newsitems

*Struthof/EM/ACM/- Contemporary European Values' Fight against Barbary, which strikes first like Cowards against Fragile People, is Necessary also Today, both in the form of Memory denouncing atrocious and often Deadly technocratic "Tests" on Human persons notoriously practiced at certain former NAZI Camps, as well as, nowadays, from War threats at Ukraine in the North, until Africa etc. in the South of Europe, mainly with ISIL BeHeaders' horrible Terrorism, Traffic of illegal Immigrabts being drowned in the Mediterranean, etc., stressed in substance French President Francois Hollande, after Inaugurating a Gas Chamber Memorial at the Nazweiler/Struthof's former NAZI Concentration Camp, together with EU Parliament's President Martin Shultz from Germany, and PanEuropean COE's Secretary General Thornbjorn Jagland from Norway, as well as European Council's President Donald Tusk, former Polish Prime Minister, and Laimdota Straujuma, Latvia's Prime Minister and current EU Council's Chairwoman, in the presence of many former Prisoners' Families, at the European Centre of Resistants/Deportees, inaugurated since 2005 by former President Jacques Chirac, (See "EuroFora" co-founder's Press Report from the spot, published then at "TCWeekly").

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"Tests" on Human persons  :
(+ Comp. Infra).
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    The well-known No 1 particularity of Struthof NAZi Camp's, Gas Chamber, "established here not for Mass Killings, as f.ex. in Auchwitz, but for Monstruous Experimentations", was clearly denounced by the French President, from the outset, (given also its Wider interest, vis a vis manifold spreading Medical Tests on Human persons, including even on Genetics).

²    - "Initially opened, according to Historians, in  order to "Test" Gas Masks on Deported People. Afterwards, since 1943, a Maverick Scientists of then Strasbourg's University wished to use it for a Collection of Sceletons..  That's why 86 Jews were brought here from other NAZI Concentration Camps and Executed. Their bodies were transfered to the Anatomy Department of Strasbourg University's Medical School, at an UnderGround area, where they remained until the End of 1944, when NAZI made Disappear a part, Afraid of the Allies' troops' advance", but "the rest were found, and are Today burried at Cronenbourg's cemetery", Hollande noted. More generaly, "Atrocities beyond any Imagination were committed here" : F.ex. "Gas was administered to Roma and to Homosexuals at more and more heavy quantities, and 4 of them Died after these operations".

    - "We must Not Forget", but, on the Contrary, "Establish the Factsn, Identify the Butchers (Killers), Find the Victims' Names", he stressed, as a matter of General Principle in such kind of Serious Crimes.

    But, alone, "the Memory of the Past does not protect us from Worse" Threats However, "it's only by Knowing this, that we can Face it Today. AntiSemitism and/or Racism are still present, Today, and, therefore, we must act in order to Protect those who could fall, Today too, as Victims", Hollande concluded in a special Statement made in front of the recently restored Gas Chamber of Struthof NAZI Camp.

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    These Atrocities were committed in the Past in  Europe, by Europeans, Hollande pointed out, explaining by that fact why he had exceptionaly wished for the Representatives of the Institutions due to protect nowadays' European Values to be symbolicaly present.

    To a pre-existing placard citting 86 Jews killed there, Hollande added now also 4 Roma, and Homosexuals - "52.000 Deported People from all Nationalities crossed this Camp", but "only 30.000 Survived", he reminded.

    - "During 72 Years now, Deported People who escaped Remind to HumanKind its Duty for Memory , Commitment and Solidarity".  They also Warn us, for our Fragilities, our Weaknesses, .. They Warn us about the Danger which Threatens us, if we Forget what happened here".

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    - "Struthof, a Wonderful Landscape, there where, before the War, Strasbourg's People came to spend a time of Calm, but which became Hell for Thousands of Deported People", later-on, Hollande observed, (apparently inspired also by a famous Painting of Struthof by a Norwegian former prisoner).

    - "Before the War, Struthof was a Hostel, at the foothil of Skiing pistes", "But, Germans, after the 2nd World War, searched to establish a Camp in order to Exploit the Vosges' Mountains' Rose Granit".

    - At first, from 1941, Struthof hosted German Deportees, received from other NAZI Concentration Camps, of  which Germany was full, already since 1933" At the West, Camps were an important tool for War Economy, by offering a Servile Workin Force, constantly renewed. Eastwards, they had been transformed in vast Factories of Death, in order to realize, as Fast as possible, Hitle's project of Genocide", he denounced.

    - "A Majority of Struthof"s Deportees were Partisans, Resistants, Committed People, from more than 30 Countries, mostly Polish, Russians, Hungarians, Norwegians, and French", from 15.000 until 6.000, (but also 462 Belgians and 424 Luxemburgians, 277 Slovenians and 244 Serbs, 205 Greeks, 7 Turks, 1 American, etc, according to the official ECRD's Statistics ), "including 13 Young People from Alsace Region, who were Executed on 1943, for Refusing to be enrolled by Force" into Hitler's Army, eh added.

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+ "Missing" Persons :
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     + "Among the Deportees were also those who were known as "Night and Fog", ("Nacht und Nebel" in German Language), "who wear the 2 Letters : "N. N." : Those were destinated for a Slow but Certain Death, by Exhaustion, under Brutal treatments, and in the outmost Isolation", the French President denounced. "This Status of "Night and Fog", was invented since 1941" already, "when the Occupying forces wanted to Deprive the Resistance from its Heroes : They wouldn't Execute them, but rather make them Disappear for Ever, in the Darkness of  (NAZI) Camps" :

- "Is it possible to imagine a Treatment Revealing more than that what is a Barbary ?", he wondered, speaking of the Tragdy of "MISSING" Persons and their Families, that CoE's Committee of Ministers is due to Review on June 2015 in Strasbourg, in the famous case of some 1.500 Greek Cypriots gone "Missing" since the 1974 Turkish Military Invasion and Occupation, without any serious Information being given to their Families about what realy Happened to them, and who is responsible fofr that, in Violation of several important European Human Rights' Convention's articles, (f.ex. on protecting Human Life, against "Inhuman/Degrading Treatments", Private/Family Life, Personal Liberty, Fair Trial, etc).

