chirac will now take direct action. The announcement comes right behind an appeal from Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie to investigate exactly how much of the dangerous material was really on board.

Article Added February 14th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story