Exclusive interview with Christian Patria
Paris, 9 December 2007, Paris Horse Show
President of the CENECA (Centre National des Expositions ... Concours Agricoles)
President of the International Agricultural Show
President of the Paris Horse Show
PCN : The Brigitte Bardot Foundation was registered as an exhibitor but has been excluded from the 2007 Paris Horse Show before the opening. Can you explain why?
CP : The Brigitte Bardot Foundation has been coming to the Show on a regular basis for several years, and it focused on the maltreatment of animals including horses. That was the way it was. This year, ten days before the opening of the Show, I discovered on the website that the Foundation was calling on visitors to the Horse Show to come to their stand to sign a petition against the consumption of horsemeat. My prime reasoning is that I respect the freedom of expression and the point of view of the Foundation, but I cannot have an opinion on this subject, as far as the Show is concerned. The Horse Show is a place for conviviality where people come to enjoy themselves, not a place for confrontations. There is a stand for associations. Basically, let's say that I didn't want there to be any quarrels. There are those who are anti-horsemeat and then breeders who breed horses for meat. I consider that the Show is not the best place for such a confrontation. I therefore took a decision, and it was mine alone as President. I sent a bailiff to the Brigitte Bardot Foundation. The Foundation took me to court, there was a hearing and on the Friday on the eve of the opening, and at 5.30 pm the judgement was announced, confirming my position.
