newsitems

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- It might look incredible, but Facts prove that it can really be true : One of the most Dangerous incidents in the Post-War period, which obviously risks to push the entire European Continent back into a kind of "Cold War II" era of the Past, i.e. push the Russian Delegation out of CoE's PanEuropean Assembly (PACE), seems, indeed, to have been triggered mainly by the adoption of a particular Amendment, which added, at the last minute, more Sanctions than initially scheduled, but, in fact, wasn't supported but only by a Minority of MEPs present this week in Strasbourg ! After new PACE's President Anne Brasseur, former Chairwoman of the Liberal Group, from Luxembourg, anounced a decision to "merge" 2 Motions, (one asking to reject Russian MEPs' credentials, while another prefered to "Freeze" their Voting Rights), its Monitoring Committee discussed and voted on a Draft Resoluton which mainly asked to Suspend their Right to Vote inside PACE until January 2015, but also to organize an Enquiry on what rreally happened around the recent Crisis in Ukraine, due to present its conclusions at the same Time Deadline (1/2015), as its Chairman, Austrian Socialist MEP, Stefan Schennach confirmed to "EuroFora" as early as already since last Monday afternoon (See relevant "NewsReport" : ......).

Since such a Solution could both stress CoE's Principles against the controversial "Annexation" ("ReUnification" after Referendum, according to Russians) of Crimea peninsula, but also give a Chance to eventually find out who was really Responsible, particularly for that sudden eruption of Deadly Violence at Kiev, which trampled underfoot a Peaceful Political Agreement that had just been concluded between the then Ukranian President Janukovich and the Leaders of the Opposition at "Maidan" square, in the active presence of 3 Key EU Foreign Ministers from France, Germany and Poland, (Fabius, Steinmeyer and Sickorski), CoE had apparently succeeded to find a kind of indirect temporary Compromise, as the experienced President of its Political Committee, f. Foreign Minister, Dora Bakogiani from Greece, (the current EU Chair for Jan.-June 2014), and the Head of Russia's Delegation to PACE, President of Duma's Foreign affairs Committee, Alexey Pushkov, explained in substance to "EuroFora"on Tuesday.

But, a Press Conference held on Wednesday by a group of more Critical MEPs, and a series of Amendments adding more Heavy Sanctions against Russian MEPs, (even by the initial Author of the Voting Suspension demand which had become, meanwhile, key part of a Compromise, Dutch Liberal MEP Jensen...), which were suddenly lodged on Late Evening, just after a particularly "Hot" and Controversial PACE Debate and Vote for anOther Resolution about all  the February and March 2013 Events at Ukraine, earlier Today Afternoon, seems to have radically Changed the situation ...
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+ Moreover, despite CoE's Chairman, Austrian President Heinz Fischer's friendly advise, in a Landmark Speech and Replies to MEPs' Questions at PACE's Plenary on Wednesday's noon, where, after confirming CoE's general Principles, he also vainly Warned against some trends to Exclude any "Federal" structure from Ukraine's Future, as well as Military "Neutrality", (which had both helped ensure "Peace and Stability in my own Country, Austria", as he reminded), while also inviting to be "Careful" vis a vis Russia, since "if one Closes doors, it's often Difficult to open them afterwards", as he observed, an often Thin but almost always Present Majority inside PACE, at a subsequent Debate on Ukraine, held later on Wednesday Afternoon, added more and more Amendments Critical v. Russia, to an already considerably Critical Report drafted by 2 MEPs from Sweden and Esthonia, Mrs Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin and Mailis Reps, while Russian MEPs' replies and/or proposals were almost all Rejected, (with considerable Fluctuations among Many other MEPs, however, particularly on reported Needs to Protect Russian-Speaking Minorities, on denunciations of some "Extremist, Fascist Groups" as "Swoboda", "Right Sector", etc. inside the New Ukranian Coalition, etc., and with the Unique Exception of the Adoption of only one Amendment urging the current Ukranian Government to Respect Freedom of Press and Expression).

