newsitems

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Strasbourg Region Alsace's ArchiBishop, Mgr Grallet,  has gone on record for being the 1st to stress, already many weeks ago, the fact that Pope Francis wants, by focusing his 2014 Strasbourg visit just to EU Parliament and CoE,  to "Send a Message to European People".

    But, questioned by "EuroFora" about how the Pope might Handle in practice the co-existence of 2, more Distinct than ever, Organisations, that of EU's 28 Member States, and CoE's 47 Member States, which are very Differently Composed between them on 2014, from what they were back on 1988's previous visit by late Pope St. John-Paul II, while it's also their main Missions which have Changed a lot, in the meantime, and are, now, even located at... 2 Different, independent Buildings, instead of just 1 in 1988, Mgr Grallet appeared Thoughtfull :

 - "I don't know if he will deliver a very Differend Speech", and "I expect a more or less quite similar Speech, at least as far as the Issues are concerned",

  >>> - However, at any case, "what would be Good, is to deliver a Strong Message, in the same Day", he advised.

 - But, the Pope's 2 addresses, successively to EU Parliament and CoE, might well be "Complementary", Mgr Grallet agreed with "EuroFora", adding that, "without any Doubt, there will be some Inflexions or Modulations", considering also the Fact that EU Parliament is much more focused on EU Citizens, while CoE's core, (at least since the 2005 Warsaw Summit of the PanEuropean Organisation's Heads of State/Government, which officially decided to focus on Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law), is rather the European Court of Human Rights, he agreed too.

Something which might give a particular importance, at the CoE's part, on Human Rights,  - including BioEthics, which have recently inspired many Popular Movements throughout the World, not only in the USA, but even more in France, partialy in Spain, but also in Russia, etc, on Issues of Fast-Growing and Crucial Importance for all Humankind.

The well known concern of Pope Francis vis a vis Poor People, as well as Immigrants, etc., has been already cited by both EU Parliament's and CoE's Top officials, (as f.ex. President Schulz and deputy Secretary General Battaini-Dragoni, respectively), and it's certainly, very important, particularly at this period of prolonged Crisis and low Growth.

+ However, "EuroFora" can't but observe also the Fact that the absolutely necessary Fight against Poverty, including through Help to Homeless People, should also avoid any Risk to fall into the Trap of a State Monopoly - "Controlled "system, which would exclude even Natural Solidarity among People with Human feelings, able and willing to Help, by imposing an Exclusive State privilege to act for the Poor, while, at the same time, submitting them to "State Control"...

In this regard, a Topical, real Example taken from a Debate between American People, is astonishing : A 90 Years old man, reportedly was Threatened even with Jail, just for having tried to give Food to Poor People !

Pretext/ratio : "Homeless" People might be "Dangerous", and, should, therefore, should be "Controlled". This should outlow Feeding them in Free, Opean Areas, such as Parks, Public Squares, etc, and, instead, oblige them to enter inside Buildings and submi to a "Control" by State's agents only !.. (Seen in serious and prolonged Discussion among American Citizens)...
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+ Another, and more important point, particularly seen from Strasbourg's ¨PanEuropean Human Rights' viewpoint, is that, nevertheless, Massive Poverty mainly provoked and maintained by General Economico-Social issues, should never be abused or Hypocritically exploited as a Cover-Up for Horrible Crimes,
 which may have Provoked, by various kinds of Brutal Aggressions, etc, also an Artificially Imposed even Extreme Deprivation or "Poverty" to their Victims, who have been (and often still are) Targetted and Harassed, in fact, for their Beliefs and/or Activities on certain particularly "Hot" Issues of General Interest for the while Society and/or of Crucial Importance for Humankind.

Because, otherwise, by "banalising" and "drowning" such personaly targetted Crimes into a Massively Dysfunctional aspect of a whole System, then, the grave Responsibilities of the Criminals are Hidden, risking to provoke also a Scandalous and Dangerous Impunity of Aggressors, instead of unmasking them and bringing them to Justice, while also it would be tantamount into practically Abandoning the Victims of such Horrible Crimes in a sly destruction even of their elementary Human Dignity that gives them the Moral Force to, at least, be proud to Resist, despite often of atrocious sufferings,  to such Criminal Attempts to Eliminate and/or Muzzle them, in what is rather, right from the start, a problem of Freedoms' Violation, through a brutal provocation of "Inhuman/Degrading Treatments", in certain cases up to the level of "Torture".

