newsitems

*Strasbourg/- Sly attempts, by some previous Governments notoriously linked to the Turkish Oppressive regime,  to "Split a Family" of Political Dissidents, both by Force and by a viciously Discriminatory Treatment which Separated the Members of that Family between them for 5 Years, resulting in a situation where they were practicaly Hindered even to See eachother and maintain direct Contacts, except only by "Visits" to far away Countries, Distant for many Thousands of Kms between them, (See Infra), were strongly  Condemned Today in Strasbourg, by an Unanimous ECHR's Judgement, as blatant Violations of the Human Right to Respect of Family life.

    The case concerned a Kurdish Family with Children, who had been obliged to "Flee Turkey", since "1993", after the Father, "a Mechanics and Professional Driver", who "Sympathised with the PKK", (even without having participated to it), "like may other Members of his Family", as f.ex. his "Older Brother" who had "obtained (Political) Asylum" in Europe, "felt Persecuted by Turkish Authorities", in "Several occurances", "because" he had allegedly "Assisted the PKK", and "Feared for his Life", so that, after "Violent Conflicts between Turkish Authorities and Kurdish People in 1992 and 1993", (notoriously Brutal), "found Necessary" to seek Asylum both for himself and his Family in Norway, after "spending a period as Refugees in Iraq", "after his Parent's House" at "Sirnak City", where he had left his Wife, "was set on Fire" and Burned down, (as many other Kurdish Dissidents' Homes destroyed by the Turkish Militay and/of its infamous "Village Guards", most probably in the framework of Turkish Government's "Scorched Earth" policies, that an abundant ECHR's case-law has already revealed in Strasbourg since 1995-1996 : Comp. f.ex. the famous "Akdivar" affair), as it results from the outset at Today's Judgement.

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Following an "older Brother" who had already been obliged to flee away from Turkey and "obtained (Political) Asylum in Denmark", as early as since 1988, Both Husband and Wife of the Dissident Family, and their 2 first Children came in Norway, where they gave Birth to a 3rd Child, during previous ChristianDemocrat Governments (known as "Bondevic 1 and II Governments), between 1998 and 2005.  Meanwhile, the Father, who had preceded and prepared the way for his Family to join him, after working (even irregularly) for years in Norway, had even dared face an imprisonment of 1 Month  when he reacted to the "Serious Insults against his Family", which had been uttered by another Man, who had also "Provoked" the Dissident Head of Family, particularly "by Hitting his Face", etc., before the victim was obliged to reply by inflicting a "not considerable" "injury" to the "shoulder" of the aggressor, who had later "Withdrawn" a "complaint" against Kaplan, as Norwegian Courts' had, (according to ECHR's judgement), already found back on 1999.

But, suddenly, from the 1st Year of a "Socialist" past Government, (known as "Soltenberg II Government"), on November 2006, the Husband of the Family of Political Dissidents opposed to the notoriously Oppressive Turkish Government, was astonishingly "ordered" to be "Expelled" to Turkey, and his re-entry in Norway Prohibited for an Indefinite duration ! + Moreover, he was immediately (in the next 2 Days !) Arrested and Detained for 2 Weeks. The Worse incident took place on 2011, when after his appeals to the local Courts were Rejected on 2010, finaly, the Head of that dissident Kurdish Family was effectively Expelled by force to Turkey during the Summer, shortly after former Foreign Minister of Norway, "Socialist" Jonas Gahr Store, had visited Ankara to meet there Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu back on the Spring of that same year, (followed even by a subsequent Davutoglu visit to Norway at that same crucial Month of July 2011, at another occasion).

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However, Today, on July 2014, i.e. only Months after the new ChristianDemocrat/Rightist Government won the late 2013 National Elections in Norway, that Kurdish Dissident finaly won his case at the ECHR in Strasbourg, which found that the former "Socialist" Government's overall negative behavior had Violated the Human Right to Family (Art. 8 of the PanEuropean HR Convention) vis a vis both the expelled Father, and his Wife, as well as their 3 Children, awarding them a relevant Financial Compensation as Victims. Significantly, the new, ChristianDemocrat/Rightist Government of Norway had openly decided not even to contest at all the amounts of Money for Reparation of Damages and Costs that the Victims' Lawyer had asked from the ECHR.

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It's interesting to note that ECHR, exceptionaly observes Critically also the fact that that former "Socialist" Government, curiously, without any known serious reason, imposed a Discriminatory Treatment among the members of that same Family, by granting a Residence (and even a Work permit) only to the Wife (10 Years Younger than her Husband) and their Children, as well as Norwegian Citizenship, ...both shortly before and after Expelling her Husband alone to Turkey !However, there was "No .. Obstacle preventing" them "to Accompagny" the Father "if the Familly resettled" back in the Country of its origin, EuroJudges observed, critcizing the induced separation.

=> Euro-Judges, therefore, concluded that, in fact, "the competent Authorities Expected that the Family would be Split", as Today's ECHR Judgement explicitly denounces.

 - And that "Family Split" would be provoked "as a Result of the Expulsion" of the Father, "at least .. for a  5 Years Period, during which" his Children and Wife were practicaly "Prevented from Seing him, other than by Visiting him", (i.e. as .. Tourists, instead of living anew all together as a united Family), ECHR's Judgement critically observes.

- "However", this "does Not appear to have .... Reasons .. Sufficient to show that the Disputed Interference", by the former "Socialist" Norwegian Government, in the Victims' Human Right to their Family life, might have "Sufficient Reasons" in order "to show that the disputed Interference was Necessary" at the present case, ECHR found.

- In particular, ECHR explained that among "Factors to be taken into Account, ... are the Extend to which Family Life is effectively Ruptured, ...the Ties  in the (Host) State, ... Obstacles in the way of the Family living in the Country of Origin, .. and whether Family Life was Created at a Time when (they) were Aware (of a).. Precarious" "status of one of them", as well as the degree of eventual "considerations of Public Order".

