OTTAWA — German politicians and members of the public have rejected the Defence Department’s plans to create a military logistics base near Cologne, telling the Canadians they’ll have to go elsewhere.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced with great fanfare last week the decision to locate the small base, known as a support hub, at Germany’s Cologne-Bonn Airport (or as it is called in German, Köln-Bonn). MacKay released the news during a visit to Ottawa by German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere.
But MacKay’s plan came as a complete surprise to the public and local politicians in Germany, who were never consulted, and who are against the move.
“The airport of a major city is not the right location for additional military air traffic,” Cologne Lord Mayor Juergen Roters said.
The Cologne-Bonn Airport is one of the busiest in Germany and locals are against having additional military aircraft operate from there because of the added noise pollution. The airport serves Bonn, Cologne and the surrounding area.
The airport’s management has also rejected hosting the Canadian hub, saying they were surprised by MacKay’s announcement.
A delegation from the Royal Canadian Air Force did visit the airport but officials thought that was connected to the fact the installation serves as an alternative landing site in case of emergencies. The Canadians did not mention the hub.
“With respect to the additional noise exposure, especially during the night times, we reject these plans,“ Michael Garvens, the chairman of the board of the Flughafen Köln/Bonn GmbH, said in a press release the day after MacKay’s announcement.
The Defence Department appears to have been caught off guard by the objections to the hub. It would not comment when asked by the Citizen about the opposition or what its plans are to deal with that.
An email sent by DND public relations official Stefany Chénier said the decision on the operational support hub, or OSH, was made in close consultation with the German government “and with responsible parties.”
The email did not provide details on who those responsible parties were or when such consultations took place.
“The repositioning of the Canadian Forces European OSH to Köln-Bonn was initiated after much consideration and analysis to determine the optimum location for Canada’s European Hub operations,” the email stated. “The decision to move the OSH has been made with the cooperation and consent of the German government, as announced by Minister MacKay and Minister de Maizière on February 14, 2012, and Canada is grateful for the support and hospitality that we have received to date from Germany.”
After European and other news outlets started reporting on the dispute, MacKay’s office issued clarification Wednesday night on the situation. Canada believes it can, and it intends to, use the German military facilities at the airport despite the objections from civilian authorities.
A spokesman with MacKay’s office said Canada has the full support of the German Ministry of Defence to use their military facilities at the airport, and plans to do so as per the announcement made by the two ministers.
Canadian officials have been in contact with the airport’s civilian officials since this past fall to make them aware of Canada’s interest in using the airport’s civilian and military facilities, the spokesman added. “We look forward to having further discussions with them regarding to the use of the civilian facilities,” he noted.
The Cologne-Bonn Airport allows unrestricted night flying but the constant flights have upset residents. A German air force base is also already located at the site.
Garvens, with the airport management, said allowing additional military flights from the Canadians “does not fit into our efforts, to keep the noise exposure of the residents as low as possible.”
Canada already has use of the U.S. Air Base Spangdahlem in Germany, which is located near Bitburg. Politicians from that area have said the Canadians are welcome to stay in their current location.
A German defence ministry spokesman said that it would be up to Canada to sort out the details of a contract for the hub. The DND email did not provide any details on how Canada might do that or whether the hub location will now be changed because of the opposition to it.
In announcing the hub, MacKay noted, “This will ensure that we have the continued logistical flexibility for the Canadian Forces and, just as importantly, it will pave the way for continued co-operation between Canadian and German armed forces.”
He said the hub built on the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
The Canadian Forces hopes to open up similar sites around the world through which it can move supplies and personnel to international missions. Last year it entered into an agreement with Kuwait to allow for the improved movement of Canadian equipment through that country.
Original Article
Source: Ottawa Citizen
Author: David Pugliese
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