(According to the Definition that the ECHR gives, in its case-law, to the relavant Article 3 of COE's PanEuropean Convention on Human Rights : Comp. f.ex. the Historic, landmark case of "Akdivar", 1996, at least as far as it concerns just a Part of the above mentioned matter : That of Brutal Provocation of Extreme Poverty, for Political reasons, to a whole Family of formerly normaly living and peaceful People, in Turkey - to which should be added, obviously, also the 2nd Part of the above mentioned matter : That of Victims Targetted because of their Activities on "Hot" Issues of General Interest for the Society and/or even all Humankind  : Comp. Supra, i.e. adding the supplementary - and most Crucial - Dimension of Democratic Freedoms' Violation, as the only way to Find a real Solution).
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    + But,  returning back to our "2 Stage Visit" problem, (Comp. Supra), concerning CoE, it's also its PanEuropean Dimension, which, obviously, gives a particular character and task at the CoE, specialy now, as long as the recent Ukranian Crisis, dangerously persists and/or aggravates :

- "Already Today, after the 2nd Failure of another World War, it might become possible to speak of a 3rd World War, fought "piece by piece", (in a Fragmented way), with Crimes, Massacres, Destructions", etc, as Pope Francis himself, has already Warned, since September 13, 2014, reminded the French Bishop affected to the Army, Mgr. Luc Ravel, speaking at a special Mass on Strasbourg's Cathedral, on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of the City from NAZIsm (1944 - 2014), where participated also the New Vatican's envoy to the CoE, Mgr Paolo Rudelli. 

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    ArchiBishop Grallet had  linked, earlier, these two matters, by reminding the fact that "it's just a few years after the Liberation of Strasbourg, that the Founding Fathers of Europe created the CoE on 1949, afterwards the Coal and Steel European Community (CECA, according to its original French acronym), and EU Parliament from 1952,  here, at the City which is a Symbol of Reconciliation".

    - "We'd better Link, Today, the Memory of our Fighters of Yesterday, to that of Europe's Founding Fathers, that Pope Francis comes to greet and support in Strasbourg, next Tuesday", he explicitly added.

     - Let's hope that the Pope's message will Help us all, European Citizens, to overcome nos Egos and our Fears, and support us in Caring for the Common Good, and our Participation in Public Affairs".

    - Because, "Honour our Heroes of Yesterday (1944), means, Today, to become Committed into bringing, in France, in Europe and the World, Brotherhood, Justice and Peace", Grallet concluded      

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Just 2 Days later, from November 28, Pope Francis is rushing to meet (Christian Orthodox) "Patriarch Bartholomaios", in order "to be present (at Istanbul/Constantinople) on the 30th for the Feast of Saint Andrew", as he recently announced himself,  speaking to the Press about his next planned Visit of 2,5 Days, composed of an Ankara Half a Day part for the Turkish Authorities, and an almost 2 Days part apparently consecrated to efforts to bring closer Together the Catholic and Orthodox Christians, in a path towards ReUnification of Christians throughout Europe and all the World ;

A path initialy opened by late Pope, saint John- Paul II as early as since his 2001 visit to Greece, just after a landmark "Ecumenical Declaration of Strasbourg", bringing together Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox, Christians, followed by Pope Emeritus Benedict's 1st visit to Turkey and to Patriarch Bartholomeos, back on 2006.

However, after the atrocious bloody Murder of the former Head of the Catholic Church in Turkey, Mgr Padovani, right when he was preparing to travel to Cyprus for a Collective gathering of representatives of all Christian Communities in the Middle East on 2010, and, particularly, since the recent Ukranian Crisis of 2014, there is, Today, an obvious Need to both saveguard and re-vitalise Christians' presence and path towards Unity throughout all Europe, and at its Neighbouring Countries.