=> In consequence, "having regard to all of the above considerations,  and "Notablly" the "Long-lasting Bonds", as well as the "special Care Needs", particularly between a "Child" and "her Father", but also "the Long Period ...before the immigration Authorities ....order his Expulsion with a re-entry Ban", ECHR was "Not convinced", "Nor Satisfied that the Authorities" stroke "a Fair Balance" between that Father's "Need to ... Remain" in the Country where his Family was, "in order to Maintain his Contact", (particularly "with his Daughter"), and, "on the other hand", "the Interests of ... the Country", (f.ex. on "Economy", Public Order, etc), "according to the Government"'s claims.

EuroJudges clearly Rejected, in particular, an obviously Scandalous claim that an imposed Separation "for 5 Years did not.. involve a permanent Splitting up of the Family", since the expulsion imposed by the former "Socialist" Government "would Expire in July 2016"...

>>> In fact, the Father's "Expulsion.. with a 5 Year re-entry Ban", (which had been decided and executed by force from the Past, "Socialist" former Government of Norway, even if it had been, meanwhile reduced from an initially .. "Indefinite Duration" : Comp. Supra), "entailed a Violation of Article 8 of the (PanEuropean) Convention" on Human Rights, which protects the "right to respect of Family life", ECHR's Judgement Denounced "Unanimously". Condemning the respondent State to pay a Just Satisfaction for non-pecuniary Damages and all the Legal Costs of the procedure to the Victims.

 

In the present case, the Family of Kamran and Naime Kaplan, with their 3 Children, was United by Fighting Together a Hard Battle, (including by lodging a Collective Complaint to the ECHR signed by all of them), until they Won it, 3 Years after they had been Obliged to be Separated against their real Free Will, by a series of imposed circumstances which did not depend on them, most probably targetted because of their Political Opposition to a notoriously Oppressive Foreign Regime out of Europe.

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Various other Brutal and/or Sly, Vicious covert Attempts by Oppressive regimes to "Split the Family" of Political Dissidents, have become Notorious World-wide by the Humanistic and Compative Denonciation made by World-Famous American Actor and Film Director Charlie Chaplin against "Cold War" McCarthism's Witch-Hunt, at his landmark Artistic masterpiece film "A King in New York", with which he said "good buy" to the U.S. of that period, preferring to live self-Exiled in Europe since 1952.

 Chaplin's masterpiece notoriously pictured the scandal about a Kid of Political Dissidents, whose initialy Honest, Strong and Intelligent Personality was practicaly Destroyed  by that Oppressive era's scandalously intrusive USA State Agents, who pushed him even to Betray his own Mother and Father, as well as their closest Friends. Such Tragic Scenarios convinced Chaplin to definitively go away from the McCarthist USA of the "Cold War" era, and produced that Film in France, where it was Hindered to be published but only 5 Years later at the UK (on 1957), while in the USA it wasn't authorized before the 1970ies...

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In fact, this was the Opposite from anOther, also Famous, landmark Film : - The Historic, 1948 Masterpiece by Joseph Losey : "The Boy with Green Hair", on an Orphan of War, which was reportedly inspired, on the contrary, by the Human and Combative Honesty of another Couple of simple but conscious American Citizens, who undertook, during that same Difficult "McCarthy" period, to welcome as one of their own Children, protect and raise a fragile Child of a Political Dissidents' Family, as that of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, the couple of a Scientist notoriously slandered, arrested, condemned, and killed by execution in one of the Worst moments of "Cold War" McCarthysm on 1953, because they were suspected to have revealed the secret of the Nuclear Bomb, after the Hiroshima-Nahashaki horrible Massacre of innocent Civilian People by a USA Military Airplane's bombing in Japan, also to the Russians a.o., in order to saveguard a Balance of powers Worldwide, (instead of unilateral Domination only by one side),  able to guarantee Peaceful "Detente" for Decades :

 

Something that they strongly Denied, admitting to have discussed certain other issues, but not that much, with pro-Russian links, in the Court proceedings which resulted in what was rightfully named as "the most Controversial Execution in USA's History", and was later denounced also by the killed Dissidents' own Son : Robert Meeropol, who had the chance to be protected and raised by a Family of Friends noble enough to let the boy learn all the Truth about his killed Father and Mother, and be Proud of them, as he's proven, inter alia, also by his own Book, published in the Memory of his Parents, that Rosenberge's son wants to use even Today in order to Defend Freedom of Speech and Information, (f.ex in the "Wikileaks" case on the Persecution of Asange, etc : http://www.democracynow.org/2010/12/30/son_of_julius_and_ethel_rosenberg ).

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Even the current Prime Minister of France, Manuel Valls, himself of Spanish origin, in his 1st official Visit in Strasbourg, as former Minister of Interior (JHA), back on July 2012, who had been reportedly send here directly after speaking with French President Francois Hollande during a  Governemental visit at Marseille, in order to inaugurate a Monument and participate at the award of the Prize of People of "Justice", (supported by famous former EU Parliament's President, Academician Simone Veil : Comp. Veil's Statements to "EuroFora" at a prestigious Sorbone University's Conference on 2010 in Paris, already sent earlier to Subscribers/Donors, as well as from former long-time French President Jacques Chirac, both included among those honored by that Monument, symbolically erected right there where Strasbourg's Historic Synagogue was located, before being Destroyed and burned down during the NAZI Military Occupation, at nowadays' "Place des Halles"), had stressed the importance of safeguarding the Memory of Horrible Crimes, but also of People who dared struggle against them, in order to save other Fellow Humans' Freedom and/or Lives, so that we can hope to prevent and/or avoid the repetition of any such, similar or even worse Crime against Humanity both in the Present and in Future,  (Comp. Valls' reply to "EuroFora"s Question then, already sent to Subscribers/Donors earlier).

