France goes all out for D-Day
2004-06-05 11:46
Caen, France - The anniversary events for the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings, involving spectacular displays and heavy security, have left the French government and local authorities with a bill of some €44m ($54m).
The defence ministry, which looks after the interests of war veterans, is spending some €26m on a programme of commemorations that kick off this weekend - 60 years after Allied troops landed in Normandy to free France and eventually all of western Europe from Nazi occupation - and will last until February.
The interior ministry has released €7m to spend on security at the events, with government officials emphasising the need to prepare for any eventuality, including a terrorist strike.
The deployment of police and gendarmes in Normandy during the three days of ceremonies to remember the landings is costing the ministry €2.4m. A special security centre set up in the city of Caen is costing €1m.
"The aim is to allow the largest possible number of people to take part in the commemoration of the landings in complete security," said French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie.
"We need therefore a complete deployment, in the air, on the sea and on the ground, which will allow us to face every situation," she added.
Overall, government ministries are spending at least €36m on the anniversary events, while local authorities are shelling out €8m.
Local authorities have had to fork out €3.3m on repairing and improving roads around some of the most important sites, such as the British cemetery in Bayeux and the Pegasus Bridge.
The authorities in the Calvados region are spending almost one million euros on cultural and educational events, such as exhibitions and concerts.
The regional council for the Lower Normandy region had set a budget of €2.5m for the commemorations, but this has already been overshot by 48% and it is now expecting to spend €3.7m.
This money is being spent on various grants and assistance, part of which is going to the Normandy memorial association which is responsible for the 80 days of events in the region.