The overall result, going well beyond a Strong Denunciation of Russia's controversial reaction at Crimea (aggressive "Annexation" according to Critics and CoE's current Majority, defensive "ReUnification" after a Popular Referendum,     ; according to Russian MEPs), to the previous Violent Clashes and Total Power-Shift at Kiev, (that Moscow notoriously considers as an Illegal Usurpation of Power by violence and deceipt, brandishing also a French University Professor's reported verdict, and sticking to the sudden Abandonment of the February 21 Agreement between President Yanukovich and Oppositions' Leaders under the auspices of Foreign Ministers from France, Germany and Poland), obviously added another Negative impression mainly to the Russian Delegation, (See Infra), included the rejection of Amendments trying to drop a call for "Tangible Security Agreements" to Ukraine, probably given the well-known sensitivity of nearby Moscow vis a vis an eventual, direct or indirect, Extension of NATO, etc. -

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=> - Thus, after finding Useless to Table any counter-Amendment in their favour until late Wednesday Evening, even after a last-minute Extension of the Time Deadline for one more Hour, until 9 p.m., anounced by PACE's President Brasseur, the Russian Delegation clearly declared, in unexpected Press Statements reportedly made at Early Thursday Morning in Strasbourg out of CoE's premisses, (apparently at the nearby Russian Embassy/Permanent Representation), that, given what they denounced as a too Negative, Insulting and Arbitrary attitude against them by a Group  which controlled de facto PACE and heavily "Distorted" Facts, they felt obliged to immediately Stop Participating at CoE's Parliamentary Assembly's activities, and would subsequently decide on whether they will Return back at the PACE or abandon it, according to what would be the Conclusion of Thursday's CoE Debate and Vote on certain other MEPs' demands for Sanctions, (Comp. Supra). -------------------------------

=> In Consequence, it's inside an Exceptionaly Empty from any MEP from Russia (CoE's Biggest Member Country, whose diplomatic Permanent Representative, Ambassador Alexander Aleksev, was, however, present at the PACE), as well as from certain Other Countries (Comp.Infra),  that the PanEuropean Assembly discussed and Voted on the demands for Sanctions, going well beyond Thursday's Noon, in an Unusual in Strasbourg quasi-Monologue of Complaints against Russia, (with just a few Exceptions by certain MEPs from various Countries and/or Political Groups who found that too much to their taste). Curiously, moreover, not even one present MEP from Ukraine didn't represent the Opposition (former Governing Majority), nor the slightest Discending voice, for the first time, contrary to CoE's traditional Polyphonic political Pluralism.

Certainly, a Large Majority of MEPs (More than 120 against only 50) repeatedly Rejected all Attempts by a Minority to "Cancel" Russian Delegation's Credentials to CoE's PanEuropean Assembly, following its Rapporteur's advise, and focused, instead on asking a Suspension of Russian MEPs' Voting Rights until January 2015, (i.e.prefering the Second among 2 Differend Motions for Resolution which had both been Drafted and Lodged previously, since March, curiously by more or less the Same MEPs !).

+ But, in Addition to various other, even more Critical Amendments adopted in these conditions, Hardening further the Draft Resolution at several points, (f.ex. to stress that what it initially named as "Violation of International Law" at Crimea, would be a "Grave" one, etc), suddenly, some among the Same MEPs who had Previously preferred to Avoid any Cancellation of Credentials, proposing instead to "Suspend Voting Rights" (Comp. supra) of the Russian Delegation at the PACE, tabled a much Harsher Amendment clearly Threatening now to "Reserve the right tio Annul (its) Credentials, IF the Russian Federation does not ... Withdraw the Annexation of Crimea".

CoE's Assembly appeared rather Divided on this Additional point, since it wasn't adopted but only with some 100 Votes for, and 76 against + abstentions, (to which should be added also the "No" of all the numerous Russian MEPs who had exceptionaly Not Participated to that Vote : Comp.Supra), contrary to various Other Amendments which had a much larger support than that Controversial proposal.