 

This was done on the occasion of that Prize's award particularly to a couple of Alsacian People who had hidden among their own Children, protected and raised, the then Baby Daughter of a Resistant Jewish Family, where the Father and Mother had been obliged to Emigrate elsewhere because of NAZI's persecution , entrusting their Children to a few such Honest and Brave People, who were willing and able to transmit the History of those persecuted Parents to their Children, in order to keep them United, even after that Family's forced Separation : Their small Girl, who had been saved and kept aware of her Father and Mother's Heroic Struggle, was present at that 2012 Prize Award Ceremony in Strasbourg, a noble Old Lady now, but, still submerged by strong Emotion, even more than Half a Century after those Tragic Events, she kindly asked to forgive her for still feeling so moved, by those Memories, that she couldn't realy speak in front of a numerous public.

 

*Strasbourg/- Small and Medium Enterprises and Innovation are at the forefront of EU's official policy in Economic and Social developments, as well as particularly vis a vis EU Citizens, specially during the recent period which has hardly hit Europe since the Global Crisis, and this EU claim has been repeatedly used by many EU Politicians during both the previous (2009) and the latest (2014) EU Parliament's Elections.

But, curiously, European SME businessmen and EU Citizens, (some of whom are reportedly even committing suicide until these days, driven in despair by manifold negative consequences of the Crisis), would be revolted to find out that, among the few EU Funds currently available for SMEs and Innovation (about 7,75 Millions € only !), scandalously, it's a Third, ...Non-European, but Asian (by geography, culture, history and origin) Country, with a notoriously Oppressive, Militarist and War-mongering regime : Turkey, (on pretext of Ankara's controversial and unpopular EU bid), which will take much MORE E.U. MONEY than several European and EU-Member Countries, (many of which will even be TOTALY DEPRIVED from any 1€ at all, in this important domain, notoriously a key for Development, Competitiveness and Growth :

- Thus, according to the latest Data just published in Brussels by the out-going EU Commission, at least 2 Turkish businesses are going to receive EU Funds, normaly destinated to help EU's SMEs innovation projects,  i.e. AS MUCH AS the European (plus EEE Member) Norway (!), and EU Member Countries as Estonia, Slovenia, etc., but even ..MORE than many EU Countries ; f.ex. Poland (which has only 1 project funded, instead of 2 for Turkey !), Portugal, Latvia, Bulgaria, etc.

 

While several other EU Member Countries don't receive NOTHING at all, (since they don't have not even 1 SME project financed by those EU Funds for Innovation): Such as the notoriously suffering now Greece, (also  threatened by Turkey with Military Attacks and War for many years, if it dared exploit urgently needed Aegean Sea's Natural Resources in Gas/Oil, etc), Cyprus (still illegaly semi-Occupied by Turkey's Army since a 1974 Military Invasion Condemned by the UNO, and found responsible for manifold serious Violations of Human Rights by the ECHR, etc), Malta, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Belgium. To which are added even Iceland and Switzerland, (as European Countries and EEE Members).

 

I.e., some 16 European Countries, and more than 134 Millions of Europeans Citizens,  get less EU Funds for SMEs Innovation than Turkey's only 75 Millions inhabitants, or (for most of them : Comp. Supra) Nothing at all ! In other words, a notoriously Anti-Democratic  and aggressive Asiatic Minority gets more of its SMEs' projects Financed by EU Funds for Innovation, than a European Majority of Democracies, with almost a Douple Population of EU Citizens, who either get Less than Turkey, or even (for most of them) Nothing at all !
 

Facts that many may find revolting, a fortiori, when all those EU Funds for Turkey come from EU Taxpayers' Money, during a particularly Hard Global Crisis' period,  - including from Poor People, who pay VAT on almost all their meager revenues, and even from EU tax-paying European SME's themselves. While, on the contrary, Turkish Businesses ... don't give a Dime to the EU !

 

The outgoing EU Commission cannot, eventualy, claim that it might not have had enough Candidacies at its disposal, since it's more than ...2.666 SMEs throughout all Europe which presented various Innnovation projects for EU Funding since this 1st part of the Multi-Annual EU "Horizon" Program for Scientific Research and Technological Innovation in Public+Private operations, where only 155 SMEs from 21 Countries were awarded EU grants. 

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/(SHORTER VERSION)- EU Parliament's Plenary clearly Voted Today in Strasbourg, for the 1st time, UNANIMOUSLY, a Strong Call to "Protect Civilians", "stick to a Cease Fire" and "establish an Inclusive National Dialogue" in Ukraine for "a Political Solution".

 

These unanimous July 17th's Resolution key-points, strongly voted in the 1st working Plenary Session of the New EU Parliament at the Start of its 5 Years-long Mandate (2014-2019), should normally have an Important Influence f.ex. on the Next EU Heads of State/Government's Summit, that has just been decided for August 30 in Brussels (as "EuroFora" had warned earlier : See ...), considering also the fact that the recently Elected New EU Commission's President, former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, has also stressed his wish "for a Political Solution" (and Not Military one) in Ukraine, in earlier Statements to "EuroFora", (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/junckerforpoliticalsolutioninukraine.html). 

Surprisingly, while sharply Divided on most Other issues, the New EU Parliament, as it emerged from May 2014 EU-wide Elections, succeeded to forge an unprecedented European Unity on a Core issue of elementary Human Values, obviously at stake in the Deadly, Destructive and atrocious Sufferings even of Simple and Fragile Civilian People, in the embattled South-Eastern areas of Ukraine, where Dissident, Federalist or Autonomist Populations face, since mid-April 2014, systematic Attacks, with Heavy Weapons (Tanks, Helicopters, Airplanes, Canons, "Grad" Missile' Launchers, etc), by Kiev's Military.                        

                                                                        
- In a last-minute Surprise Move, not only ChristianDemocrats of EPP and  Socialists, together with most Liberals and "Greens",.but even Leftists, Together with Rightists, "pro-European" MEPs with all sorts of "EuroSceptic" and/or so-called "AntiEuropean" MEPs,  all Together Voted, as one Person, ...606 against only 9, and 11 abstentions, (Six Hundrend Six MEPs in favour, against only Nine, and Eleven abstentioçns), to "Condemn any Targeting of Civilian Population, and Call for Strict Compliance with International Humanitarian Law" in Ukraine :

- In an unprecedented Unanimity, they all expressed "Deep Concern about the Safety of Ordinary People, who remain Trapped in the Donetsk and Luhansk areas", as well as "Deplore the Loss of Lives, and the fact that (even) Children have been registered among the Victims", before "expressing .. Heartfelt Condoleances to their Family members", and generally "Stress the Need to Protect the Civilian Population", in a last-minute Amendment at Today's EU Parliament's Resolution.

