newsitems

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking just 1 Day after atrocious Extremist islamist Terrorists of ISIL BeHeaded a Hostage, threatening also another one, while PanEuropean COE decided to debate and vote on the recent Massacre of French Journalists and other Civilians in Paris, the President of Russia's Duma, Serguey Naryshkin, replied to an "EuroFora"s Question on the present Need for  a United PanEuropean Front against such growing Threats, despite various attempts to further Divide and Weaken Europe, (f.ex. by aggravating, instead of solving, the Eastern Ukranian issue, etc) :
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 - "Mr, President, you've just evoked the recent Massacre of French Journalists" by Extremist Islamist Terrorists. "But there are similar incidents and threats also  in other European Countries, (f.ex. Belgium, Germany, Armenian, etc.), up to China, vis a vis Japan, and other places in the World (USA included, as Boston bombing, Hostage-Killing, Djihadists' recruitment, Ferguson and other Threats, clearly indicate). "Don't you thing that the Time has come, for Russia and other European Countries, to Unite Together and define both Security and/or other Measures, f.ex. Cultural, Social, etc., in order to face this Danger, which is imminent ?", "EuroFora" asked Naryshkin.

 - "Indeed, it's High Time for that !", positively replied the President of Russian Duma to "EuroFora"s Question.

 - "The Russian Federation is Ready" to "act together to Defend all those Countries", he confirmed us in conclusion, speaking in a Press Conference at the COE, earlier Today, while PACE's Political affairs Committee was finalizing a Draft Report on the Risks which appeared after "the Terrorist Attacks in Paris", and the need to give "Together", "a Democratic Response", scheduled to be Debated and finaly Voted Tomorrow, Wednesday Morning-Noon.

Earlier, Naryshkin had organized an exceptiona Top level meeting with all Heacs of MEPs' Groups, from the Right to the Left of PACE's political spectrum, including even expefrienced former Presidents, key mainstream MEPs, etc., where, independently of more or less differences in various particular points, all stressed the need for Dialogue focused on searching Solutions to the most serious topical issues throughout all the PanEuropean area. But, in this regard, a specific, practical problem, which can have immense political consequences, spotted by various participants, from Germany up to Italy, etc., is the persisting absence of sufficient PanEuropean Media able and willing to present even those Facts and points of view which are routinely muzzled by traditional established old Media, so that a really well informed PanEuropean Debate can enlighten a Democratic Decision-making process at CoE level. 

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- "If some have nothing better to do than go back to a Cold War against Russia, this means that they don't understand the Gravity of Global issues", particularly "when we see Barbarians of another age who Cut People's Throats in direct at the front of TV cameras !", strongly denounced the experienced former President of France, and currently elected Head of the mainstream Opposition Party "UMP", Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking earlier at nearby Mulhouse, that Polls picture as the most probable future Winner at the forthcoming Presidential Election of 2017, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/sarkozynocolodwarinfrontofisis.html ).

   - "That's common sense", he concluded, indirectly but surely criticizing the opposite, "Cold War" trend, as Nonsense, in a Criticism, Widely Applauded by a numerous Audience, on that obviously Topical point, since, according to various converging indications, both in France and elsewhere in Europe, even at the USA, many start to understand Today, that it would certainly be a Nonsense to provoke a return back to the Cold War against Russia, when Brutal Islamic Extremists BeHeaders and throw-cutters of ISIS emerge around Europe, from Africa's Sahel up to Iraq and Syria, even inside Paris, Hamburg, Armenia, around Brussels, etc.
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+ Last Sunday's BeHeading of another ISIL's Hostage is  a "Barbarian act of "Islamic State" (which) strengthens our Will to advance, Together with All Forces which are Opposed to the "IS", towards steping up action against the Inhuman Terror of this organisation", reportedly stressed Germany's Foreign Policy" statement, while, at the same time, "condemning this Horrible Crime", and expressing "the Deepest Sympathy to the Family and Friends of the Victim, as well as to the Japan People".
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++ Later Today, Czech President Milos Zeman, reportedly launched a Call for a Collective Action against the "Islamic State", under UNO auspices, if possible with all UN SS (5) Permanent Members, (i.e. including Russia), as he stressed :

- "Islamic State organisation is similar to NAZI Germany at the Beginning of 1930ies : What Threatens us, is an Holocaust with Victims, no more 6 Millions of Jews, but Hundreds of Thousands of Human beings of various Religions, Atheists, as well as Muslims", so that, in order to prevent a New Holocaust, "we need a Coordinated Action, on International level, under UN SC auspices, with the participation, if possible, of All Permanent Members of the Council", particularly against the "Training Camps of Terrorists, by using Advanced Tools, such as TeleGuided Unmanned Flying Vehicles", as he said during a Forum in Prague on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary since the Liberation of the NAZI Concentration Camp of Auschwitz - Birkenau, and the World Day for Remembrance of the Holocaust's Victims".