Timely Symbol of Peaceful Solution :  - The No 1 gift that CoE's Official reportedly plan to show to Pope Francis  : a replica of the landmark Stain-Glass painting of "the Madona of Strasbourg", with the European Flag's 12 Stars, exists, indeed, at the core of the City's Cathedral, between 2 Christian Crossses, and surrounded by many golden Religious "Icons" of a typical Orthodox style : Something which is quite Exceptional inside a Catholic Church, and was, indeed, donated by the CoE in the Past, in a visual Reference to the aspiration of ReUnification of all Christians, starting from Europe, (as experienced Historian and Top Religious Official Bernard Xibaut has told "EuroFora" earlier).

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     - Meanwhile, next Tuesday in Strasbourg, Mgr Grallet, hopes to have a few Time with Pope Francis, since he's due to "accompany him from the Airport .. to the Airport", as he characteristically told us, concerning what the Press has named : "the Shortest Papal visit in History", condensated in just 4 or 5 Hours all in all.

    This visit is also Exclusively concentrated on Strasbourg headquartered EU Parliament's plenary session and CoE, (which, by the way, were both in 1 and same Building, back on 1988, while now, they have 2 adjacent but Different and Separated Buildings here : One for the 28-Member strong EU, and another for the 47-Members Wide, PanEuropean CoE, which includes also Turkey, and even Ukraine, Russia, etc). Resulting now to a Two-Stages Visit, to each, one after the other, running fast, in a too "Tight" schedule, (where Bureaucracy apparently made things even more Difficult than normal, since many Journalists learned, almost at the last minute, that they would be practically Hindered to even try to follow both EU and CoE events on pretext of some "Security Checks" scheduled astonishingly early)...

    Mgr Grallet also told us that there isn't any other special Event scheduled at the Pope's arrival at the Airport, (where, however, French Minister for EU Affairs, Harlem Desir, is due to welcome him officialy), except to bring him directly to the European/PanEuropean Institutions.

    Later, in a well-attended special Mass at the Cathedral, on the occasion of the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Strasbourg from NAZIsm, (Comp. relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReport, with Statements that gave us the French Minister of Defense, Jean-Yves Drian, at ...) , the Bishop affected to the French Army, Mgr Luc Ravel,  indirectly but surely, justified Pope Francis' decision to Concentrate his entire 1st visit to Strasbourg just to his EU and CoE Speeches, in less than 4 Hours' Time, all in all :

 - "It's characteristic of a man supported by God, to keep Firm in the Direction indicated by his internal Freedom. Anything Else Degrades or distracts us, (from the main Task), something which is even worse", he concluded.

Because; f. ex., these men who liberated Strasbourg from NAZism had "a Giant's Breath", since they were "Breathing Freedom" : "That's what Resists, best from all, to the Power of any terrestrial Dictatorship". But, "what kind of Freedom ?" - That "which results from the Concentration of Energies, from the Unity as capacity to Monitor ourselves, and from "Faith in Action", as "Men of One Idea", with the Will to Unify, by Faith in all its forms, any Forces, and Curb them to serve an Ideal",Mgr Ravel explained.

=> What might be the Main Idea in Pope Francis' move ?

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*Angelo Marcopolo/- "More than 800 Journalists" have already shown their interest to cover the imminent Pope Francis' visit, which is the 1st in History to focus on European People, as it results also from an exchange between EU Parliament's Press Director/Spokesman, Jaume Duch, and "EuroFora", this afternoon :

 - We (EU Parliament) are well aware of the fact that, for the 1st Time in History, Pope's visit is Not also a Pastoral one, as it was the case during the landmark 1988 visit of late Pope, saint John-Paul II in Strasbourg, but, exclusively to EU Parliament (followed also by the Council of Europe), with the declared wish to "Speak to the Europeans", (as both Strasbourg Region Alsace's ArchiBishop Grallet and Vatican's envoy to EU Institutions in Brussels, Mgr. Lebeaupin, have already stressed), i.e. to about 500 Millions People that MEPs represent, after having been elected by a Universal and Direct Vote, agreed with "EuroFora" Duch.