This last-minute but Key Amendment had been initially tabled by MEPs  Fleckenstein and Victor Bostinaru, of the SocialDemocrat Group, before being Extended further by an Oral Addition from ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Saryusz-Wolski, Massively Voted also not only by the Liberals and the "Greens", but even by the Conservatives, UKIP's "Freedom and Democracy" Group, together with the Leftists, as well as by the Rightists of Marie Le Pen and various other "Independent" MEPs, from "Communists" up to "Real Swedish",or "Danish", "New Right", etc., until such a Text gathered, throughout all EU Parliament, the Record-High score of 606 Votes for, against only 9...

- This was added to a Draft Joint Resolution where EU Parliament already "Condemns the ongoing Violence and Daily Loss of Lives in Eastern Ukraine, the Destruction of Homes, and Properties (including Factories, etc), and the Flight of Many Thousand Civilians from Conflict areas to Safe Havens".

+ Later was added also a call "Urging" all sides... to Fully Respect International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and International Human Rights Law". This concerns, right from the Start, mainly "the Ukranian Security Forces", "when conducting So-called "Anti-Terrorist" Operations", but it was later extended also  in a "Call on Rebels" "to do the Same", and not use Civilians as Human Schields", (according to a Polish MEP Saryuswolski's last minute partial addition).

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    + Even More Important : It's also with a Huge Quasi-Unanimous Majority of 564 Votes for, and only 24 Votes against, that EU Parliament"s Plenary in Strasbourg clearly adopted Today (Thursday, July 17), another Key Amendment, topically "Urging all sides to ... STICK TO A CEASEFIRE, which Needs to be Declared and Strictly Implemented, as Soon as possible".

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    ++ Of Fundamental Practical and Political Importance is also anOther last-minute Amendment, with which EU Parliament "Emphasizes ... the Importance of Establishing an Inclusive National DIALOGUE", (i.e. reminding a similar point already introduced by April 17, 2014, Geneva-Agreement on Ukraine, between the Russian, USA, German and Ukranian Foreign Ministers. This  Amendmenwas too was adopted by a strong Majority of 543 Votes for, only 69 Votes against, and 27 Abstentions.

    In addition, this adopted EU Parliament's text also "calls for a sustainable Reconciliation process", as well as it "undelines the Need for Confidence-Building between Various Communities" in Ukraine, and to "avoid Propaganda, Hate Speech and Rhetoric which mau further Aggravate the Conflict", according to this same succesful Amendment.
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        *  Last but not least, on issues of grave Human Rights' violations, the New EU Parliament also clearly confirmerd, the previous EU Parliament's  Strong call (See previous "EuroFora"s NewsReport of April 2014 : .....) for  a "thoroughly and Impartial INVESTIGATION", particularly on "All allegations of Abusive use of Force, ill-Treatment or Torture", as well as "Incidents of reported Abductions".

Indeed, by adopting also Amendment No 4, MEPs  "expresse(d) .. Firm Condemnation of the Abductions, Savage Beatings, Torture, Murders, Extra-Judicial Killings, and other Serious Abuses of Human Rights, and Breaches of Humanitarian Law, against Activists, Protesters, Journalists, and Many other Citizens .. that have occured over the last 3 Monhts", (i.e., practically during Kiev's Military Attacks on the Dissident Areas, since mid-April 2014).

    >>> This came in Addition to the main Joint Resolution, already tabled by most Groups of MEPs, and endorsed Today by all EU Parliament, which also "Calls for an independent and impartial Investigation of All the Deadly events and Crimes against Humanity, that have taken place in All parts of Ukraine ..., with the CoE", so that all "those Responsible to be brought to Justice". Because EU Parliament "is convinced that only the Effective Investigation of these Crimes will help Ukrainian society and the Families and Friends of the Victims (to) recover Trust in the institutions".

    + As a matter of General Principle, the New EU Parliament also Warned Kiev  that it's only "Provided that they Adhere to the Principles of Democracy, Respect fundamendal Freedoms, and Human and Minority Rights", that, pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on EU, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine - like any other European State - have a European Perspective, and (therefore) may Apply to become Members" of the Union", on that basis. If such perequisitives are fullfiled, then, naturaly, "the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine  (recently Signed) .. does Not constitute the Final Goal in their relations with the EU", since, any really "European" Country, (as Ukraine unquestionably is), notoriously Can become EU Member on the Condition to Respect Democracy and Human Rights.

    This was also clearly confirmed, recently in Strasbourg, also by the Experienced former EU Commission's President and Luxembourg's Prime Minister, as well as MEP, and currently Chairman of RTL Media, Jacques Santer, speaking with "EuroFora" precisely about Ukraine's Future possibilities.
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    => Significantly, the main 3 Landmark, last'minute Amendments on Key Issues for Ukraine, (Comp. Supra) were adopted by the New  EU Parliament with exceptionaly Strong Absolute Majorities, almost Quasi-Unanimously :  

    606 Votes against only 9 for the Protection of Civilian People, 564 Votes against only 24 in order to "Stick to a Cease-Fire", and 543 Votes against only 69 for establishing "Dialogue", (etc), i.e. so Big Numbers that they are very rare, prerhaps even unprecedented in EU Parliament's History.

    It's interesting, and of certain Political Importance, also to note the Fact that, so High Percentages of Votes, as those which succeeded to attract a Quasi-Unanimous Support throughout all EU Parliament's Political Groups for the above-mentioned 3 Key Issues, (protect Civilians, stick to a Cease-Fire, establish inclusive Dialogue), were Not achieved, in this same EU Parliament Today, not even for the Final Adoption of its overall Resolution on Ukraine, which got, certainly, a crystal-clear Strong Majority, solidly backed by 497 Votes for, against 121 and 21 abstentions, but not up to "unanimity"...