    - "An unavoidable Death, which would inexorably came when the vital Human forces could no more sustain Life" : "It's in Memory of those Men, that Struthof hosts the European Centre of Resistants Deported, in order to Remind the Values, the Struggles and the Sacrifices made by those People".

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    - "In Struthof Camp were also those who had not been Deported for their Beliefs : There  were not only Communists, or Democrats, etc., but also those who had been deported Simply for what they were :  -"Yellow Star, Rose or Black Triangle", i.e. "simply because of what they were : Jewish, Roma, Homosexuals", etc. "NAZI served themselves of those Men as if they were Slaves, and even as Guinea Pigs" :

    - "Here, in Struthof, existed a Gas Chamber, but also Torture Rooms, where some Monstruous Experimentations were organized, in order to push, afterwards, those who had suffered that plight, to the hardest punishment" :  - "That's how Science, when it's Deprived of Conscience, when it's perverted by a Barbaric Ideology, can result to Monstruosities and Horrors", the French President denounced, as far as Tests on Human beings are concerned

     -" The Death march started in Trains ; the Deportees were massively thrown (piled up) into  Wagons for Animals, without Water, without Food, without Hygiene, under the constant Pressure of Arms, Beatings, and Insults. Afterwards, they Arrived, they were Separated from eachother, their Hair cut, their Name replaced by a Number, a Letter, a Triangle, a Sign, that's what they had become, in order to Show that they had been Inflicted a Degradation. Afterwards, came the Deprivations, the Humiliations, the Punishments, the Hangings :  - "The Dead floated over the (NAZI Concentration) Camp, as the Smoke which escaped from the Gas Chamber" and/or "the Crematorium". .. "And it's inside a Pit for Dirty Waters, that the Nazi threw the Cenders of those who had been Killed" ; "It's, from now on, the most Sacred area"...

    - "The Evil which stroke here, did'nt come from far away, not from the Exterior : It had been born in Euirope, in a Continent which pretended to hold a Civilisation", he denounced.

    - "The Killers had a Culture : They liked Music, Literature, respected Nature, but Killed without any Mercy, without Regrets, without remorse, in the name of an Ideology of Extermination. That's how (even) a Civilisation can Fall into a Barbary", he warned, (speaking, obviously, about the Technical, and Not Moral, nor Ethical aspects).

     => - "From the Horror of such (NAZI) Camps, was born a Word : - "Genocide", in order to name that Crazy Ambition to Eliminate an entire Population because of its Origins : We must Name everything, but also give a sense to words :  A Genocide isn't a Massacre as any other : A Massacre can be Ignominius, a Crime against Humanity. But a Genocide is the Extermination, the Elimination of a Population. because of its Origins, because of its Religion, because of its Color", (etc).

    That's the Meaning of the Word : - "Genocide", he concluded. - "It's not the First to be committed, here, during the 2nd World War, nor the Last", the French President observed, speaking just 2 Days after the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

    - "But the Internatioal Community wished to Name the Unspeakable :      A new Legal concept was created : "Crime against Humanity", the committed Crimes becoming without Prescription. A special Court was created in order to Condemn those found Guilty, which now is the International Criminal Court".

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     - "However this progres did not spare the World from experencing even other such Atrocities.. Under UNO auspices, it's true, several Massacres and/or Wars were avoided, Conflicts Settled, Killers Judged, (etc),

    >>> - "Nevertheless, the Evil didn't disappear.. It takes other forms : Barbary has No Color, No Nationality, has No Religion : Barbary exists when Innocent People are Aggressed. Barbary     is when Attacks are committed against the most Fragile People, those who Think Otherwise than the Barbarians, who don't Think anymore....", the French President underlined, obviously pointing at ISIL's Extremist Islamist Terrorist BeHeaders, (who have notoriously Killed, recently, even innocent and defenseless Civilian Populations, including Poor Migrant Workers, etc).   

         
    => So that, placed "in Front of Barbary, we have the Duty to Act", he stressed. - "But we must Act before it becomes Too Late", Hollande warned.

    F.ex., "That's what France did, when it intervened at Mali, in order to push back the Terrorists, who wanted to subordinate this Country. That's also what it did, in another way, together with UNO, in Central Africa, in order to prevent another Bloodbath. And that's what France does, since last February (2015), inside the International Force in order to Fight Daesh's (ISIL)Terrorists, because France, which experienced Horrors, must always be taking Initiatives", in that sense.

    - "The 1st Message that Deportees adresse us, is to do everything, so that "Nothing can be Forgotten", so that Nothing could Start again ; That's the Meaning of this commemoration : It's not just in order to Remind the Martyr, the Stress and the Pains. It's also in order to ensure that Next Generations will take over this Message, the Message of those who escaped, the Message that we Transmit Today".

    -"Moreover, those who escaped, Remind us why Europe was buil, the Day After the Apocalypse : A Deportee of Buchenwald used to say that he had become European inside the (NAZI Concentration) Camp : Because it was there that the Abomination had been experienced in Europe, that it's there that Peace should be established, and that the Union of all Peoples, those which had declared War to eachother, should be realized there".

 -    - "It's this Query which founded, a first, the CoE, with ECHR, Strasbourg's Court : Because Human Rights had been trampled underfoot, an Institution was needed, from now on, in Europe, in order to Protect them", he reminded. But, "on 1949, CoE had 10 Member" States, while "it has, Today, 47, linked by Geography, but all United together also by the Values that they have in common...  It was roughly 25 Years ago, that the Principles of Democracy, of Liberty, of Fundamental Values, weren't guaranteed in more than Half of Europe's Countries", (before the Fall of Berlin's Wall). And "that's why we wished, not only to Found the EU, but also to Enlarge it, allowing it to Welcome New Member Countries. EU wasn't founded just for a Market, for a Currency only. But also for Peace, Progres, Solidarity. Europe has not yet achieved all its Aims, but it allowed, at least, Peace, and has also ensured Democracy".