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CoE Rapporteur on Paris' Journalists a.o. Civilians' Massacre, Professeur Legendre's main Draft Text :

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=> CoE Assembly's Rapporteur on the recent Massacre of French Journalists and other Cvilians in Paris, by 3 Extremist Islamist Terrorists, Professor Jacques Legendre from France, stresses, in his Draft Text adopted later Today (Tuesday) by PACE's Political affairs Committee, "the Urgent need for a common, international, but also specifically European response to the Djihadist threat", but also "the need to combat Social Exclusion, Discrimination, Violence and Segregation, which are Breeding Grounds for Terrorism and Religious Fanatism", as he notes.

>>>  Because, "Freedom of Expression, in particular that of Journalists, Writers and other artists, must be protected and governments of member States should not interfere with its exercise be it in Printed or Electronic (Internet) Media, including the Social Media", CoE's Rapporteur text underlines.

In fact, adequate Measures should "ensure that a fair balance be struck between defending freedom and security, and violating those very rights at the same time" : F.ex., they must "Refrain from indiscriminate Mass Surveillance, which has proven to be ineffective for the prevention of terrorism and therefore is not only Dangerous for the respect of human rights but also a waste of resources". And, at another such concrete example, the Draft CoE Resolution asks to "Share ... information on Airline Passengers" only for those who are "Posing Security Threats", and, at any case, in a way  "subject to Appropriate Data Protection Guarantees".  

On the contrary, regarding certain obviously Crucial matters, the required Action should be crystal-clear and Firm, according to that CoE's Text: This concerns, particularly, serious issues such a, f.ex. a call by the PanEuropean Organisation to its 47 Member States to "pay serious attention to the ways into which money and Weapons end up in the hands of potential Terrorists, in order to dismantle such Networks and punish the Culprits", notoriously spread until Turkey's Borders mainly to Syria and partly Iraq.

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+ AUSCHWITZ NAZI-Death Camp History Re-Writting and Turkish Negationism of Armenian Genocide

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     Meanwhile, at the eve of a landmark ECHR Hearing in a case of Turkish Negationism of Armenian Genocide, Tomorrow, Wednesday Morning in Strasbourg, was distributed Today (Tuesday) in CoE's PanEuropean Assembly (PACE)  a Statement by many Top Scientists of the Russian Historical Association, who strongly Denounced alleged attempts to "Re-Write the History" about NAZI Death Camps on Today's Anniversary of 1 Century since the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp by the former USSR Army at the End of the 2n d World War :

    - "Most regrettably", even "the great and Tragic Anniversary has turned into a Bargaining Ship in the hands of .. Dirty Players", who, "striving to settle scores with Russia, they Insult the Memory of the Victims of Nazism, the Memory of those who won the Victory, .. they trample on the feelings of those who survived, they scoff at History" :

    - "Auschwitz was liberated by the troops of the 1st Ukranian Front, ..(with) Soldiers and Officers who struggled to Help those still alive, (among which) were Russians and Ukranians, Belorussians and Kazakhs, Jews and Tatars : sons of the many Peoples of the (former) Soviet Union. Could any of them expect, even in the Worst Nightmare, that, just 7 Decades later, respectably looking public leaders, would insolently Count Only Ukranians among the Liberators of the Camp ...?"

    -"Apparently, there are still those who share (NAZI State's propanadist) Goebbel's view, that a Lie told a Thousand Times, becomes the Truth. ... (But), the Truth will find its way, back to the People", nevertheless, they conclude.

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*Strasbourg/News-Viewpoint/Angelo Marcopolo/- The expected Winner of January 2015 Elections in Greece, Alexis Tsipras of the Leftist "SYRIZA", had already his First Contacts with 2 out of 3 Top EU Political Leaders who are expected this week in Strasbourg : French President Francois Hollande, who was among the first to congratulate him, and EU Parliament's President Martin Schultz, who reportedly decided to travel to Athens to meet him directly, while the 3rd, and more eagerly awaited both by Financial Markets and Political Observers : German Chancelor Angie Merkel, is expected to react in PublicTomorrow, Monday.