++ Nevertheless, as the Head of the Russian Delegation to the PACE, President of Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, Alexey Pushkov, anounced, shortly after those Votes, to Journalists, including "EuroFora", at the sidelines of a Press Conference in the CoE, (exceptionally obliged to be held only in Russian Language, given an unusual Lack of any Translator at earlly Afternoon), that the Main Reason for which Russian MEPs feel now obliged to Abstain from Participating to Any PACE activity, whatever, pending a Final Decision on whether to collectively Leave the PACE and go away in the Future, due to be taken Definitively in "2 or 3 Weeks" (as "EuroFora" learned by Russian sources later-on), marking an Unprecedented, since the End of the Cold War, and Dangerous, new East-West Divide in Europe, was, in fact, anOther :

>>> - "It's mainly because of the adoption even of the Amendment No 7, which "Suspends"  Russian MEPs' "Rights to be Represented in the (PACE's) Bureau..., the Presidential Committee, the Standing Committee", as well as "to Participate in Election' Observation Missions", that we decided to leave, because, after such Exclusions (from PACE's Governing Bodies) our presence inside the PACE would have No Sense !", Alexey Pushkov denounced in his only statement in French, (all the rest staying just in Russian, for numerous collegues from Moscow, etc)....

>>> Surprisingly, however, that Crucial Amendment, which added at the last minute an initially unforseen and even Harsher Sanction obviously Risking to Trigger a long series of Dangerous Reactions, in fact, wasn't supported but only by a .. Minority of MEPs inside PACE, so that it canNot be described as reflecting any eventual "Majority" Political Will democraticaly expressed at the CoE !  Indeed, it got only 92 Votes for, while another 93 MEPs (i.e. +1 more !) were Against or abstained. In addition to the latter, in order to have an idea of the Paneuropean Assembly's real political will, should be normally taken into account also the "No" Votes that the numerous Russian MEPs would have normally casted , if they were present and free to participate, togetrher with several others among their supporters. All these Facts, taken together, clearly reveal that those who pushed that Controversial but Crucial Amendment No 7 were, indeed, unquestionably a Minority.

Among those MEPs who explicitly Opposed that crucial Amendment, were, f.ex., even the (otherwise Critical) President of the Biggest Political Group in the PACE, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, MEP Pedro Agramunt, from the Governing Spanish Party, together with the Presidents of Euro-Left Group, Dutch MEP Tiny Cox, and of the Liberal Group, Jordi Xucla, also Spanish, (contrary to the President of the Socialist Group, Andreas Gross, who voted "For" adding that too Harsh Sanction, as well as the Head of the French Governing Socialist party's delegation, René Rouquert, etc). Considering also the fact that it's the Russian MEP Alexey Pushkov who is the current President of the EDG Group, it clearly results that, cusiously, its .. only the Socialist Group's President, Gross, who, Alone among his Pairs, backed that Further Sanction, while, on the Contrary, ALL other 4 Political Groups' Presidents were Against !
Moreover, the "No" was also prefered by the immediate Past President of the PACE, French ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Jean-Claude Mignon, together with all other French ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEPs, as f.ex. Thierry Mariani, Yves Pozzo Di Borgo, etc., (while, on the Contrary, 3 French Socialist MEPs voted "For", one abstained, and only one was "against").

Significantly, the MEP who took the responsibility to speak in Plenary "Against" that Amendment No 7 which excluded Russian MEPs from PACE's Leading Bodies until 2015, was the Head of the National Delegation of Finland, Maria Guzenina-Richardson, from a Country Neighbouring to Russia (as Ukraine), and "Neutral" (i.e. NATO-free), which hasn't any notable problem at all with Moscow, but cooperates more and more often with it : – "If we want to (be)... Open to parliamentary Dialogue, ... we should Not Close the Doors on Russia to such Important Bodies of the Assembly", the Top MEP warned.