    - "That's why Europe remains a Hope, for a lot of People, a point of Reference, for many others".  F.ex., "I know, Mr. President of (EU) Council, what Europe represents for you", Hollande said to former Polish Prime Minister Tusk, "and you, Mrs Prime Minister, what Memories you have from a Period of the Past", he added for Latvia's Straujuma, "while Today, you ensure EU's Chairmanship". Thus, "Today, it's someone from Poland and Latvia who assume the Responsibilities of EU, together with a German : What a Symbol !", he exclamed.

    - "But, at the same time, our Task hasn't yet been entirely achieved : It still remains to ensure also Progres and Solidarity", the French President pointed out critically. "There are also (Human) Rights, that we must Continue to push Forward, and, finaly, there is always Peace, which still remains Fragile">.

    => - "Eastwards, Everything must be done in order to Settle the Ukranian Crisis, in order to find a Sustainable Solution", he stressed.

    + "But we (EU) have also a Responsibility towards the South : Europe attracts many unfortunate People of this World. Those who are Persecuted, Seek to find a Refuge. Those who are Hungry, hope to Feed their Family. We don't have the Right to turn our Eyes elsewhere, when, along our Sea Coasts, some Horrible Dramas unfold, as it happened Last Week in the Mediterranean. These Tragedies remind us that Europe remains Promissing in the Eyes of a great part of the World. We can't abandon those Poor People at the Merci of Criminals who Exploit them, Traffick them, Drown them.

We must Fight against Traffickers, strengthen links with Countries of Origin, allow Development, reinfroce Monitoring, Rescue, but also of Deterrence, accelerate the Treatment procedure for those who ask for Asylum, without allowing, no more, for a Clandestine Population to be established in our Countries : Europe's Borders must be respected : It's our Duty to ensure that. But Europe must remain Faithful to its Values".

    - "What Deported People Dreamed for, amidst their Sufferings, was that, in the Nightmare that their Lives had become, from that Distress, that Hell,  ... Hope emerges Victorious !", the French President pointed out.

    - "That Huge  Arrow made of Rock, over Struthof's Baracks, reminds those Sufferings of the Martyrs of Camps. But it's also a Call for Human Dignity. A Call for Liberty. For Hope".

    - "And it's precisely because in Europe, the Worrst was made possible, that we have the overrriding Duty to Build, We, Europeans, a Better World, so that out of those Sufferings can be born Hope, for which we all have the Duty to Care"

    "Houra for France, Europe and Peace !", he concluded

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/(Partly Updated)/- It's at the Centennial of the 1st Genocide of Modern Times, that of Armenian People by the Ottoman Turk Military (1915 - 2015), that the Turkish Government curiously chose to launch a Provocative Claim upon former Ottoman-Turk Empire's legacy, instead of Hidding, as it used to do in the Past, its Responsibilities behind the Hasty Mutation of the ruins of an incompletely Demolished, Decaying former Ottoman-Turk Empire into a Hasty Makeshift and Shaky Imitation of a so called "Nation"-State, artificially imposed over Dozens of Multi-National  with Less than 1 sole Century of Existence, in an area Cripled by the Armenian and the Greek Pontian and Asian Minor, as well as the Kurdish Genocides, (etc), up to the recent rise of the Deadly and Destructive Extremist Islamist Terrorism of ISIL, throughout Turkey's Borders towards Syria and Iraq, etc.

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But, curiously, that Turkish move came as CoE and others had started to call, on the contrary, to Fight against Negationism, in this and othet similar cases, in order both to do elementary Justice to the Victims and their Families and Friends, but also to Prevent any New Crimes against Humanity in the foreseable Future, (See Infra).

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A Huge Exhibition claiming that the former Ottoman-Turc Empire would have always provided "Safe Heaven" to any persecuted People or Minorities, Never doing the slightest harm to any threatened Nation, was set up, at the last  minute, despite Protests, inside the CoE and even right in front of an Armenian Exhibition full of Press Reports and other Historic Documents which had denounced from the start the Armenian Genocide, precisely this week of the Centenial Anniversary of that 1st Genocide of the Modern period...

+ Moreover, even other Controversial and obviously Dangerous Today claims, (as, f.ex., that recent developments around Turkish borders to Iraq and Syria would have created, in fact,  "One Area", and that Turkey may "respect International Borders", but céould Bypass them whenever Ankara might find that "Human Rights are violated" :An obviously Spicy claim, particularly coming from the No 1 culprit in CoE's list of recidivists with a Record-High number of ECHR's Judgments frequently and repeatedly violated...),  emerged through that Strange and provocative Turkish Exhibition, (including, f.ex., on paper, as well as in Videos picturing mainly Statements attributed to new Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Davutoglou, etc).

(Turkish Negationist Propaganda, inside CoE, +at Armenian Genocide's 100th Anniversary)

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COE Assembly : Negationism Hinders to Prevent Future Crimes against Humanity !
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But, at the same moment, CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly decided to clearly "condemn" the "Armenian Genocide", during which, "1,500,000 Armenians perished as a result of this Hideous Crime perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire", according to a Written Declaration signed Yesterday, Thursday, in Strasbourg (23 April 2013) by a strong Majority of more than 200 MEPs, (which would obviously has been even Wider if Russian MEPs hads participated in this Session), i.e. almost an astonishing 2/3 Majority of PACE's 318 official Members !

 - Moreover, "Deeply Deploring Attempts at the .. Denial" of such "Crimes against Humanity and Genocide", CoE Assembly's Majority Declaration of 2015, also Denounces the Fact that "the Absence of Unequivocal and Timely Condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, largely contributed to the Failure to Prevent Future Crimes against Humanity, such as the Holocaust and Other Genocides", as it Warned for the "Centennial of the Armenian Genocide", "24 April 2015",

while Turkey notoriously persists into Denying having committed any such Genocide, despite its official Recognition by more than 26 Countries throughout the Globe, (together with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Assemblies) until Today, the US Congres, the Permanent People's Tribunal, EU Parliament and CoE's Parliamentary Assembly, Mercosur, UNO's Commission on prevention of Discrimination and protection of Minorities, the Grand Rabbin of Israel, the Vatican, etc.