Indeed, John-Paul II's Historic visit to Strasbourg, just 1 Year before Berlin Wall's Fall (1989), had also included a 3 Days-long series of other, Pastoral visits on the spot, around Strasbourg's Region of Alsace, with various other Speeches too, from the impressive Cathedral of the Town, up to "Saint Odile"'s Mountainous Covent, Colmar City, Mulhouse, etc.

But a Big Difference, now, is that the New Pope Francis has, on the contrary, decided to focus on a 4-5 Hours  visit ("the Shortest in Vatican's History", as several observers noted), exclusively on Strasbourg headquartered EU Parliament's plenary session and CoE, (which, by the way, were both in 1 and same Building, back on 1988, while now, they have 2 adjacent but Different and Separated Buildings here : One for the 28-Member strong EU, and another for the 47-Members Wide, PanEuropean CoE, which includes also Turkey, and even Ukraine, Russia, etc, leading now to a Two-Stages Visit, to each one).     

Indeed, now, the Pastoral Visits to each one among EU's Countries, are scheduled to start afterwards, from 2015, (reportedly by France), while this, 25 November 2014 Papal visit, is a purely European one, focused on EU Citizens.

- Otherwise, he might have chosen also, f.ex. an EU Summit of Heads of State/.Government, and/or the EU Commission, etc., Duch pointed out, during a Phone Communication with "EuroFora", between Strasbourg and Brussels.
=> But, instead, the Pope chose to make now his Speech just at EU Parliament, which is the only EU-Body to be directly elected by EU Citizens' universall vote, and this is Important, its Press Director/Spokesman concluded.

+ Moreover, by addressing himself "to the Europeans", the new Pope, Spiritual Leader or some 1 Billion and a half of People accross the World, in addition, indirectly but obviously, pronounces himself in favour of a much needed Today, in front of so many Global Challenges, deeper and more Democratic, European Integration.
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Just 2 Days later, from November 28, Pope Francis is rushing to meet (Christian Orthodox) "Patriarch Bartholomaios", in order "to be present (at Istanbul/Constantinople) on the 30th for the Feast of Saint Andrew", as he recently announced himself,  speaking to the Press about his next planned Visit of 2,5 Days, composed of an Ankara Half a Day part for the Turkish Authorities, and an almost 2 Days part apparently consecrated to efforts to bring closer Together the Catholic and Orthodox Christians, in a path towards ReUnification of Christians throughout Europe and all the World ;

A path initialy opened by late Pope, saint John- Paul II as early as since his 2001 visit to Greece, just after a landmark "Ecumenical Declaration of Strasbourg", bringing together Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox, Christians, followed by Pope Emeritus Benedict's 1st visit to Turkey and to Patriarch Bartholomeos, back on 2006.

However, after the atrocious bloody Murder of the former Head of the Caatholic Church in Turkey, Mgr Padovani, right when he was preparing to travel to Cyprus for a Collective gathering of representatives of all Christian Communities in the Middle East on 2010, and, particularly, since the recent Ukranian Crisis of 2014, there is, Today, an obvious Need to both saveguard and re-vitalise Christians' presence and path towards Unity throughout all Europe, and at its Neighbouring Countries.

 
*Mulhouse/Angelo Marcopolo/- No Cold War division of Europe when Islamic Extremist Terrorists as ISIS' atrocious BeHeaders threaten it, but a Strong Franco-German core of a much better Integrated €uroZone, and a slimer but larger EU focused on certain big policies, possibly with Ukraine, but without Turkey, urged Today the Top-EuroPolitician who had notoriously succeeded to Stop a War between Russia and Georgia, back on 2008, Nicola Sarkozy, at crucial moment for the Ukranian Crisis, which affects all Europe and well beyond..

 
  - "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 World 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 front-runner to a race for the Leadership of main Opposition party, UMP, Nicolas Sarkozy, that Polls, political logic and many People, picture as the most probable future Winner at the forthcoming Presidential Election of 2017.