In fact, however, Hollande and Merkel, who are due to meet exceptionaly in Strasbourg at the End of this week : on Friday, January 30, at the invitation of Schulz, in a "Blaesheim" format of Franco-German discussion on the "Future of Europe", and particularly of the €uroZone, (Comp. : .....), i.e. on issues closely related to the Consequences that these Greek Elections might have vis a vis the rest of Europe, (a perspective which has been always at the forefront of Tsipras' pre-electoral statements, as well as of his declared and undeclared allies in other EU Countries), might already start to observe several possible unexpected surprises, unforeseen at first sight...

SYRIZA's "New Left", clearly won these Elections, as all previous Polls had predicted, and with a rather bigger than initially expected margin of difference to the Center-Right Party of outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, "New Democracy", getting some 36% against 27,5%, (I.e. arriving 1st with about +7,5% more), but it didn't yet get any Majority of MPs in the National Parliament, with "only" 149 seats instead of at least 151 required in order to be Autonomous.

Naturally, Tsipras might make a small Coalition, mainly with one or both among 2 apparently available Small Parties :  the a Total Newcomer,  rather Opportunist Center-Left Party called "Potami", (which means : "River" !), with about 5,5% and at least 16 MPs, made by a former Journalist at the controversial National RadioTV organism ERT, who has been criticized for Clientelism/Nepotism and even too High Salaries, particularly for "Potami"'s chief, Theodorakis, (No relation to the world-famous Musician), supported by mainstream Media, and/or the more neo-classic "Independent Greeks" Centrist party of Gianis Kamenos, with 4,8% of votes and 13 MPs, with whom he has already arranged a First Meeting on Monday.

But, a Problem is that most "Independent Greeks"' MPs came from the Center-Right party of Samaras, "New Democracy", and often held at least some Political Positions more at his Right, than towards its Left side, so that their eventual "CoHabitation" with Leftist Tsipras looks Unpredictable ! As for the quite opportunist party "Potami", its Center-Left orientation certainly seems to fit better with Tsipras, but its Total Lack of Experience, and the unknown character of its MPs, inevitably leave many Question Marks open for the Future ...

Most important : Even if he gets going such an Alliance, Tsipras couldn't easily go further than a few Weeks or Months time without solving, at first, the Thorny Institutional Question of the Election of a New President of the Greek Republic, something for which a ReinForced Majority is needed, of Two Thirds (2/3) of the Total Number of MPs, i.e. at least 181 MPs. A Barrier that Samaras had tried to overcome since the End of Last Year (2014), but didn't manage...

It's certainly not the "Communist Party" (KKE) which would rescue Tsipras, since these Two Parties (remnants of a Bitter Split between 2 Opposed Parts of the Historic Greek CP) have been notoriously Quarelling one against the other, since a Long Time, (including even inside EU Parliament, where, after the latest, May 2014 EU Elections, appeared the unprecedented Paradox to see those "pure" "Communist" MPs quit the former "EuroLeft" Group, (precisely because of their Historic Opposition vis a vis SYRIZA, also in that same Group), and join,, instead, the "Non Aligned" Group for stray MEPs, where they work together with .... Marine Le Pen, Head of the notorious French Rightist Party "National Front" !

Meanwhiole, the mainstream Center-Right Party "New Democracy", of outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, has managed to Preserve most of its Forces : It keeps in 2015 almost 28% instead of about 29,5 % of  Votes back on 2012 Elections, despite an exceptionaly Hard period of Austerity, and will have, thus, an important capacity to lead the Opposition ready for an eventual return to Power at the 1st occasion...F.ex. if Tsipras fails to find a Presidential candidate of General acceptance, so that New Parliamentary Elections become Necess    ary, according to the Constitution, and/or if the Financial/Economic developments about the Public Debt make it necessary, etc.
The "New Democracy" Party being, from now on, at last Free from any Need of more controversial CoHabitation with the remnants of the "Socialist" Party of "PASOK", (which had notoriously Hampered its action for all those years since the End of 2011 until the Beginning of 2014),  it can now also search and develop a New Political Strategy, of its own, able to attract Voters anew and Better Serve the real Interets of Greece and Europe.

+ But the greatest Suprise of these January 2015 Elections in Greece is that the Rightist Party "Golden Dawn" succeeded to become the 3rd Political party of the Country, with about 6,30%  and some 18 MPs, (i.e. Ahead of "Potami" with more than +15.000 Voters more). i.e. Maintaining almost all its Forces since its landmark 1st Win at the previous, 2012 National Greeek Elections of 2012, despite having his Chief, its Political Leadership, and almost all its MEPs still Jailed in Prison at prolonged Pre-Trial Detention for Controversial Accusations, their Salaries Cut 100%, Muzzled by all Medias of the Establishment, even its Website Attacked and Blocked, its Militants and/or Candidate MPs violently Aggressed and/or Threatened, bombs thrown at its Offirces, but reportedly abandoned by the Police without any Protection, (etc) ! Such an Astonishing Capacity of Resistance, obviously shows a Potential of Popularity which would certainly Grow Fast in normal circumstances of Free and Safe Political Work. 

