Official, France:

CNES Press - Communiqué

PARIS, September 28, 2005
CP 075 - 2005

A STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE FOLLOW-UP OF THE ACTIVITIES
RELATED TO THE UNIDENTIFIED AIR AND SPACE PHENOMENA

To supervise and control the activity of follow-up of the Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena (UAP) and a policy of information in this field, it was decided to constitute a Steering committee of which the first meeting was held on September 22, 2005 at the CNES.

The activity of the CNES concerning the Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena is threefold:

• the collection, typing and archiving of the reports in order to maintain and to manage a database (CNES activity),
• the analysis of this information by calling correspondents in the related fields and disciplines,
• the communication to the interested public, the publication of periodic reports and the management of the access to the files.

The Steering committee, chaired by Mr. Yves Sillard, formerly General Manager of the CNES, formerly General Delegate for the Armament, is made up of:

• representatives of the CNES: the Deputy Manager of the Center of Toulouse, the Director of the External Communication, Education and Public affairs, the responsible of mission for the ethical matters,
• representatives of the organizations with which the CNES collaborates in this field: the National Gendarmerie, the National Police force, the Air Force, the Civil Safety, the Civil aviation, the National Weather service,
• researchers invited by the President of the CNES in agreement with the President of the Steering committee.

At its first meeting, the Committee recommended the installation or the reactualization of agreements between the CNES and the partners Organizations. It underlined the need for a transparent policy and recommended the creation of an Internet website with the online publication of available information, in the respect of the current legislation.

The Steering committee will meet as much as needed and at least twice per annum on convocation by its President. The person in charge at CNES as of UAP activity will submit an annual status report to the Steering committee as well as a progress report twice a year. CNES will forward the annual review article to its supervisions accompanied by the presentations and recommendations by the steering committee.

Contact for the Press : Sandra LALY, tel. 01 44 76 77 32 - 06 08 48 39 31