NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE Last weeks Russian incursion around western Ireland and towards Cornwall seems to have generated a wave of unusual air activity over the country ? this report update from Michael Chappell: ?Following on from publicity generated by Celtic News release number 4187 dated 21st February, 2015 which reported that the Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League had written to the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, requesting further information on the Russian Federation Tupolev Tu 95 incident over or near Cornwall during Wednesday 18th February, 2015, the Branch has been in receipt of three communications from unrelated members of the public. One of these reports came via the Celtic League website, one by email to the Branch and the other via the Branch Facebook account. All contained new witness reports of low flying United States F15 fighter aircraft over various parts of Cornwall at the same time as the Tupolev Tu95 incident and two of an RAF Voyager tanker refuelling aircraft operating at low level over Cornwall in conjunction with U.S. aircraft. It would appear that there may be far more to these reports than immediately apparent and with one of the roles of the Celtic League being the monitoring of military activity in as much as it affects the Celtic Nations which form its membership, and bearing in mind the dangers of low flying by military aircraft and the high levels of accidents arising from it, the Branch has again written to the Secretary of State seeking clarification. The Director of Information of the Celtic League has also written to the Russian Federation Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Alexander Yakovenko, urging compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation?s guidance on such matters and asking that the Russian Federation (and others) respect the Celtic Nation?s belief in peaceful and non militarised co existence. The Kernow Branch thanks those who have taken the time and trouble to report their sightings. The Branch?s latest letter is below: ?Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Secretary of State for Defence, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA 23rd February, 2015 Dear Secretary of State Incident involving Russian Federation military aircraft off the coast of Cornwall during Wednesday 18th February, 2015 Reference: a. letter Cornwall Branch Celtic League dd. 21st February, 2015 b. letter Director of Information Celtic League to Russian Federation Ambassador to the United Kingdom dd. 19thFebruary, 2015 I write to you further to our earlier letter of 21stInst. with further enquiries arising from the above mentioned military incident and following the receipt by our NGO of three further communications from unrelated members of the public in Cornwall. All contained witness reports of various numbers of low flying United States F15 fighter aircraft over Cornwall at the time of the Tupolev Tu95 incident and two of an RAF Voyager tanker refuelling aircraft operating at low level over Cornwall in conjunction with U.S. aircraft. Low flying operations over populated areas are dangerous and with witnesses describing an RAF Voyager refuelling aircraft operating at very low level, our concerns are raised. We are already aware of an accident involving an RAF Voyager and others involving various military aircraft. We seek your confirmation or denial of these military flying operations and with the well reported fact that Russian Federation aircraft being pursued by RAF Typhoon fighters appears concurrent and indeed in the same locale as these latest sightings, we ask for your assurances that Cornwall's busy skies and crossing international air routes as well as the population below are safe. Yours faithfully, Cllr. Michael J Chappell Caderyor - An Kesunyans Keltek Scoren Gernewek Convener ? The Cornish Branch of the Celtic League (e) kernow [at] celticleague.net (w) (voir le site) References: Celtic League News Items (voir le site) (voir le site) J B Moffatt (Mr) Director of Information 23/02/15 (Please note that replies to correspondence received by the League and posted on CL News are usually scanned hard copies. Obviously every effort is made to ensure the scanning process is accurate but sometimes errors do occur). ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues Internet site at: (voir le site) (voir le site)