FIRST PRINCIPLE: “CERN must be open to scientists from all nations, irrespective of their system of government.”
This principle embedded a spirit of tolerance and freedom of thought at CERN, which was the essential key to facilitating open global collaboration, free from partisan ideology. SECOND PRINCIPLE: “CERN must be financed by public money, independent of private interests.” “Each Member State will contribute a percentage of its national budget.” This principle allowed us to work in the general interest of Europe. THIRD PRINCIPLE:
“CERN's seat will be in Switzerland, a small and neutral country at the geographic heart of Europe.”
Had the Organization been based in one of the formerly warring nations, sooner or later the spirit of national interest would have prevailed. FOURTH PRINCIPLE:
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