- But, on the Contrary, "Prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity should be amongst our Priorities", because "Early prevention of such crimes can surely Stop the escalation of Conflicts, Tragedies and humanitarian Catastrophes", CoE Assembly's Majority stressed Now. And, in this regard, "the CoE has an important Role to play within the international efforts in contributing to the Prevention of Crimes against Humanity".

=> Therefore, CoE "should Encourage its Member States (as, f.ex. Turkey, etc) to come to terms with Their own Past and prepare grounds for future reconciliation between peoples", the 2/3 of the PanEuropean Organisation's Parliamentary Assembly's Members believe, while also pointing out, from the ouitset, the fact that, as a matter of Principle, "Genocide is an Unconceivable Crime for a society which is founded on tolerance and protection of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms", as all CoE's Member Countries should do, the 2015 CoE Assembly Declaration points out, while also "paying Tribute to the Memory of Innocent Victims", shortly before the New EU Parliament, as it has been issued from the May 2014 EU Elections, is due to Debate and Vote, for the 1st Time in its 5-Years-long mandate (2014-2019) on a comprehensive Report and Resolution concerning Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, (which has, meanwhile, been exceptionaly Delayed and Postponed this Year, towards May 2015, at least)...

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>>> As Armenian Ambassador, Permanent Representative at the CoE, Armen Papikyan, told "EuroFora", on this occasion, "initially, we (Armenians) throught that this Genocide was just a Great Tragedy for our Nation. But, Afterwards, it became obvious  that this was also a matter for several other Nations, and Humankind in general, since Other Genocides and/or Crimes against Humanity, were committed, as long as a Total Impunity remained for the Armenian Genocide"... At least an elementary "Justice", is, therefore, needed, he concluded.

    => That's one reason more, for which, Today, at the Centennial Anniversary of the 1st Genocide in Modern Times, the Armenian Community calls, more than ever, for "Truth and Justice", at last, to prevail, as also the Experienced President of Strasbourg's Region Alsace's Association of Friendship with Armenia, the Franco-Armenian Pierre Zouloumian, who is traditionaly Heading the relevant Collective Events here, stressed in Conclusion of his Speech at Republic Square's Monument of the Dead, earlier Today.

    + Thus, it's also the Head of nearby German City of Kehl's Armenian Community, Hayik Parlar, who, speaking later to "EuroFora", pointed particularly at the fact that in his Speech at the Downtown "FriedenKirche" gathering, he reminded the well-known fact that Hitler had reportedly ordered the Jewish Holocaust after observing that "Nobody even Remembered" then, "the Armenians", massacrated by the Ottoman-Turks earlier. 

Thus, Today, the Armeno-German local Community's Head, welcomed and Thanked German President Gauck's famous recent Statement, for all those, more or less Responsible for the Armenian Genocide, to recognize it at least now, as he noted, applauded on this Topical point, by a Mixte, German-Armenian audience.

    ++ Even "Other Christians were also Exterminated", already since 1915-1920, such as "500.000 Assyro-Chaldeans-Syriacs and 350.000 Greeks", denounced Pierre Zouloumian in Strasbourg, in this regard, "Followed by the Kurds  : Initialy Manipulated in order to execute orders for the extermination of Armenians, they were, later-on, them too, Massively Deported and pushed to Death, with Hundreds of Thousands of Kurdish Victims". But, "pursuiing its Deadly job, the (Turkish) Kemalist Laic Republic Massacrated as well as the former Governments of Sultans and "Young Turks", with the "Fire of (Ancient, overMillenary Greek City of) Smyrne, on 1922, and the Mass Killing of the Greek and Armenian Populations by Mustafa Kemal's troops is an example", he reminded, inter alia.

    - NB => In France and elsewhere, particularly throughout Europe, including inside the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, i.e. the CoE, various Converging Calls to Act against Negationism of the 1st Genocide of the Modern er were launched recently, often pointing even explicitly towards a 2012 French Law, adopted by a crystal-clear Majority by Paris' National Assembly, which had established penal Sanctions for such Negationism, but was Blocked by a Majority in the controversial Constitutional Court of the country, whose composition depends mainly to the President of the Republic on duty each time, who may seriously Modify the Composition of the Court by Unilateraly  Appointing whoever he likes, without any consideration to preserve at least an elementary Political Balance, neither to Respect a Tradition of People's Democratic Votes, (since even all 3 Members who  had a Right to participate, as former Presidents of  France : Valery Giscard d'Estain, Jacques Chirac, and Nicolas Sarkozy, had, meanwhile,  all been incited, in one way or another, to Exceptionaly Stop taking part to that Court's collective Decisions, some even Challenging openly its allegedly "Partisan" line, in certain cases felt and denounced as Scandalously one-sided politically, (as it was notoriously stressed f.ex. in 2013-2014)...

    - In fact, "the Criminal Filiation established between the former Ottoman Empire, the "Young Turks"' Government and Kemal's Republic, made Necessary, in order to protect the Turkish State, to Disguish, Dissimulate, and Deny the Crime, permanently :
    - That's why, "the Turkish State practices an Official Negationism, since the years 1980" (of the Military putch) at least, reminded Today Pierre Zouloumian at the Strasbourg's gathering : F.ex., "on May 2001, a Government Decree creates a "Coordination Council for the Struggle against Genocide Assertions", giving, thus, an Official dimension to the State's Negationism. On April 2003, a Circular of the Turkish Ministry of National Education asks ... to organize Exams in which the Students must Deny the Extermination of Armenians, Assyro-Chaldeans, and Pontian Greeks at the Beginning of the 20th Century".  More Recently, "on 2014, a Special Committee is created by the Turkish Prime Minister in order to Counter Revendications to Recognise the Armenian Genocide", and "its activities are taken over by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign affairs, ... and even that of European affairs !", he pointed out. Moreover, "on 2014, a Universitarian from Izmir (former Smyrne, for Thousands of years), asks from his Students to prepare a Text Proving that there wasn't any Genocide ever committed against Armenians". Almost at the Same Time, "Polls made in Adana's Schools, reveal that 70% among 800 Professors and 1066 Students, Christian Minorities, including Armenians, Greeks, and also Jewish, are "Ennemies" of Turkey or play a "Negative" role", while, even at SchoolBooks, the Christians, and particularly the Armenians, are presented to the Students as Traitors"...