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+ More relevant points at EU Parliament's (both Draft + Adopted) Resolution :
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=> The relevant points in the "Joint" Resolution; which had been tabled by most Groups of MEPs a,nd finaly Adopted Today by all EU Parliament, meanwhile, include, among others, also, f.ex. :
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- Even if it "reiterates that the international community Supports the unity,sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine", nevertheless, it doesn't exclude explicitly a Federalisation, and, at any case, the Resolution "Underlines the Need for a Political (i.e. Not Military) Solution to the Crisis".  

 + In this regard, EU Parliament's Resolution notes from the outset the fact that, while "the Ukranian Army has regained Control of several Cities in Eastern Ukraine", after notorious Military Clashes and even Civilian casualties, nevertheless, Deadly "Violence still Continues" there.

 - Inter alia, also because, the Recently elected President Poroshenko, at Kiev, raises now "3 Conditions" for an eventual "Ceasefire", which becomes, then, clearly "Conditional" and hypothetic...

=> Thus; in order to urgently Stop Deadly Military Violence, EU Parliament's Resolution "Calls for a New Meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on the Settlement in south-eastern Ukraine, and supports New forms of Communication between the Parties", (i.e. Tele-Conferences, etc).

In this regard, the EU Resolution "Calls on the (EU) Commission's Vice-President/EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and on the European External Action Service (EEAS) to have  a Stronger presence and greater Visibility in the Dialogue mechanisms established with a view to Resolving the Crisis, including the Contact Group".

+ Moreover, "the role of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission should be Strengthened, with increased material and financial means", it adds.
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All this obviously is particularly Important, when, In addition, "Urgently Needed", "Domestic, Economicaly and Political Reforms", "should be Based on Solid Popular Support", as the Draft Resolution points out.

In particular, "it is of the utmost Importance to Start a gradual process of DeCentralising central powers to Regional and Municipal administrations".

>>> Therefore, it "Recalls the necessity of Ending the systematic and structural Curtailment of Human Rights, the Bad Governance, the widespread Corruption, and the colossal Shadow economy in Ukraine"; stresses the importance of the ongoing process of Constitutional Reform, and the importance of supporting the development of Civil society in achieving a true Participatory Democracy which promotes and protects Human rights, ensuring Justice and Good Governance for All People in all Regions of the country".  

 - But, for the moment, EU Parliament "expresses Deep Concern over the Worsening Human Rights and Humanitarian situation in Eastern Ukraine" in particular.

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 - That Text also observes the unusual "Fact that "some (EU) Member States are showing DisUnity" particularly by Refusing more Sanctions vis a vis Russia, and/or by Investing in its "South Stream" Project for New Gas Supply Routes towards the EU, (as f.ex. Bulgaria, Austria, etc), and/or by concluding Nuclear Energy Agreements with Moscow (as, f.e. Hungary, etc).

+ => Last but not least : As far as it concerns the forseable Future, "a three-party consultation meeting between the EU, Ukraine and Russia, a " useful process that may overcome long-lasting different understandings, by explaining the benefits of the AA/DCFTA and taking into account all the legitimate concerns of all parties", on the main EU Association and Free Trade issues.

Finaly, on Economy, EU Parliament's Resolution "underlines the necessity of finding a clear, fair and stable solution to ensure the security of GAS supply from Russia to Ukraine, as this is a necessary prerequisite for the economic development and stability of Ukraine; (where) the EU should continue to play its role in Facilitating an Agreement", (etc).

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+ Other Important Issues in last-minute Amendments on EU Parliament's Resolution on Ukraine :
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    + Moeover, Today, regarding  a key Geo-Political issue, which is notoriously hidden behind the Ukranian Conflict right from the Start, affecting also Humanitarian a.o. aspects of the provoked Crisis, MEPs also stressed, from the outset, by adopting another yet last-minute Amendment (No 6), that the EU - Ukraine Association Agreement, as well as the Free Trade area deal, "is in No way connected to NATO integration", ensuring Russia about one among its more serious concerns.

    On the Contrary, EU Parliament Rejected a Controversial attempt (Amendment 2) to Hinder France from implementing an earlier contract on two High-Tech "Mistral" Helicopter carrier ships, with advanced ITC systems, which had been sold to Russia  earlier, thanks to a deal brokered back on 2011 by former Presidents of France and Russia, Sarkozy and Medvedev.

    However, MEPs also Failed to adopt another Amendment (3), which denounced "a Dangerous and Irresponsible Zero-sum Game" and "clear signs of an Arms Race in the making", by expressing "Concern" for the fact that "US President" had "made Anouncements" recently about "Investing some one Billion Dollars in Armaments in Eastern Europe", at the same time that "NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen" reportedly made "statements .. regarding the Need to significantly Raise Levels of Defence Spending in NATO Countries , because of the role that Russia is playing in the Ukranian Crisis".

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    On Economy and EU's Energy supplies' security, EU Parliament also Rejected a highly Controversial Amendment (No 5) by the "Greens", which claimed that an alleged "decision of the Bulgarian Government to Halt works on the <<South Stream>> project" for transport of Gas towards the EU by Russia, while, also, at the same time, it was seeking to slam the "Austrian" and the "Hungarian Governents" , under pretext that the 1st "recently ... decided.. to further Invest to the <<South Stream>> project", while the 2nd "decided ... to sign an Agreement on Nuclear Energy with Russia", in addition to the "recent Visit of President Putin to Vienna, and the Signature of a <<South Stream>> related Contract between OMV and Gazprom".