In fact, what makes several People to be attracted and stick to "Golden Dawn", (which used to be a negligeable quantity of less than ...0,22% in the Past, instead of some + 6,5% Today, and even more than +10% in the latest, May 2014 EU Election, +15% in the February 2014 Local Elections in >Athens, etc), has nothing to do with Right/Left traditional politics, but it's mainly due to the Fact that "GD" still has a Strong "Anti-Corruption" Agenda, at the same time that it cultivates an impression of "Untouchables" for its Members : I.e. ingrediants both useful when it comes to Countries with a long Past of former Clientelist/Nepotist Governments, as in Greece with "PASOK" since 1981). F. ex., one of "GD"s Propaganda Video-clips claims that "Contrary to others, even the Smallest Parties, we don't get from the absolutely Nothing, not even a Dime. But we manage to run our Party quite well, and develop its activities, to have Offices throughout  the Country, and even to Distribute Free Food to Poor People", such Videos go on to say, (obviously impressing, at first sight, anyone accustomed to live in a Debt-ridden Country, with an excessive Number of more or less Counter-productive and often abusive, selfish Civil Servants, DisProproportionate vis a vis the National GDP)...
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    On the Contrary, the Biggest Looser in these January 2015 Greek Elections is the former long-time Governing or Co-Governing in the Past, "Socialist" PASOK Party, which accelerates now its Fall, from previously 3rd (back on 2012, but always 1st or 2nd for more than 30 Years in the Past), now only .....7th (Seventh) in the row, far Behind "SYRIZA", "New Democracy", "Golden Dawn", "Potami (River)", "Communist Party", "Independent Greeks",... it gets roughly more than ....4 % of the Votes now, (i.e. just above the Threshhold of 3%, under which a Party doesn't get any MP at all) !

    Even a long-time Top "PASOK" Political Leader, also from a Family of Politicians who have served through Many Generations as former Prime Ministers of Greece : "PASOK"s former Head, Giorgos Papandreou, who was obliged now to create a "New" Party of "SocialDemocrats", failed to get more than only a Tiny ... 2 %, being, for the First Time in, his Life,  Excluded from the Parliament...
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    => Thus, it becomes Obvious that, while the Right side of the Political Spectrum managed, more or less, to Keep its Political Forces for the Future, (Comp. Supra), on the Contrary, it's  mainly the Former "Socialist" "PASOK" Voters who left that Old Party in order to enter inside the Leftist "SYRIZA"  of Tsipras, (who looks as a New Leader of an Old Herd of Sheep)...

    Indeed, the Right side of Greece's Political Spectrum includes Today, in addition to Center-Right "New Democracy"s almost 28%, also Rightist "Golden Dawn"'s  6,5%, even "Independent Greeks"' 4,5%", (indeed, despite a probable Coalition with SYRIZA, they notoriously are coming from Center-Right movements, particularly former "ND", etc, and could Not agree with Tsipras on all issues, as f.ex. vis a vis Turkey, the Church, BioEthics, etc., where Differences of Views seem Unavoidable), as well as about + 5 % more from 4 OTHER Smaller New Parties, which didn't reach the 3% Threshhold in order to get any MP, but appear to belong, Politically, to the Right, such as, f.ex. : "Centrist Union", "Point", "Popular Orthodox Rally", "Union of National Democratic Reform", etc.

    => All this is tantamount to almost 45 % of Jan. 2015 Votes, (to which might, eventually, be added even Today's PASOK, led by Venizelos, which looks rather as an opportunist Centrist small Party, likely to lean more towards the Right, than the Left side, according to the overall Context, so that an absolute Majority of 50%+ might be reached by adding various Center-Right groupings)...
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    Comparatively, from the Left side of the Political Spectrum, SYRIZA's 35+%, perhaps added to "Potami"s 5,5% opportunists, at least partly, and/or, eventualy to "KKE"'s 5% "Communists", (vis a vis whom, however, SYRIZA is engaged in a Radical Opposition : Comp. Supra), as well as Giorgos Papandreou's "SDM" with 2,3%, (even if he seems closer to the Centre Right), and almost 1,5% made of Three Tiny Parties which haven't crossed the 3% Threshold in order to have an independent MP, totaling about 49% of the Votes.