   - "That's common sense", he concluded, indirectly but surely criticizing the opposite, "Cold War" trend as Nonsense, in a Criticism which was Widely Applauded on that obviously Topical point Tonight, 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 the Brutal Islamic Extremists BeHeaders and throw-cutters of ISIS emerge around Europe, from Africa's Sahel up to Iraq and Syria etc. While also realizing that Sarkozy seems to be the only able to attract Voters both from the Center and the Right sides of France's political spectrum, as, already, his 3 Brillant and crystal-clear Wins both at the Presidential and Parliamentary 2007 National Elections, as well as at the 2009 European Elections, attest. The 2012 incident being precisely due to the fact that some Apparatchics undermined, misled and even almost muzzled, up to the last days of a pre-electoral campaign (which was marked even by a Deadly Terrorist attack not yet entirely elucidated), his authentic and popular positions on key issues, slyly restricting his original links to the People then.

    + Meanwhile, "Recent developments show that we were Right when, Together with (German) Chancellor Merkel, we had Opposed NATO's Enlargement to Ukraine", he reminded, the same Day that reports about "Total War" warnings had arrived from the Crisis' area.

 This occured a the same time that the World-wide Public Opinion was shocked by the atrocious spectacle of even more atrocious be-headings of helpless hostages by coward criminals of the Islamic Extremist ISIS Terrorist gang, who also Cut the Throats of eleven disarmed Syrian soldiers, POWS, while it was reported that among the horrible, Deadly Criminals were at least 3 French citizens, (who, like almost all the others, had travelled from Europe to Turkey, anti-chamber for Iraq/Syria). 

Only recently, during the last 10 Months : from December 2013 until October 2014, according to the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ISCR), cited Today by CoE's PanEuropean Anti-Terrorism Experts' (CODEXTER) sources, among those travelling mainly through Turkey, to Fight with "ISIS" armed Deadly Terrorists in Syria, were more than 1.752 citizens of European Union Countries, (such as the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, etc, in descending order, according to the respective Numbers for each one among EU's 28 Member States, totalling some 550 Million Citizens in all), 800 from Russia (with 150 Millions of Citizens), 400 from Turkey (with 75 Millions of Citizens), which notoriously  serves as road for Supplies, Money Laundering, Weapons, Recruits, etc. to various Islamic Extremist Terrorists,  including ISIS, who have emerged from -and are still based - at its Borders, etc. In addition, according to American mainstream Media, (such as "Washington Times", etc), several other individuals had tried to leave the U.S. to join ISIS too, (some having fallen in disguised FBI agents' traps at the Internet)...

So that, even in the USA, the recent Mid-Term Elections' surprising results, revealed that the American People were more Worried about ISIS (including on its reported links inside the US, via some among the reported "Islamisation" lobbies activated there in recent years), than about Ukraine... 

    - Sarkozy also pleaded in favour of a strong Franco-German "Convergence" in a Dual Europe, where €uroZone's currently 18 Member States would Deepen their Integration, with main Economic policy Decisions being taken by Heads of State/Governments according to the Magnitude of their population, while, on the contrary, the EU's 28 Countries would Enlarge further to 32, 34 or 35 Member States in the foreseable Future, focusing, at the same time, to certain "Big Policies", such as Industry, Agriculture, Energy, etc, but enhancing EU Parliament by giving it also a Legislative Initiative, after almost 30 Years of Direct Elections by EU Citizens,  (as he said by developing further the overall schema that he had initially presented at the Adenauer Foundation, when it had invited him to speak in Berlin, back on February 28, 2014, after a more than 1 Hour-long exchange with Angie Merkel at the Chancelery).

    I.e, something which apparently implies a sooner than expected possibility for Ukraine's EU Accession, (for which Sarkozy had already Opened a way, as early as since 2008, by officially recognizing  -then as EU Chairman- that it's an "unquestionably European Country", as he had declared, together with long-time f. EU Commission President Barroso, when was welcoming in Paris the former Ukranian President Jushenko, (See relevant "EuroFora"s  Report, then, sent from the spot, at Elysee Palace : .....).

    An almost Austria and/or Finland-like formula,  open to Ukraine's eventual EU bid, but recalcitrant yet to a NATO enlargement, where, mutatis-mutandis, even Ukranian President Poroshenko and Russian President Putin, might, eventually find a ground for a compromise Agreement..