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*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/(LONGER VERSION)- Fragile simple People who suffer atrociously among Deadly Military Clashes in South-Eastern Ukraine, with Destroyed Homes, Water, Electricity and/or Phones Cut, Medical Care and/or Food deprivation, Transports Blocked, Pensions stoped, Families Separated, Threats against Personal Liberty and Human Dignity, Abductions and Ill-Treatments, (etc),  all out of a sudden, ... unexpectedly marked a unique Victory Today for all Europe, from the Atlantic to the Urals or Vladivostok, and well beyond :

- They succeeded right there where all others (even the best) had failed : to Unite a sharply Divided new EU Parliament (as it emerged from May 2014 EU-wide Elections), to the point to clearly Vote Today in Strasbourg, for the 1st time, UNANIMOUSLY, a Strong Call to "Protect Civilians", "stick to Cease Fire" and "establish an Inclusive National Dialogue" for "a Political Solution" in Ukraine !

 

These unanimous July 17th Resolution key-points, strongly voted at the 1st working Plenary Session of the New EU Parliament from the Start of its 5 Years-long Mandate (2014-2019), should normally have an Important Influence f.ex. on the Next EU Heads of State/Government's Summit, that has just been decided for August 30 in Brussels (as "EuroFora" had warned earlier : See ...), considering also the fact that the recently Elected New EU Commission's President, former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, has also stressed his wish "for a Political Solution" (and Not Military one) in Ukraine, in earlier Statements to "EuroFora", (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/junckerforpoliticalsolutioninukraine.html ).

- In a last-minute Surprise Move, real European Conscience, in a Continent spontaneously United by the Memory of the Worse Atrocities against Humankind that had surfaced in a remote Past, and the Vital Need to create and Safeguard a much Better Future at the Horizon, mainly founded on elementary Respect of Basic Human Values, succeeded to Unite Together, (in a sharp reaction to the Plight of fellow Human beings from April to July 2014  at the Donetsk and Luhansk areas of Eastern Ukraine, after Maidan Square at Kiev earlier also on February 2014, in a Land which is natural part of a greater Europe, Culturally, Geographicaly and Historically), not only the ChristianDemocrats of EPP and the Socialists, together with most Liberals and "Greens", (as New EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had already managed to almost achieve, earlier this week in Strasbourg, with the Vote which Elected him last Tuesday), ...but even all the Leftists, for once standing Hand by Hand, Together with the Rightists ; all the "pro-European" MEPs, in a unique joint move with all sorts of "EuroSceptic" and/or so-called "AntiEuropean" MEPs, (an obviously Contradictory term); using all Together their Democratic Right to Vote, as one Person : ...606 against only 9, and 11 abstentions, (Six Hundrend Six MEPs in favour, against only Nine, and Eleven abst.), to clearly "Condemn any Targeting of the Civilian Population, and Call for Strict Compliance with International Humanitarian Law" in Ukraine :

- A never seen before Unanimity, (particularly in such a Dividing Issue as Ukraine's complex Geo-Politics), at least in more than 20 Years of Press Work at EU/CoE/UN+, etc. +9/1993 - 2014...

Such exceptional Facts prove that British "EuroSceptic" Nigel Farage was more Right than he thought, when he said here, last Tuesday, that he "DidN't Believe" that Jean-Claude Juncker found that "a Common European Identity" didn't exist :  (See : .....).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Indeed, it's only or mainly in "Europe", (which means "Large Front" or "Wide View", in the original, Ancient Greek Language of the word), the smallest but more inter-linked (wired) Continent in the World, that People have seen both Aphrodite and Ermes of Praxitelis, Victoire of Samothrace and Gioconda, Grunewald's "Resurection" of Christ or Renoir's and Van Cogh's landscapes, but also the NAZI Concentration Camps, the Horrible "Materials" from parts of Human bodies submittted to atrocious "Tests" by shameless Technocrats, as the infamous "Dr. Mengele", (a mere "Student" of the Armenian Genocide by Ottoman-Turcs), etc. It's here that the divine Music of Vivaldi, Bethoveen, Ravel, Chopin, Bartok, Chostakovich, and many other Top Artists was first heard, but also the desperate Cries of Thousands or Millions of People massively killed at the 1st and 2nd World War, together with the even more Horrible "Silence" of "Missing" Persons from Hitlers' "Nacht und Nebel" decreet, up to Turkish-Occupied Cyprus or former Yugoslavia, etc. It's in Europe that the very Idea and practice of even direct Democracy was born in Athens, as well as Courts and Rule of Law in Rome, Human Rights with Great Britain's "Magna Carta", the Ideas and Art of "Renaissance", same as the great Philosophers of the Enlightnment, added to Aristote and Galileo's Scientific Concepts, up to Newton and/or Einstein, etc.. But also Witch-Hunts and Pogroms, Colonialism, the Propaganda of Goebbels and "Gulag", the timely Warning of "Double-Talk" by Wells' "1984", Censorship and the beginnings of Corrupted Media, (unfortunately, now notoriously ... Globalized), etc. It's also in this same Continent, where Division even among Christians, allowed Ottoman-Turcs to Massacrate alll defenders of the Over-Millenary Christian-Greek Byzantine Empire's Historic Capital Constantinople, Destroy its Ancient Civilisation, Invade and Occupy large parts even of Central Europe, threatening Ukraine, Hungary, Austria and nowadays Germany, etc., after Sarazins had invaded earlier Spain reaching France ; while also various, very Deadly Civil Wars hit Spain, Greece, etc., even long after France's "Terror" era, etc.. But it's also here that Christian People from all over Europe, were United in arms for the 1st time in History, comming from England, Sweden, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, Russia, etc., in order to Help, with active Solidarity, Hungary to liberate, at last, all its Historic National Land, towards 1699. I.e.just before France, England, Italy and Russia, etc, united together, succesfully fought a series of landmark Naval and other Battles vis a vis the Ottoman-Turkish Occupation Army, such as in Navarino on 1827, etc., helping the Liberation and Renaissance also of Greece and other Balkan Nation States, after 500 Years of Ottoman-Turc Military Invasion and Occupation.  