    => I.e, in fact, a Politically Divided Country almost into 2 Halves, slightly More Favorable to the Right side, taken all in all, (Comp. Supra).

    >>> Thus, Facts clearly show that the Greek Right, contrary to some Falses Appearances, has managed to SafeGuard its Political Forces, (might even be already at least slightly Higher than the Left side : Comp. Supra), and looks Ready to seize any opportunity for seizing the Power, this time without any Difforming "Co-Habitation" with PASOK or any assimilated opportunists....

    * At the same time, ipso-facto, it has also become clear, after all the Analysis of Facts presented above, that the Left side of the Greek Political Spectrum has NOT succeeded yet to really seize an unquestionable Majority of Citizens, neither any full Ideological or Political Power in Greece, despite a Manoeuvre of former PASOK's Voters, which may only give to Tsipras a part of strictly Institutional Power, (not very Stable, by the way),  but Nothing more.

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    Such an overall Impression is even more Strengthened also by the Impressive Fact of a Huge Abstention of more than 36 %, to which is added even 2,4% more of Voters, who curiously threw to the Ballot Box a "Nul" or "White" vote, (+ more than the Double of the previous Election of 2012)...

    => I.e. a Total of some 38,4% among Registered Voters, whose Political Intentions for the Present and the Future still remain Unknown : By far, the Biggest Party of Greece !

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+ "GRO-KO"s problems ?
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    Another interesting Conclusion Highlighted by Today's Facts in the January 2015 Greek Elections, is also that "Gross Coalitions", such as Germany's notorious "GRO-KO" between ChristianDemocrats of CDU/CSU  and SocialDemocrats of SPD, (to the great Astonishment of many, who had hoped that Angie Merkel's crystal-clear Win at the latest German Elections of September 2013, which have her almost an unprcedented 40% !, could have allowed her to really apply the Political Program that she had succesfully presented to the German People), risk, sooner than expected, to face similar Problems in Greece as in Germant, mutatis-mutandis :

    This goes particularly when Excessive Concessions are made by the Bigger Political Party, prefered by the People's Votes, to its "Junior Partner", (i.e. the formerly Opposed Party that Voters droped down), as f.ex. Samaras' "New Democracy" made vis a vis PASOK, mainly in the Public Sector, by keeping most Cashy Job Holders/Political Lackeys abusively appointed by former Clientelist./Nepotist Governments (mostly PASOK's) in the Past 30 Years (1981-2011+), and/or the German CDU/CSU vis a vis PSD, mainly in BioEthical and Socio-Cultural issues, (such as Same Sex "Marriages" and "Adoptions" of Children by Homosexuals, "Double Passport" to Turkish a.o. Non-European, Immigrants, U-turn back to "Multi-Kulti", Genetic Manipulations on Human Embryos, etc)...

    => In both cases, mutatis-mutandis, was soon observed the emergence of Similar phenomena, against which, everybody involved should be now Warned on Time : An unprecedented Trend towards a formerly "Leftist" Party, (such as "SYRIZA" in the Greek National Elections, or "Die Linke" party in Germany's Thuringia Länder, Comp.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/merkelisisislamicterrorismworseeventhanukraine.html , etc), added to the growing appearance of various Atypical New Socio-Political Movements at the (far ?) Right side, (such as "Golden Dawn", "Independent Greeks", etc. in Greece, and "Family Party", "AfD", "Pegida", etc. in Germany).

    As Chancelor Angie Merkel had apparently realized, f.ex. in her Speech at the latest CDU Partei Tag in Këln, recently, (Comp. Supra), it's only by, sooner or later, restoring a real and Strategy of a Modern Center-Right, faithful  to its main Pre-Electoral Promisses to the Citizens, (f.ex. in "small" Coalition with the FDP, or, if need be, with the "Greens", etc., but Not in a "Gro-Ko" with the "Socialists"), that the Trust of the People may be revitalized.

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 Samaras partial success opened a way for Tsipras ?...
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    Meanwhile, concerning particularly the case of nowadays Greece, from the point of view of its possible repercussions in European policy, Today, at least one (generaly unexpected) thing seems certain :

    - Paradoxically, it's Samaras partial Success into restoring a "Primary Surplus" in Greece's Budget, that, objectively, paved a way for Tripras' venue !...

    Indeed, even the Experienced pro-Leftist former long-time co-President of a pro-European "Green" Group of MEPs in EU Parliament, Franco-German MEP Daniel Kohn-Bendit, had clearly warned, earlier in Strassbourg, that, at least as long as the situation provoked in Greece by almost 30 Years of mainly "PASOK" Nepotist Governments (1981-2011+) made Impossible any Solution of the Public Debt problem in a way eventually inspired by the example of Argentina, simply because, in the conditions existing then in Greece, the State was condemned to have a "Structural Deficit", so that it was condemned to try to survive by more and more External Loans, without being realy able to risk being declared in Default.