    However the People spontaneously applauded when he reminded his famous opposition to Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, on the contrary, based mainly on the fact that it's not a European but simply an Asian Country, geograpically, historicaly and culturaly, (Unlike European Ukraine), something which doen't exclude at all for it to be, nevertheless, a normal Country with its own Dignity, that he always scrupulously respected,in his Statements, (sometimes even more than certain others)..

    Sarkozy was speaking during a massive Political Meting at the "Palais des Sports" mega-Building, in Strasbourg's Region Alsace's Mulhouse City, at a Trilateral Border between France, Germany and Switzerland, close to where will soon take place OSCE's Annual Ministeral Summit at the beginning of December 2014, which is due to focus on Ukraine, very probably in Cooperation with CoE and EU, as the two Chairmen of both PanEuropean/TransAtlantric Organisations, Belgian vice-Prime Minister Reynders, (a notorious Sarkozy's Friend), and Swiss President Burkhalter, respectively, have already indicated to "EuroFora",  at various moments and formats, earlier.

  On this occasion, the experienced Top French Euro-Politician, (who has also Chaired both the EU, the 1st €uroZone Summit and CoE, as well as the G8 and G20, in addition to welcoming an official visit of the Pope), confirmed also a strong will to boost Citizens' active participation in all decisions of  a renovated and popular UMP party, able to forge Direct Contacts between its Political Leadership and the People, without any risk to be short-circuited by "intermediaries", as he stressed, referring to one of the most interesting aspects of his Victorious 2007 and 2009 National and European Elections. For that purpose, Sarkozy promised, in particular, to open a Permanent and Direct possibility for all simple militants to present their opinions, exchange views and/or receive replies from the Party leaders, through Modern Internet patforms, as he said, (I.e. an obviously interesting Political Innovation very close to "EuroFora" project's original idea !).. 

Meanwhile, he started already moving in this direction, by accepting to reply even "live" to Questions raised by simple Citizens, Members of the Party, in all his recent Political Meetings, including Today's. We must guarantee Free Speech to all Militants, and not fear to hear what People have to say, nor exclude Public Debates on everything that matters to them, because, otherwise, there is always a risk to be surprized by some popular reactions only afterwards, Sarkozy critically observed, (in an obvious hint to the exceptional results of various kinds of "EuroSceptics", particularly among the Rightists, but also from the Leftists, in the latest, May 2014, EU Parliament's Elections), largely applauded by a numerous audience. 

We need a reNovated and reVitalized, great Party based on Values, where f.ex. a CEO can meet and speak with his Workers, a Rich man with a Poor one, (etc), he characteristically concluded, while, in addition, as one of his allies, the current Mayor of Mulhouse City, Jean Rottner, speaking to Journalists, included "EuroFora", confirmed that Sarkozy, during a meeting with Strasbourg Region Alsace's political representatives, earlier Today, confirmed his recent promises, to popular French NGO's as "Common Sense", that he is in favor of Repealing a controversial and unpopular recent Bill which imposed (despite large Protests and Opposition by Millions of People, astonishingly Oppressed in an so brutal way that it shocked as unprecedented in Modern France, and was even Condemned by a CoE Assembly's Resolution), the so-called "Same Sex Marriage" and even "Adoptions" of Children by Homosexuals, as well as, particularly, in order to clearly and definitively Outlaw any risk to see the atrocious "Surrogate Mothers" exploitation and/or the Artificial Procreations of Human Beings, being Massively abused by many Tens of Thousands of Homosexual couples in the foreseable Future, (resulting in a Dangerous control by Technocrats of the Procreation of many Human Beings). The former French President's stance on such topical BioEthical issue, obviously dangerous for all Humankind, were even more crystal-clear in the 2007 and,2012 Presidential Elections, but, in the latter, a more than +5% group of Participating Voters among the "Far Rightists", suddenly prefered to Vote "Blanc" or "Nul" for other reasons, practicaly provoking a facticious "win" of the "Socialist" Party, even if it remained a Minority among the Voters)..