- "Why, 100 years later, the Reactions of the Turkish State are they so Vivid and try to Deny the Crime ?", he wondered.  - "Without any doubt, it's because the Criminal Filiation ... (with the former Ottoman Empire) has been really Extended until the Current Neo-Ottoman-Islamic Government" in Ankara, President Pierre Zulumian noted, speaking in DownTown Strasbourg, the Same Week of the 100th Anniversary since the Armenian Genocide of 1915,  that, at the CoE, the Turkish Delegation set up on April 2015 that incredible Exhibition about the former Ottoman Empire, claiming that it was a .. "Safe Heaven" for all Oppressed People and Minorities, who would have been always Protected and Treated Well by the Sultans (sic !), without any exception a    t all, (naturally "Forgetting" even to Mention the Armenians, the Greeks, the Kurds, the Assyrians, etc, as mainstream British Conservative MEP James Clappison, President of CoE Assembly's Legal and Human Rights Committee, observed critically, speaking to "EuroFora").

    - But, "after the Murder of our People, should we let them Suffer a Second Murder now through (Turkish) Negationism" Today ? "Will France admit even, the Violence exerted against French Citizens commemorating the Genocide, the Death Threats, the Degradation and Profanation of Monuments ?", meanwhile, President Pierre Zulumian wondered in his Speech. F.ex. "on March 2015, the Memorial for the Armenian Genocide in Lyon, faced another Aggression : The sculpture was Covered by Graffiti with Insults", he denounced, inter alia, reminding also, f.ex. that, already, back during the latest, 2012 French Presidential Elections, the <<Talat Pacha>> Committee, named after that <<Turkish Himmler>> (notoriously accused to be a main instingator of Armenians' Mass Killings, Deadly "Tests", etc) could  Demonstrate in Paris against a French Law" (which, then, condemned Negationism with Sanctions) : "an Obscenity", as he said, as well as, already "on April 2012, in front of 10.000 Fanatic Militants, at Metz, the Leader of the Nationalist Turkish Movement MHP (Far Right, often considered as Extremists), launched again a Negationist speech, Attacking that French Law, something Scandalous", while, almost at the same time, Local "Press gave a Tribune to an Association at Mulhouse which identified itself with the Criminal Organisation of "Gray Wolves" (Extremist Turkish Group, often accused also of Violence, etc), added to Interventions, "f.ex. by an Turkish Association at Mulhouse, on Spring of 2012, pressing to Prohibit Teaching about the Armenian Genocide, despite the fact that it's included at the French National Education Programs", etc, are "Distressing" incidents, he denounced.

    => "Negationism" is not an Opinion, but a Crime, against which we must Fight, because it's the Prolongement of a Genocide-like behavior. ... The (French) Law which imposed Sanctions against Negations of all Genocides, and was Voted by those Elected by the French People, has been Blocked by the Constitutional Court", he denounced. But, there is "Urgency to start Implimenting it, because it will Protect Civic Peace, and will serve the General Interest", by "avoiding to Stop, in France, the Warnings about Risks for Mass Crimes"", President Zulumian warned. "French People succeeded to obtain from their Elected Representatives that Law, which will also Avoid, probably, that a Foreign State can still continue to Impose its own "Law". On the contrary, that French Legislation against Negationism, "it must be Applied firmly, and the Crime will Stop", he concluded.     

    Speaking more Softly, in "FriedenKirhen" at nearby German Kehl City, the newly elected Mayor, the sympathetic Toni Vetrano, went, by another way, towards the Same Direction :  After modestly excusing himself for not knowing yet something special to add on what has been already said on the Armenian Genocide, that President Gauck has just confirmed as Recognized, and, calling all Communities to "Live Together" in one among the most "International" Cities in Europe, as "PolyEthnic" Kehl townlet, near Strasbourg, really is, (including by Hosting many CoE's Officials and Staff, etc), Vetrano reminded the fact that Germany itself has Recognized in the Past the Jewish "Holocaust", and such a move Helped Reconciliation and Peace, in order to, indirectly but surely, advise also Turkey to follow that example of the Biggest EU Country, as far as the Armenian Genocide is concerned.

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" - The 1st" "Great incredible Tragedy" that "Humankind lived through ... the Last (20th) Century", "is that which is generally considered as "the 1st Genocide of the 20th Century" : it stroke against the Armenian People - First Christian Nation - together with the Syrian Catholics and Orthodox, the Assyrians, Chaldeans, the Greeks", Pope Francis strongly declared just a few Days ago, on April 12, 2015, on the occasion of the Centenial of the Armenian Genocide at the Vatican.

But, when new Pope Francis dared name the Armenian Tragedy as the "1st Genocide of the 20th Century", Turkey withdrew its Ambassador from the Vatican, and Mr. Erdogan had some unpleasant, if not insulting words vis a vis the Spiritual Leader of more than 1,3 Billions of People Worldwide, (f.ex. accusing him of "Delirium", etc), while the Italian Police has just reportedly uncovered an Extremist Islamist Terrorist Complot to Attack inter alia also the Pope and various other Targets throughout Italy.