    But, after Samaras succeeded, recently, after making several Reforms, to create a New Situation for Greece, where the State had restored its capacity to have a Primary Surplus, then, Tsipras might have, in theory, a Chance to try....     

    Last, but not least, all this is pointing, (as many protagonists have already declared), towards EU's Economic and Financial policies, so that, from now on, the focus obviously turns towards a European level, naturally including the forthcoming Franco-German Summit, Hollande - Merkel, at the invitation of EU Parliament's President Schulz, next week in Strasbourg.

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to "EuroFora", CoE Assembly's (PACE) President, Anne Brasseur, and Russian Duma's Foreign Affairs Chairman, Alexei Pushkov, resumed, in fact, what could be the Substance of a delicate, intensive but interesting and hopefuly positive-minded exhange of views, between Russian Duma's President Naryshkin, and Brasseur on controversial Sanctions vis a vis Russia, but also on a mutually desirable Dialogue for Peace :

- "The main point is to Continue Dialogue", diplomatically replied earlier PACE President Brasseur to an "EuroFora" Question on the "purpose"of her exceptional meeting, on Sunday, with Narushkin, who has just arrived in Strasbourg Today,

 - "It's about the Legality, or not, of EU/CoE Sanctions" vis a vis Russia, replied later-on, to another relevant "EuroFora"s Question, Duma's FAC Chairman, Pushkov, concerning also his own, forthcoming Draft Report, to which had previously referred Naryshkin, who is due to speak next week to a PACE event also about his proposal to all EU/CoE/OSCE Parliamentarians to try to find Together ways for a Peaceful Solution of the Ukranian conflict.

In fact, during an exceptional Press point held this Sunday Noon in front of Journalists, including "EuroFora",  at the CoE, both Brasseur and Naryshkin clarified, for the 1st time in front of the Press, several points about a re-launched controversy about the Sanctions earlier inflicted on Russia, and/or some's renewed threats to eventually prolonge them further now, according to decisions which might be taken by PACE next week in Strasbourg :

Naryshkin made it clear that, his wish is to help upgrade CoE's role also in solving various still open Conflicts, and that's why he has exceptional decided to personaly Head the Russian Delegation to the PACE, in its Return in Strasbourg this January 2015, normaly with Fukk Rights. (I.e. after almost a Year of unprecedented absence, since a controversial decision, taken back on April 2014, not only to deprive Russian MEPs from ther Right to Vote, but even to exclude them from Participation to PACE's Leading bodies, after a last-minute Amendment voted in fact by a Minority of PACE's MEPs, in the absence of Russian and other Parliamentarians, which triggered their Refusal to take part, anymore, in PACE's work, until the End of both those Sanctions, reportedly imposed on pretext of the Crimea issue, after Kiev's previously elected Government was topled by Violent Clashes at Maidan Square, provoked by non-elucidated yet Deadly "Snipers", See, f.ex. : ....).

But Duma's President warned that, if recent Threats by some quarters to inflict again Sanctions against Russian MEPs are materialized next week, then, Moscow could decide to  Drop any participation to CoE's Parliamentary Assembly, (while it might even consider for Russia to drop the CoE in general). By the way, (speaking through an Interpreter who translated, sometimes with difficulties, to the French Language), he also denounced the Sanctions imposed against Russia as illegal, vis a vis both the European and International Law, including f.ex.  when one Deprives democratically Elected MPs from their elementary Right to Vote.

PACE's President, Brasseur, replied that Sanctions such as Depriving a MP from his/her Right to Vote are, certainly, illegal, inside his/her own Country's National Parliament, but, on the contrary, vis a vis the CoE, its PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly had adopted its own Ruiles which allow that. In Russi'as case, it had been motivated, back on April 2014, by the "Annexion" of Crimea, she pointed out. By the way, Brasseur also added now a Request, made both by Ukranian and other MEPs and herself, to consider Liberating an Ukranian Female Prisoner, (accused of complicity to Murders : See Infra), who had been recently Elected in absentia at Kiev's latest Elections (Last Autumn 2014), whose Authorities have now included her formally even in their National Delegation to the PACE, asking CoE to obtain her liberation.