As for the experienced, former Minister, and current President of Strasbourg's Region Alsace, Philippe Richert, speaking earlier to "EuroFora" and other Journalists on the spot, he focused on Sarkozy's anouncement that he would never accept another, highly Controversial Draft Law, that Socialist MPs just adopted Today at the Parliament in Paris, which obliges Alsace to fusion together with Lorraine and Champagne-Ardenne, inside a Huge, North-Eastern France's Mega-Region, whose proposed name "ALCA", obviously risks to be maliciously difformed by competitors or adversaries in .. "ALCA(PONE) Region, unavoidably reminding that World-famous Mafia network Chief at Chicago in the Past ; A Borderline area, as "ALCA" is suggested to become, by sharing borders with other 4 Countries : from Switzerland and Germany, up to Luxembourg and Belgium. - It's a very Bad Reform, which risks to practically Destroy our Region's identity, cohesion and role, by artificially adding it inside a patchwork of various other regions, without any idea on how they will be governed all together, only in order to satisfy some politicians of the governing part, and without even consulting the concerned People, denounced inter alia Richert, while also tabling at a forthcoming joint meeting between representatives of the National Assembly and the Senate, (which had Rejected, on the contrary, the proposed "Fusion"), to become "a 1st Step" towards a Change of that controversial Bill, knowing also, after Sarkozy's crystal-clear Opposition anounced Today, that, at any case, it is almost certainly due to be abrogated just in a few years' time... 

As for Charles Buttner, experienced President of Superior Rhine's Department, located at the Heart of the "Drei Ecker Land", i.e. the Land standing between 3 European Countries : France - Germany - Switzerland, and one of the Political Leaders of Alsace who are the most Opposed to the Controversial "ALCA" Reform project, speaking to "EuroFora", didn't avoid a spontaneous big Laugh when he heard about the Risk to be called ... "ALCA(PONE) Region" by any malicious competitor region in the Future, (while also risking to progressively forget, or Blurr in the collective Memory, the Historic names of the concerned Regions, which are well known until Today)... 

Moreover, new MEP from Strasbourg's area, Anne Sander, a former collaborator of EPP Group's and currently Party's President Joseph Daul, speaking to "EuroFora" at this same Mulhouse event, she appeared concerned also about the Future of the "OberRhein/Superior Rhine" Trilateral TransBorder EuroRegion, between France, Germany and Switzerland, which "is a very good Project", as she stressed, strategically located for Sarkozy's plan for a deeper Franco-German Integration at €uroZone's core. 

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 ("DraftNews", as already sent to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be published asap). 

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*Strasbourg/- A Good Surprise in Romania, a GeoPolitically Strategic EU Country, with the Election of Klaus Iohannis at the Presidency, as successor of Troian Basescu, (who had already completed the maximum of allowed mandates : 2),  wining at the final vote with a Crystal-clear absolute Majority of about 54,5% against 45,4% to the Socialist out-going Prime Minister Ponta, (i.e. a Big Difference of almost + 10 % more), contrary to most Polls' misleading pseudo-prognostics :

F. leader of Romania's small German Minority and Mayor of Sibiu, an Historic City well known to the Council of Europe, already since 1997 (f.ex. with an organised visit during the PanEuropean, Organization's Parliamentary Assembly's Standing Committee, where "EuroFora"s co-founder was invited : Comp. our NewsReport from  Bucarest at "TCWeekly"), which has notoriously become recently European Capital of Culture together with Luxembourg, Iohannis' election is obviously due to boost the role of EU Citizens, as actors of Intra-EU migration, in the development of a real common European conscience and Integration. (Recently offering several Examples, as also that of nearby German Kehl City's New Mayor, Toni Vetrano, of Italian origin : Comp. his replies to "EuroFora"s questions at : ..., and of the new Leader of EU Parliament's German ChristianDemocrats/EPP MEPs , David McAllister, of Brittish origin, from Scotland, etc).

It's not by pure chance that German-culture Iohannis, (whose Family Name stems from the Greek word for "John", and who succeeded to build an Alliance of all Center-Right Parties, including "Citizens' Force", inside a brand new "Christian-Liberal Alliance"), was supported also by the important Hungarian-culture Minority of Romanians, even the Italian-origin and other minorities, etc., as well as, already since the 1st round of the 2014 Presidential Election,  by more than 46% of Romanians living in various other EU Countries, compared to only 15,8% for the controversial out-going Socialist f. Prime Minister Ponta, his only competitor at the 2nd round.