+ A similar row was reportedly provoked also against Austria, from which Turkey withdrew its Ambassador too... In addition, an even much more Negative and gravely Slandering Turkish Reaction, from Ankara's Foreign Ministry, was launched, surprisingly, against Russia, - f.ex. accusing it even for ... so-called "Mass Murders" (sic!), in the Caucasus, Central Asia and Eastern Europe - just because Moscow's Foreign Ministry had simply reiterated Russian President Vladimir Putin's traditional stance for the Armenian Genocide, ... A strabge Fact, which might reveal that Ankara is currently very "Nervous", perhaps  fearing some More possible Moves on the still Open issue of the Turkish Negationism vis a vis the Armenian Genocide, particularly as long as the New EU Parliament, as it has emerged from the May 2014 EU Elections, has not yet pronounced itself on the Exceptionaly Delayed Annual Report about Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid...

Ankara's Government simply reacted, earlier this Month, to another EU Parliament's Resolution on the Armenian Genocide Recognition, by accusing a large Majority of MEPs to abuse of ... "Hate Speech" (sic !)..

++ At the Same Time, French Police arrested another suspect Islamist, reportedly equiped with 4 Arms, amunitions, etc., and having already killed a women allegedly  in order to use her Car in planned Attacks against certain Christian Churchs, these same Days during which the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was more and more present in various Churches throughout Europe, ec. In addition, that suspect, who had suddenly found a lot of Money a few Months ago, allowing him to set up a whole cover-up with a false "University Student" identity, a cosy Room in downtown Paris, a Car and a pretty Pavillon at its Southern Suburbs where he reportedly visited his Girl-Friend, a converted Muslim wearing always a Black "Burka", etc, had just visited and stayed recently, twice, (both at the End of 2014 and on February 2015), in Turkey...

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+ Dardanelles' (alias Galipoli) Campaign
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Turkish President Erdogan made a big Publicity this year for a so-called "Dardanelles" or "Galipoli" battle, (according to the Ancient Greek Names of the area, controlled in the Past by Ancient Troia), which was fought in the Straights from February 1915 until a few Days after the Beginning of the Armenian Genocide (25 April being the Date chosen by Ankara, i.e. the Day After the Genocide's start, with a notorious order to arrest and eliminate at first a list of Armenian Intellecturals, politicians, journalists, scientists, artists, businesmen, etc) :

Indeed, he Refused Armenian President Sargysian's invitation to participate at Yerevan's Centenary Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide under the pretect that, the Next Day, Turkey was going to celebrate its "Galipoli"/"Dardanelles" "victory", as Ankara's regime considers a Battle for the Respect of International Law and Freedom of Navigation at the Straights, which had been triggered at 1915 by Turkey's Blockade of the Access to the Black Sea, followed by Military Attacks against Russia at Odessa and Sebastopol Seaports, in an attempt to practically Destroy the Russian Fleet.

But, in fact, the final result was due rather a beginning of a Division inside the Anglosaxon camp, between those who wanted to pursue the original Plan to pass throughout the Straights until to reach and liberate the over-Millenary (330 - 1.453) former Capital of the Greek Christian Empire of Byzantium ; Constantinople City from  4 Centuries of Ottoman-Turkish Military Invasion and Occupation (1453 - 1915), as, f.ex., both the initial Chief of the European Allies' Naval operation, as well as the then Young British Officer, Baron Keyes of Zeebruge and Dover, (who became later Famous for winning the Zeebruge Battle against NAZI forces from the beginning of the 2nd World War, and had anew, even at 69 Years of age, presented an Innovative Plan to simplify and launch more frrequently Modern Inter-Army integrated operations, which was, unfortunately, shelved again, because it was considered as Too Modern, as world-famous French General De Gaule's own Plans of that period, who knew and appreciated Baron Keyes), and those who wanted to drop it, either entirely, or at least for a moment, until they add also a Terrestrial Landing, later on, which gave Time to Turkey to bring more soldiers and amunitions.

While, just after the first Naval Thrust of the European Allies from Great Britain, France, etc., in fact (according to Baron Keyes and other Officer's views) they had succeeded to Open the Road towards Constantinople, the Turkish Army having been practicaly Neutralized, its Telecommunications Cut and its AmunitionsE Exhausted, a subsequent loss of certain French and English Ships beng rather due to some Mines left by mainly  by a few Turkish Civilians using makeshift Boats and having already run away...

However, on the contrary, a Negative outcome was provoked, as said, mainly by an over-Pessimistic estimation by Other British Officers, and a controversial French Prime Minister of those times, (who served only a Few Months, during which started the 1st World War, the Armenian Genocide, the Galipoli retreat in front of Turkish troops, etc. : i.e. René Viviani, of the "Socialist-Republican Party", which later forged the "Union of Republican Socialists"  including even ... pro-NAZI Marcel Deat and his "NeoSocialists" Collaborationists of the NAZI Occupation, known for his "Totalitarian" political aims, that even Petain hesitated to adopt)...

NB : => If Young Churchill-inspired Dardanelles Campaign has been pursued until its initial aim to liberate Constantinople had been achieved, (as Baron Keyes of Zeebruge and Dover, one of the most innovative British Army Officers, with Experience from China's Boxer War until the 2nd World War, had vainly called for), then, the Armenian Genocide could have been Stopped in 1 Day, and most of Western Europe would have remained United with Russia, since the Strategic, GeoPolitical aim of that Franco-Brittish move was to respond to Turkish Aggression against Odessa and Sebastopol Seaports (at nowadays South-Eastern Ukraine and Crimea) searching to Destroy the Russian Fleet of the Black Sea, which protected the only available then Maritime link of Russia  to the rest of the European Continent.

In other words, we wouldn't have had  neither the Armenian Genocide from 1915-1920, nor the Massacre of Greek overmillenary Civilian Populations of nearby Smyrne and Pontos on 1921-1922, or the Constantinople "Pogroms" of 1955+, the Hanging of elected Prime Minister Menderes (of Ukranian Tatar origin) on 1960 by Turkish Army Putchists, nor the Turkish Military Invasion-Occupation of the Northern part of Cyprus since 1974-2015, the Greco-Turkish Tension undermining for long NATO's Eastern flanc, or the Bloody Kurdish Conflict of 1984-2015, nor the controversial and unpopular Turkish EU-bid of 1999, which provoked 3 "NO" to EuroReferenda in France, the Netherlands and Ireland between 2005-2007, Rejecting EU's Constitution and Delaying the Integration of €uroZone which arrived Unprepared at the 2008-2014 Global Crisis, and probably neither the Deadly and Destructive Ukranian Conflict of Today (2014-2015) !