Naryshkin replied that Crimea was, in fact, "ReUnified" with Russia, (to whom it was Alwayes an integral part, throughout all its History, until a controversial move by Khroutsev back on 1984, to rattach it to Ukraine, when Kiev was included inside the Russian Federation. Moreover, the 2014 move for the "ReUnification" of Crimea and Russia, had been made after a peadeful  Popular Referendum, accepted by the large Majority of the mainly Russian-origin People traditionaly living at that peninsula, he reminded. Otherwise, f.ex. even German former "FRG"'s "ReUnification" with the forrmer "East Germany", back in the 1990ies, would have been called "Annexation" if one followed the singular reasoning of some, as he criticized. Finaly, concerning Ukranian Pilot Savchenko, he pointed at the fact that she "is Suspect of Complicity to the Killing of two Journalists", and, therefore, as the Judges had decided, she had to be Detained until  final Judgement. Moreover, Duma's President found strange and unethical that some had pushed to Elect in abstentia someone arrested in relation with the Killings of Journalists covering the Eastern Ukranian conflict, where even a French and Italian Journalists had perished under Kiev's Military Attacks against Donetsk/Luhansk Autonomist Regions, (notoriously included v. Inhabited areas).
Even if, obviously, this stance didn't exclude to eventually set free Pilot Savchenko later-on, i.e. if the on-going Investigations and Judgement might find, perhaps, that her Responsibility is not proven, etc., nevertheless, certain commentators inside the CoE thought that Russian MEPs might ask the CoE to Lift the Suspect's Parliamentarian Immunity.

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Finaly, concluding, CoE Assembly's President Brasseur expressed the PanEuropean Organisation's  hommages to all those People who Suffer also by the notoriously catastrophic Humanitarian Consequences, particularly at the Autonomist Regions Donetsk/Luhansk, from Kiev's Deadly and Destructive Attacks during almost a Year now, since last April 2014, and agreed with Naryshkin that everything should be done to stop that Conflict asap, through Dialogue and Political Agreements for Peace.

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Paradoxically, at the same time that Extremist Islamist Terrorism's Deadly Aggressions notoriously threaten all Europe and beyond, making at least all Chrisians' Unity a must, and at the Eve of the Liberation from Auschwitz NAZI Concentration Death Camp, achieved mainly thanks to Historic Sacrifices by the Russian People's victorious Army, then allied to the West, while now COE's PanEuropean Assembly had scheduled to, at last, debate and vote on a long-awaited Report denouncing the Catastrophic "Humanitarian situation" of many Millions of Russian-speaking Civilian Population at the Autonomist Regions of Donetsk/Luhansk in Eastern Ukraine, after more than 8 Months of Deadly and Destructive Military Attacks by Kiev's Army with Heavy Weapons, (Tanks, Military Helicopters, Shelling, Rockets, Bombing Airplanes, etc), at the very moment that the scheduled Return of Russian MEPs to Strasbourg since last April 2014's controversial PACE vote which, pushed by a Minority of MEPs, had imposed more Sanctions to them than initialy expected, (See f.ex. : ....), provoking their Departure and many Months of Violent Deadly Conflict in Ukraine, that Russian Duma's President Naryshkin wanted to Mark now with his personal presence now in Strasbourg, inter alia, also in order to animate a Workshop around his recent offer to search Political Solutions to the Ukranian and other Conflicts between EU, COE and OSCE Parliamentarians, (etc), that some seem to push Turkey to practically take the place of Russia in the CoE !

    Indeed, while Moscow is Threatened by some's reported attempts to challenge the Credentials of Russian MEPs at CoE's PanEuropean Assembly (PACE), again on pretext of the Ukranian conflict, on the contrary, Ankara searches, at the same time, to Augment the Number of Turkisn MEPs inside PACE from 12 to 18, aiming to reach the Maximum possible, i.e. the same Number as Russia, which not only is an Historically and Culturally European and developed Country, but  has, nevertheless, more than the DOUBLE of Population : around 150 instead of about 70 Millions only...

    To achieve that, Turkey reportedly offers to the COE to become what is called "Big Contributor" to the Organisation's Budget, as Russia, Germany, etc., i.e. to pay approximately + 10 Millions € more than the 10 that it already pays until now. Such parallel and almost simultaneous moves, would practically result in a kind of ... "Buying" 1 more MEP at CoE's Assembly by Turkey at the Price of almost 1,5 Million each...

    In fact, however, it would be even Cheaper than that for Ankara , because, according to CoE's internal rules, whoever becomes "Great Payer", gets also a Right to have much more among its Nationals appointed at various Posts and Jobs inside the CoE, (who are obviously Paid, quite important Salaries by Strasbourg's Organisation, and get a non-negligeable part of the PanEuropean Body's Decision-making Power) !

