ITER Organization and Monaco launch Partnership Program
Wednesday, 16 January 2008, the ITER Director General Kaname Ikeda and his Excellency, the Minister of the Principality of Monaco, Monsieur Jean Paul Proust signed a Partnership Arrangement including a contribution by the Principality of 5.5 Million Euro for a ten year period. The donation will be used to set up five Postdoctoral Fellowships and to establish an annual International Conference on ITER related research. The Arrangement was signed in the Ministerial Palace in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II.
The Principality of Monaco is deeply committed to protecting the environment and to encourage sustainable development which is testified by the existence of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The Foundation is a very active and dedicated Organization that promotes the vulnerability of the earth's ecosystem with sound words and - if necessary - striking actions: In April 2006 His Serene Highness Prince Albert II undertook a voyage to the North Pole in order to draw the maximum public attention to the consequences of global warming, particularly in the North Pole, and pay tribute to his great-great grandfather, Prince Albert I, the founder of modern oceanography.
DG Kaname Ikeda, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II and his Excellency, the Minister of the Principality of Monaco, Monsieur Jean Paul Proust after the signature.
As such it comes to no surprise that the only two square kilometer measuring but economically and technologically most prosperous Principality has expressed its interest in the ITER project as for the stakes it holds: "Needless to say, the challenge of protecting our environment and implementing measures to enable natural resources to be protected, extends far beyond the borders of each country", Prince Albert II writes on his website: "By definition, this is a common global challenge [...] This situation compels each one of us to take action if we want to protect the planet for future generations. Rest assured of my personal and unfailing commitment towards achieving this goal."