>>>  Thus, Today, one could say that, in fact, Europeans owe a thousand of "Thanks", to nowadays Turkish President, Mr. Erdogan, for unwillingly Reminiding to Europe, (by Celebrating this year the Galipoli Clash, 1 Day after the Centenary of Armenian Genocide's Start !), that its History could have been much Better, Peaceful, Democratic  and well Developed, if nothing had Hindered at the last minute, the on-going then process of Dissolution of the former Ottoman-Turk Empire, (as it happened also, mutatis-mutandis, in Europe for the Austro-Hongrian, French or British Empires, all dissolved, giving way to the emerging then "Modern" Nation-States everywhere ).

------------------------

*Angelo Marcopolo/- Probably, one of the most Important and far-reaching, concrete Results of Today's exceptional EU Heads of State/Government's Summit in Brussels, is that a "Mandate" was given to EU's High Representative, Federica Mogherini, for International Action on Libya, as German Chancelor, Angie Merkel, pointed out, in replay to Press Questions, which seem to imply a UN SC involvement, and, therefore, necessary deals with USA, Russia and China, etc :
 
In order to efficiently Fight against Mass -Smugglong of irregular Immigrants and/or Asylum Seekers accross the Mediterranean, the German Chancelor was asked if she found necessary to "think about Destroying Smuggling Boats" preventively, probably "with Military means".

- Merkel did not exclude that : - "I have thought about Destruction of Boats", she started to reply, but, adding that she had "also" throught "about Seizure of Assets, Detection of Networks, and other such" means to Fight against Smugglers.

>>> However,  as a matter of General Principle, "for Any kind of Military Action" in Libya, "a Basis on International Law is needed at first", Chancelor Merkel stressed.
=> In this regard, "the existing Possibilities are, basically, Two : Either via a UN Security Council Resolution, or we through a Unified Government in Libya", with which EU could deal, as with all other Transit Countries.

- But, "at Present, Both are Not yet there", she regretted. "That's why the EU High Representative" for External Action, i.e. EU Commission's vice-President, Federica Mogherini, former Foreign Minister of Italy, "has, of course, to take Action, now", Merkel pointed out.

=> For that purpose, "We (EU Summit) have given her a Mandate to explore the field", the German Chancelor concluded.

------------------------------

 >>> Indeed, at the Official collective "Statement" of this Exceptional Brussels' EU Summit, the Heads of State/Government from 28 EU Member States stressed from the outset that, among their "Decisions" in order "to Strengthen our (EU's) Presence at Sea",  and "Fight the Traffickers", as well as "Prevent illegal Migration Flows", is, precisely, to "Actively Support all UN-led efforts towards establishing Government Authority in Libya".

+ Moreover, "we (EU) shall also Step Up efforts to Adresss Conflict and Instability, as key Push Factors of Migration", in general, not only there, but also, "including in Syria", the Official EU Statement added.

=> Naturally, both such Moves need mainly Coordination between EU and USA, as well as Russia, China, and other players among UN SC's 5 Permanent Members, as well as ordinary members, which might allow to forge an adequate Majority for relevant decisions, and that's probably one of the reasons for which Mogherini is due to Start, Next Week, from visiting, after an International event at Ukraine, also the USA, Canada, etc.

------------------------------------------

+ Meanwhile, it's also EU President, former Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, who added, in his Press Statements, that, indeed,  EU "Leaders have asked the High Representative", Federica Mogherini, "to propose Actions in order to Capture and Destroy the Smugglers' Vessels, Before they can be used"

- "Naturally, this will be in line with International Law and respect for Human Rights", and, in parallel "We (EU) will step up co-operation against smuggling Networks by working through "EuroPol", and by deploying immigration Officers to Third CXountries", as he said.

+ But, at the same time, in addition to EU's agreement to "Triple the addition to EU's agreement to "Triple the Resources available to "Triton", our Border mission in the Central Mediterranean, and to Enhance its operational Capability", EU, in parallel, "Needs to Limit irregular migration Flows and to discourage people from putting their lives at risk. This means better Co-operation with the Countries of origin and Transit, Especially the countries around Libya", as Tusk underlined.

------------------------------

In fact, at the "fight against illegal immigration, we all agreed that we need to avoid the Cynical business model of Smuggling", and  "this is obviously not an easy process", because "it involves additional efforts to Pursue the Perpetrators and bring them to Justice, to Destroy the Networks and also to Confiscate the Assets".

Therefore, "we have asked the High Representative to consider Timely how can be arranged a framework of international law for Effective  Action against Smuggling" : "Federica Mogherini will tell us how to do so", Chancelor Merkel explained meanwhile.

+ In addition, through "Cooperation with Countries of Origin and Transit", "We want ... to combat the Causes of Immigration. .....This will ...require additional efforts in Development", and, for that purpose, "we (EU). .. must Speak with the African Union". That's why ... we seek an additional Extraordinary EU-Africa Summit", which might be Hosted by "Malta", she anounced.

In this regard, "of course, the issue of Libya ... plays a role" : . We support all efforts by the UNO in order to get a Libyan Government Unity,  because that would of course make the Cooperation between EU and Libya in the first place once again reasonably Possible", as in the period before 2014-2015, while, "currently,". "We ....have indeed a very Difficult situation", Merkel had warned in her Introductory remarks, from the outset.

-------------------------------

However, Questioned anew about whether "Triton's Area of operation" could be "also Expanded", given, inter alia, also of the Fact that "many  such Ships Crash directy off the Libyan Coast", the German Chancelor appeared very Careful, but didn't, once again, Exclude anything, a priori :

- "We (EU Heads of State/Government) have Not Expanded Today" the operational area of "Triton", but, "we must Certainly Talk anew on this Question", Merkel anounced.