    The Magnitude of the projected move results also from the Fact that the Number of Turkish MEPs hadn't been changed since 1977, despite CoE's Enlargement to Central and Eastern European Countries recently, up to and including Russia on 1996, which had Marked the End of the Cold War, the Fall of Berlin's Wall and Europe's ReUnification.

    Notoriously, even the Participation of Turkey to the PanEuropean CoE, an Organization normaly destinated to include only European Countries, by Geography, History and Culture, in addition to some basic Democracy/Human Rights Standards, was due to Ankara's role inside NATO during the Cold war era...

    Moreover, Ankara's notoriously Bad profile vis a vis Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, (which had even motivated a former Human Rights' Director to ask Turkey's expulsion from the CoE during the 1960ies, after the Brutal Killing of a Turkish Prime Minister by a Putchist Mob), inevitably pushed away, instead of attracting, whoever might be interested  to develop mutually useful Cooperations with the CoE in Strasbourg.

    However, despite more than 5.400 People already Killed, and 10.500 seriously Wounded, including many Civilians, mainly in the Autonomist Regions of Lugansk/Luhansk during more than 8 Months of Kiev's Army Military Attacks with Heavy Weapons, (Tanks, Military Helicopters, Shelling, Rockets, Bombing Airplanes, etc), it's only now, pretexting of a Tragedy which killed some 30 People at Mariupol, (City of the Russian-speaking Minority at the Donetsk Region, but controlled by Kiev's Military), that some, suddenly appear to Risk to push towards a  new Cold War which would Divide anew Europe, by openly asking to "Isolate Russia", (as outgoing US President Barack Obama reportedly did now), and threatening to officially ask for even More Sanctions by CoE's Assembly, next week in Strasbourg. Something which provokes a Danger for an even Longer, and perhaps éHeavier Departure of Russian MEPs from the CoE, or even worse...

    But, meanwhile, the Experience of the April 2014 PACE's earlier decision, (in fact imposed by a Minority of its Members : See....), to not only deprive Russian MEPs from their Right to Vote, but even Exclude them from CoE Assembly's Leading bodies, by provoking their Departure, didn't achieve  nothing else, in fact, than to Divide politically anew Europe, and also started to adversely affect the European Economy,  as even OECD's Chief, the experienced Angel Guria, recently told "EuroFora" : ....),

    As for CoE itself, it practically Lost, until now,  a big Chance to play its normal prominent Political and/or Legal standards' role, which was partially taken over by the OSCE from Vienna,  etc.    

And, instead of Peace, since April 2014, when the Russian MEPs were pushed Out of PACE, until recently, an unprecedented Deadly and Destructive Conflict emerged in Eastern Ukraine, where Kiev Army's systematic Military Attacks against the Autonomist Regions of Donetsk/Luhansk made more than 5.400 Dead and 10.500 Wounded People, including many Civilians, according to the latest UNO Data.

    So that neither the recent recrudescence of Kiev's Heavy Military Attacks which re-started to kill even Civilian People, particularly at Donetsk and nearby Gorlova, etc., as even Russian President Vladomir Putin felt necessary to denounce himself recenty, nor the 30 People reportedly killed now in Mariupol, (a Russian-speaking Majority city in the Donetsk Region, but conquered by Kiev's Army which still Holds it), when a Missile reportedly fell less than 400 m from an Ukranian Military site Shelling the Autonomists, unfortunately aren't a surprise for anyone, despite some's attempts, Today, to .. discover for the 1st Time on January 2015 such Horrors, which, in fact, have been going on since April 2014...  

    In addition, regular Kiev Army's Attacks by Heavy Military Weapons, (such as Tanks, Helicopters, Shelling, Rockets, Bombing Airplanes, etc.), even against Civilian areas, have notoriously Damaged or Destroyed many Family Homes and Vital Infrastructures, (f.ex. Water, Electricity, Phone, Internet, Train, Hospitals, Schools, etc), Cutting too often the supplies needed by many Hundreds of Thousands of People, amidst a Population of 4,5 Millions there, provoking too many Sufferings, that a recent PACE's Report on the Humanitarian situaton at Eastern Ukraine, due to be debated and voted next week in Strasbourg,describes and denounces more or less accurately.

    Obviously now Time has come to Stop all that awful Waste and Inhuman/Degrading Treatments, as well as Kilings even of innocent People who have already sufffered a lot, and this naturally requires a CoE able to boost real  Dialogue for Peace among all main Actors, Ukraine and Russia included, instead of provoking even more Divisions in the European Continent, by perpetuating and aggravating Exclusions which risk to undermine CoE's Historic role for Europe's reUnification.

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("NDLR" : Partly Updated)

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