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  • Manufacturing | Recent milestones in Russia

    Russia continues to deliver in-kind components to the ITER project according to procurement arrangements signed with the ITER Organization. Some recent manufact [...]

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    Satellite cleanliness engineering will help protect the ITER tokamak from construction contamination. When the ITER vacuum team realized that the level of const [...]

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    The detrimental effects of plasma disruptions are a major concern for ITER and all next-generation fusion devices. Experts from all over the world met early thi [...]

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  • Images of the Week | Strengthening cooperation with China

    ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi made a diplomatic trip to China last week to represent the ITER Project at multiple high-level meetings. On Thursday 5 S [...]

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Of Interest

See archived entries

ITER NEWSLINE -

Former French Prime Minister

A fan then and now

For Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France (2002-2005) who visited ITER on Friday 15 March, touring the ITER installation with ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi and Deputy-Director-General and Chief Scientist Alain Bécoulet held special significance. Twenty years earlier the veteran politician had played a key role in the negotiations that led to Europe's 2003 proposal to host ITER in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance/Cadarache, in southern France, and—in the following years—to the ITER Members' unanimous decision, in the summer of 2005, to accept Europe's proposal.

Guided by ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi and Deputy-Director-General and Chief Scientist Alain Bécoulet, former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin toured the ITER worksite on Friday 15 March. He was accompanied by former Finance and Commerce Minister, Yves Galland; former Members of Parliament Pierre Lequiller and Marc Laffineur; and diplomatic consultant Xavier Lebray and their spouses. (Click to view larger version...)
Guided by ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi and Deputy-Director-General and Chief Scientist Alain Bécoulet, former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin toured the ITER worksite on Friday 15 March. He was accompanied by former Finance and Commerce Minister, Yves Galland; former Members of Parliament Pierre Lequiller and Marc Laffineur; and diplomatic consultant Xavier Lebray and their spouses.
On 17 November 2003, a few days before Europe's bid, Raffarin had come to Cadarache, accompanied his Research Minister, former astronaut Claudie Haigneré, who was also an ardent proponent of ITER. He addressed the scientific teams at Tore Supra (now WEST) by saying "ITER is a new frontier" in humankind's quest for energy. "It's the energy of the 21st century," added Haigneré. Both pledged to do their best in support of the project.

As he toured the worksite last Friday, former Prime Minister Raffarin showed a deep understanding of what is at stake with ITER and fusion in terms of long-term development for humankind. He also praised the unique nature of the ITER international collaboration. Being well aware of the challenges the project is currently facing, he strongly encouraged the ITER management and staff to pursue their efforts. 

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