The additional fact that he was also, professionaly involved in Scientific Education on Physics, (as German Chanellor Angie Merkel, at EU's Top Politics, as well as, by a coincidence, ..."EuroFora"s Scientific advisor Dr. Constantin Marcopoulos, at EU Citizens' grassroots level), but also a Popular and succesful Mayor of Sibiu City, that he boosted as EU Capital of "Culture" too as early as since 2007,  certainly couldn't but be Helpful...  Indeed, meanwhile, Merkel had reportedly send a Letter to Iohannis recently, praising  his "Managerial Skills" and "authentic European Spirit", wishing, particularly after the Accession of his Romanian Party the EU-wide ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party (chaired in Brussels by Strasbourg-origin EuroPolitician Joseph Daul), a "great Determination and Energy" for a hopefully "Succesful" result of his new "Christian-Liberal Alliance".

The enthousiasm revealed by an exceptional for nowadays Romania popular Participation in that Vote : more than 61%, seems due to Iohannis' main focus on Reforms for "Rule of Law" against Corruption, (notoriously endemic in the Past, particularly around the Socialdemocrats, who had brutaly reacted when the outgoing President Basescu had started a first attempt to really tackle corruption, even at the Highest levels, a few years earlier), as well as on Education (No 1 among his Priorities), a Modern, High-Tech and Competitive Economy, instead of a "Cheap Labour" only quest, as well as in a long series of "Values", (starting by "Democracy, Freedom and Family, Dignity", etc, and concluding by "Professional Skills, Fair Competitiveness, Efficiency, Seriousness, etc. including his leit-motiv about the"Philosophy of a Job Well done", "Unifying Energies to obtain a Common Goal"),  with a Strong policy on Children-raising to revitalise Demography inside the 7th biggest among 28 EU Countries without massive Non-European immigration, but also a guiding concern towards serving best the Country's interests by finding ways to merge them with all mainstream Europe's General Interest.

All this gives Hopes that Iohannis will be able to guarantee a good EU Presidency by Romania, for the 1st time in History, on 2019, i.e. at a crucial moment for the Next EU Parliament's Elections, Europe-wide, that even the New EU Commission's President, Jean-Claude Juncker, has prognosticated as expected to be particularly "Hot" among EU Citizens and Parties in political Stakes for Europe's foreseable Future...

In this regard, inter alia, the Strategic Idea of a Rhine-Danube Rivers' link with the Black Sea, thanks to the idealy located Romania, (together with its neighbouring Bulgaria, and/or perhaps also Ukraine, at least partially), for Liquefied Gas Energy Transports, DIRECTLY to the EU, by New-Technology equiped River/Sea Ships loaded with containers from Central Asia's Kaspian area, (f.ex. via Georgia-Azerbaidjan, etc), and/or even Russia, (which is also Member of the Danube River commission Headquartered at Budapest, Hungary, and cooperating with its sister-body of the Rhine River Commission, Europe's oldest International organisation - Headquartered in Strasbourg), looks Timely : 

It was strongly supported by the out-going long-time Romanian President Traian Basescu, (a former Merchant Fleet Senior Officer, and representative in Brussels, before entering Politics and becoming, as Iohannis, Mayor of Bucarest, Party Leader, etc, who has clearly announced that he would "Vote for Iohannis", since the Summer, (i.e. when Polls were uncertain or even negative, before Citizens' Final Vote gives him a clear Victory in a Last-minute Surprise move). And, should, normally, be also, if not, even more energetically pursued by the New President-elect of the Country, given not only his German-Culture origins, (German People having in History settled with their Families all along the Danube River, up to the Black Sea's Romanian Delta and even Ukraine), but also his "pro-European" views : Particularly now that the EU has just decided to focus also on Energy Supplies and Transport links, just before Juncker announces his 300 Billions € "Investments" Plan for the forthcoming period of 2015-2017, (Comp. relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReports from EU Parliament's October Plenary in Strasbourg, and the subsequent EU Summit in Brussels).