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 So that, Nowadays, among others, those Atrocious, bloody Human Parts dispersed between Destroyed Civilian Buildings during Bombings by Kiev's Military at Eastern Ukraine, Maidan Square's unidentified yet but Deadly "Snipers", even Women atrociously Burned alive at Odessa, etc., Helpless Elders and/or Children killed recently at Donetsk-Luhansk, etc., can easily "Awake" real Europeans' Conscience, and make them Feel the Vital Need to at least express "Deep Concern about the Safety of Ordinary People, who remain Trapped" in such Conflict "areas", as well as "Deplore the Loss of Lives, and the fact that (ev n) Children have been registered among the Victims", before "expressing .. Heartfelt Condoleances to their Family members", and generally "Stress the Need to Protect the Civilian Population", as the above mentioned last-minute Amendment at Today's EU Parliament's Resolution on Ukraine, does quasi-Unanimously, (Comp.Supra).

The fact that this last-minute but Key Amendment had been initially tabled by MEPs  Fleckenstein and Victor Bostinaru, of the SocialDemocrat Group, before being Extended further by an Oral Addition also by ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Saryusz-Wolski, is less Important than the fact that all this (Comp. Supra) was Massively Voted also not only by the Liberals and the "Greens", but even by the Conservatives, UKIP's "Freedom and Democracy" Group, together with the Leftists, as well as by the Rightists of Marie Le Pen and various other "Independent" MEPs, from "Communists" up to "Real Swedish",or "Danish", "New Right", etc., until such a Text gathered, throughout all EU Parliament, the Record-High score of 606 Votes for, against only 9..

 

- This was added to a Draft Joint Resolution's initial Text, on this point, where EU Parliament already "Condemns the ongoing Violence and Daily Loss of Lives in Eastern Ukraine, the Destruction of Homes, and Properties (including Factories, etc), and the Flight of Many Thousand Civilians from Conflict areas to Safe Havens".

+ Later was added also a call "Urging" all sides... to Fully Respect International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and International Human Rights Law". This concerns, right from the Start, mainly "the Ukranian Security Forces", "when conducting So-called "Anti-Terrorist" Operations", but it was later extended also  in a "Call on Rebels" "to do the Same", and not use Civilians as Human Schields", (according to a Polish MEP Saryuswolski's last minute partial addition).

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    + Even More Important : It's also with a Huge Quasi-Unanimous Majority of 564 Votes for, and only 24 Votes against, that EU Parliament"s Plenary in Strasbourg clearly adopted Today (Thursday, July 17), another Key Amendment, topically "Urging all sides to ... STICK TO A CEASEFIRE, which Needs to be Declared and Strictly Implemented, as Soon as possible".
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    ++ Of Fundamental Practical and Political Value is also anOther last-minute Amendment, with which EU Parliament "Emphasizes ... the Importance of Establishing an Inclusive National DIALOGUE", (i.e. reminding a similar point already introduced by April 17, 2014, Geneva-Agreement on Ukraine, between the Russian, USA, German and Ukranian Foreign Ministers. This  Amendmenwas too was adopted by an Exceptionaly strong Majority of 543 Votes for, only 69 Votes against, and 27 Abstentions.

    In addition, this adopted EU Parliament's text also "calls for a sustainable Reconciliation process", as well as it "undelines the Need for Confidence-Building between Various Communities" in Ukraine, and to "avoid Propaganda, Hate Speech and Rhetoric which may further Aggravate the Conflict", according to this same succesful Amendment.
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        *  Last but not least, on issues of grave Human Rights' violations, the New EU Parliament also clearly confirmerd, the previous EU Parliament's  Strong call (See previous "EuroFora"s NewsReport of April 2014 : .....) for  a "thoroughly and Impartial INVESTIGATION", particularly on "All allegations of Abusive use of Force, ill-Treatment or Torture", as well as "Incidents of reported Abductions".

Indeed, by adopting also Amendment No 4, MEPs  "expresse(d) .. Firm Condemnation of the Abductions, Savage Beatings, Torture, Murders, Extra-Judicial Killings, and other Serious Abuses of Human Rights, and Breaches of Humanitarian Law, against Activists, Protesters, Journalists, and Many other Citizens .. that have occured over the last 3 Monhts", (i.e., practically during Kiev's Military Attacks on the Dissident Areas, since mid-April 2014). 

    >>> This came in Addition to the main Joint Resolution, already tabled by most Groups of MEPs, and endorsed Today by all EU Parliament, which also "Calls for an independent and impartial Investigation of All the Deadly events and Crimes against Humanity, that have taken place in All parts of Ukraine ..., with the CoE", so that all "those Responsible to be brought to Justice". Because EU Parliament "is convinced that only the Effective Investigation of these Crimes will help Ukrainian society and the Families and Friends of the Victims (to) recover Trust in the institutions".

    + As a matter of General Principle, the New EU Parliament also Warned Kiev  that it's only "Provided that they Adhere to the Principles of Democracy, Respect fundamental Freedoms, and Human and Minority Rights", that, pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on EU, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine - like any other European State - have a European Perspective, and (therefore) may Apply to become Members" of the Union", on that basis. If such perequisitives are fullfiled, then, naturaly, "the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine  (recently Signed) .. does Not constitute the Final Goal in their relations with the EU", since, any really "European" Country, (as Ukraine unquestionably is), notoriously Can become EU Member on the Condition to Respect Democracy and Human Rights.

    This was also clearly confirmed, recently in Strasbourg, also by the Experienced former EU Commission's President and Luxembourg's Prime Minister, as well as MEP, and currently Chairman of RTL Media, Jacques Santer, speaking with "EuroFora" precisely about Ukraine's Future possibilities.
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    => Significantly, the main 3 Landmark, last-minute Amendments on Key Issues for Ukraine, (Comp. Supra) were adopted by the New  EU Parliament with exceptionaly Strong Absolute Majorities, almost Quasi-Unanimously : 

    606 Votes against only 9 for the Protection of Civilian People, 564 Votes against only 24 in order to "Stick to a Cease-Fire", and 543 Votes against only 69 for establishing "Dialogue", (etc), i.e. so Big Numbers that they are very rare, prerhaps even unprecedented in EU Parliament's History.