"Moreover, we, (EU Leaders), in the European Council, cannot take Legal Decisions to extend a Mission's area", since "this must be made by the competent EU Council". So, "we didn't yet Discuss that" here, even if "this Issue exists", the German Chancelor concluded, indirectly but surely leaving that matter Open for adequately prepared Talks and, eventually, Decisions, in the foreseable Future.

 
---------------------------

Until now, the various factions active in Libya have been reportedly Negotiating for a Compromise between them, also through frequent Meetings at Morocco, under the auspices of an EU Diplomat experienced in Euro-Mediterranean policy since the Barcelona process.

Back on 2006, during the Lebanon Crisis, former French President Jacques Chirac had achieved at UN level, in cooperation with German Chancelor Merkel on EU level, followed, mutatis-mutandis, on 2011, also by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had managed to get a UN Mandate too, this time for Libya, while both had cultivated, then, Good Relations, not only with the USA, but also with Russia, etc, (given, inter alia, also Sarkozy's famous 2008 move, while France was Chairing the EU, to act rapidly in order to Prevent a Russian - Georgian Conflict, on August 2008.

Now, new French President Francois Hollande and German Chancelor Angie Merkel, have recently Started to Succesfully move to Settle the equivalent issue of Ukraine's Conflict, particularly after the February 2015 Minsk Agreements, at Normandy - 4 format, (France - Germany - Ukraine - Russia), but haven't yet reached, for the moment, a Stage of sustainable Political Solution, particularly while USA-led Sanctions against Russia still persist.

But, given the Mutual Interests for Peace and Stability throughout  Libya's Mediterranean Coasts, where the Dangerous Extremist Islamist Terrorists of ISIL's atrocious BeHeaders have already started to emerge with their Horrible Murders even of Poor Immigrant People, (f.ex. from  Egypt, Kenya, etc), an EU - Russia relevant Deal should, normaly, be possible, (Comp. f.ex. Russian Duma's President's Naryshkin's reply to a relevant "EuroFora"s Question recently, at : ......)

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- The Ukranian conflict's Cost to the detriment  of EU Economy is equal to the Benefit expected from EU Juncker's Investment Plan in Growth, denounced mainstream French MEP, Senator Yves Pozzo di Borgo, during a PanEuropean Debate on recent developments in Ukraine, organized by COE's Parliamentary Assembly during its Spring 2015 Plenary Session Today in Strasbourg.
Experienced OECD's Chief, Angel Guria from Mexico, speaking previously to "EuroFora", had already Warned that, indeed, the Ukranian Conflict hits badly against expected Growth in Europe, that it lowers down, and comes at a very Bad moment vis a vis International  Competition, on the way out of the Global Crisis, so that it must be Urgently  Settled in order not to provoke irreversible Damages to the detriment of the EU, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/oecdheadaskssolutionforukraine.html)

PanEuropean CoE Assembly's mainstream French MEP Pozzo Di Borgo, President of PACE's Committee on Crime and against Terrorism, who is Member of the Biggest Political Group : that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, and is currently CoE's Rapporteur on "the Effectiveness of the European Human Rights Conventon" after "the Brighton Declaration", by CoE's PanEuropean Ministerial Summit in the UK, during the British Chairmansip of the Organisation, had recentky travelled "in the Presidential Airplane of (French) President Hollande, when he went from Astana (Kazakstan) to Moscow", and "witnessed the fact that Hollande and Merkel's action was of Decisive importance in that case", since "the Minsk Agreements allowed for Europeans to retake the Initiative on this issue, which concerns, First of all, mainly the Franco-German couple", "instead of the Americans, who used to interfere rathet too often in this issue which concerns us (Europeans) most", as he said at CoE's Debate Today.

 - "It was High Time for Europe to invest itself, in a Positive and Constructive manner, in such an issue" as the Ukranian conflict, where "most Economists who analyse the Effect of Sanctions against Russia" believe that "Sanctions have Consequences also vis a vis Europe, and particularly on the EU", where "the Growth's Fall, as a Consequence of Sanctions on European Economy, correspond up to 0,2% of the GDP", "which equals what we Hope to get from (New EU  Commission' President, Jean-Claude) Juncker's Plan of 300 Billions € " for the period of 2015-2017, Pozzo Di Porgo revealed...

=>  All "this is Too much Money lost in the wind, which we would Better Save and Give to our Ukranian Friends in order to ReLaunch their Dying Economy", the French MEP suggested as preferable.

+ While, from the Other side, "Economists ....also estimate that Sanctions account for kust 20 to 25% of the Fall in Russia's Economy, the remaining being due rather to Ruble's and Oil's Falls", he added.

>>>  Today, in Ukraine, "CeaseFire is Globaly Respected, even if Tension, unfortunately, didn't disappear". But, "it remains, stilln, to Apply the Political aspects of the Minsk Agreements, and particualrly the Review of the Ukranian Constitution, which seems cumbersome, even if CoE has an important role to play there, in order to Help Ukraine in this path", as he observed.

 ===>>>  But, while awaiting to see what might follow, we must also Start, from now on, a Prospective Thinking, because Europe canNot Limit itself only into doing that" : On the contrary, "the Essential point in Europe's action should be in the Amelioration of its currently Difficult Relations with its Geographic Neighbour, who is Russia", Senator Pozzo di Borgo advised.

 - Because "both are largely InterDependent, mainly in Energy issues, and they have Common Interests, (including, f.ex., on developing Space-related High Tech, on Fighting against Extremist islamist Terrorists of ISIL's atrocious BeHeaders, even of Civilian People, Poor Migrant Workers, etc).

+ Last, but not least, I"m convinced that an Economic Relation between the EU and the Euro-Asiatic Union, is Possible !", outlined in conclusion Di Borgo.

=> Therefore, "our (EU's) approach must be based on an EU - Russia Cooperation, which, I'm sure, presents much More Advantages than the Tension provoked by the Ukranian issue" until recently, the French Senator advised.