    It's interesting, and of certain Political Importance, also to note the Fact that, so High Percentages of Votes, as those which succeeded to attract a Quasi-Unanimous Support throughout all EU Parliament's Political Groups for the above-mentioned 3 Key Issues, (protect Civilians, stick to a Cease-Fire, establish inclusive Dialogue), were Not achieved, in this same EU Parliament Today, not even for the Final Adoption of its overall Resolution on Ukraine, which got, certainly, a crystal-clear Strong Majority, solidly backed by 497 Votes for, against 121 and 21 abstentions, but not up to "unanimity"...

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+ More relevant points at EU Parliament's (both Draft + Adopted) Resolution :
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=> The relevant points in the "Joint" Resolution; which had been tabled by most Groups of MEPs a,nd finaly Adopted Today by all EU Parliament, meanwhile, include, among others, also, f.ex. :
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- Even if it "reiterates that the international community Supports the unity,sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine", nevertheless, it doesn't exclude explicitly a Federalisation, and, at any case, the Resolution "Underlines the Need for a Political (i.e. Not Military) Solution to the Crisis". 

 + In this regard, EU Parliament's Resolution notes from the outset the fact that, while "the Ukranian Army has regained Control of several Cities in Eastern Ukraine", after notorious Military Clashes and even Civilian casualties, nevertheless, Deadly "Violence still Continues" there.

 - Inter alia, also because, the Recently elected President Poroshenko, at Kiev, raises now "3 Conditions" for an eventual "Ceasefire", which becomes, then, clearly "Conditional" and hypothetic...

=> Thus; in order to urgently Stop Deadly Military Violence, EU Parliament's Resolution "Calls for a New Meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on the Settlement in south-eastern Ukraine, and supports New forms of Communication between the Parties", (i.e. Tele-Conferences, etc).

In this regard, the EU Resolution "Calls on the (EU) Commission's Vice-President/EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and on the European External Action Service (EEAS) to have  a Stronger presence and greater Visibility in the Dialogue mechanisms established with a view to Resolving the Crisis, including the Contact Group".

+ Moreover, "the role of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission should be Strengthened, with increased material and financial means", it adds.
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All this obviously is particularly Important, when, In addition, "Urgently Needed", "Domestic, Economicaly and Political Reforms", "should be Based on Solid Popular Support", as the Draft Resolution points out.

In particular, "it is of the utmost Importance to Start a gradual process of DeCentralising central powers to Regional and Municipal administrations".

>>> Therefore, it "Recalls the necessity of Ending the systematic and structural Curtailment of Human Rights, the Bad Governance, the widespread Corruption, and the colossal Shadow economy in Ukraine"; stresses the importance of the ongoing process of Constitutional Reform, and the importance of supporting the development of Civil society in achieving a true Participatory Democracy which promotes and protects Human rights, ensuring Justice and Good Governance for All People in all Regions of the country". 

 - But, for the moment, EU Parliament "expresses Deep Concern over the Worsening Human Rights and Humanitarian situation in Eastern Ukraine" in particular.
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 - That Text also observes the unusual "Fact that "some (EU) Member States are showing DisUnity" particularly by Refusing more Sanctions vis a vis Russia, and/or by Investing in its "South Stream" Project for New Gas Supply Routes towards the EU, (as f.ex. Bulgaria, Austria, etc), and/or by concluding Nuclear Energy Agreements with Moscow (as, f.e. Hungary, etc).

+ => Last but not least : As far as it concerns the forseable Future, "a three-party consultation meeting between the EU, Ukraine and Russia, a " useful process that may overcome long-lasting different understandings, by explaining the benefits of the AA/DCFTA and taking into account all the legitimate concerns of all parties", on the main EU Association and Free Trade issues.

Finaly, on Economy, EU Parliament's Resolution "underlines the necessity of finding a clear, fair and stable solution to ensure the security of GAS supply from Russia to Ukraine, as this is a necessary prerequisite for the economic development and stability of Ukraine; (where) the EU should continue to play its role in Facilitating an Agreement", (etc).

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+ Other Important Issues in last-minute Amendments on EU Parliament's Resolution on Ukraine :
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    + Moeover, Today, regarding  a key Geo-Political issue, which is notoriously hidden behind the Ukranian Conflict right from the Start, affecting also Humanitarian a.o. aspects of the provoked Crisis, MEPs also stressed, from the outset, by adopting another yet last-minute Amendment (No 6), that the EU - Ukraine Association Agreement, as well as the Free Trade area deal, "is in No way connected to NATO integration", ensuring Russia about one among its more serious concerns.

    On the Contrary, EU Parliament Rejected a Controversial attempt (Amendment 2) to Hinder France from implementing an earlier contract on two High-Tech "Mistral" Helicopter carrier ships, with advanced ITC systems, which had been sold to Russia  earlier, thanks to a deal brokered back on 2011 by former Presidents of France and Russia, Sarkozy and Medvedev.

    However, MEPs also Failed to adopt another Amendment (3), which denounced "a Dangerous and Irresponsible Zero-sum Game" and "clear signs of an Arms Race in the making", by expressing "Concern" for the fact that "US President" had "made Anouncements" recently about "Investing some one Billion Dollars in Armaments in Eastern Europe", at the same time that "NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen" reportedly made "statements .. regarding the Need to significantly Raise Levels of Defence Spending in NATO Countries , because of the role that Russia is playing in the Ukranian Crisis".
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    On Economy and EU's Energy supplies' security, EU Parliament also Rejected a highly Controversial Amendment (No 5) by the "Greens", which claimed that an alleged "decision of the Bulgarian Government to Halt works on the <<South Stream>> project" for transport of Gas towards the EU by Russia, while, also, at the same time, it was seeking to slam the "Austrian" and the "Hungarian Governents" , under pretext that the 1st "recently ... decided.. to further Invest to the <<South Stream>> project", while the 2nd "decided ... to sign an Agreement on Nuclear Energy with Russia", in addition to the "recent Visit of President Putin to Vienna, and the Signature of a <<South Stream>> related Contract between OMV and Gazprom".