                  
Even if it's true that another last-minute Oral Sub-Amendment limited this Suspension of Russian MEPs' Rights inside the PACE "until the End of the 2014 Session", nevertheless, given both the fact that this appeared practically nullified by the parallel adoption of a Threat to even Advance as far as Ask to Cancell the Credentials of the Russian Delegation, if Crimea wasn't returned back to its previous situation before January 2015 (Comp. Supra), while, moreover, the Suspension of Voting Rights from April up to December 2014 meant also that the new CoE's Secretary General would have been elected, meanwhile,  without any endorsement by the Biggest and more Populous Member Country : Russia, who usualy holds also a Strong Stance on several Topical BioEthical Controversies, (as, f.ex. on the Protection of Natural Familly and particularly Children from certain Controversial Demands pushed by an Homosexual, LGBTI Lobby, partly manipulated by Technocrats, f.ex. in order to elarge Artificial Procreations of Human Beings  by Surrogate Mothers, Medically Assisted Procreations, IVF, PreNatal Screenings, Sperm and/or Ovaries' "Banks", by imposing Same Sex Mariages, Adoption of Children by Homosexuals, etc), as well as on Monitoring the way Authorities Treat Dissidents f.ex. in France and other Countries, (f.ex. denonciations of Police brutality vis a vis Peaceful Demonstrators, Harassement allegedly targeting Opposition Politicians, Journalists, etc.), on the need to protect Citizens' Personal Data vis a vis Internet Spying (comp. Snowden's revelations and CoE's declared will to Draft Internet Rules on Data Protection, etc),  on Cyber-Security, on combatting Deadly Terrorism while safeguarding Democracy and Human Rights, on Danube EU - Black Sea ship transport links, on European Culture, History and Identity (comp. relevant CoE's Debates), on Stateless Persons and the Right to a Nationality (comp. f. ex. CoE Human Rights' Commissioner's frequent Statements on Russian-speaking Populations in certain Countries, on Refugees, etc., as well as PACE's relevant Reports), on Climate change, Arctic Ocean, Space Research, on the Political issues of Cyprus, Ukraine, Belarussia, Western Balkans, Caucasus, Armenia-Azerbaidjan, Syria, even Libya, Syria (comp. f.ex. the recent succesful Agreement on withdrawing Chemical Weapons, nearby Geneva Peace Talks), the Middle East, even Soudan (see f.ex. Russia's cooperation with UNO's Peace-keepig Mission on the spot), etc.

But, after even such an obviously Excessive Sanction was adopted by manouvering in fact with only a Minority of MEPs (See Facts cited Supra), all Russian MEPs collectively decided to Withdraw from CoE's PanEuropean Assembly, pending their Final Decision to definitvely leave it, or not, (Comp. Supra), to the point that even the Rapporteur of PACE who was working on a so delicate and topical Human Rights issue as currently is in European a.o. post-modern Societies the "Removal of Children from their Families : Legislation and Practice", Russian MEP Olga Borzova, felt obliged to be exceptionaly Absent, later this Afternoon, at an Exceptional Top Level Hearing on her Report, organized by PACE's Social, Health and Development Committee, with the participation of UNO's Committee on Childrens' Rights' Rapporteur, Maria Herczog from Hungary, and ECHR's Filtering Section's Registrar, Karen Reid, etc., as the competent CoE's Committee's Chairman, Valeriu Giletchi from Moldova, a.o., confirmed to "EuroFora".

=> Considering Geo-Political stakes, some Russian Experts, replying this Afternoon  to "EuroFora"s Questions, even found interesting and speculated about a possible creation of an inter-Parliamentary dimension, inside the brand new EurAsian Organisation of Shanghai, Headquartered at that famous International (New York-like) city of China, that Russian President Vladimir Putin seems repotedly Ready to Visit, soon after the 1st ever Foreign Trip of New Chinese President Xi Jiping recently to Russia (extending afterwards also to other key BRICS' Countries, up to a Heads of State/Government Summit in South Africa, etc), even before his subsequent visit to the EU, a few Days ago. Therefore, the Question inevitably raised, here in Strasbourg, Today is :  - Who might have any Interest to provoke a situation in which, instead of thinking how to attract to the CoE, in adequate conditions, f.ex. with a Special Status of "Observer", as that of USA, Canada, Mexico and Japan, etc., also the only UNO Security Council's Permanent Member which hasn't yet any institutionalized premanent link with Strasbourg's Organization : China, (as f.ex. the experienced former PACE's President, French mainstream ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Jean-Claude Mignon has already suggested since a long time ago : See, f.ex. ...), on the contrary, after such a Harsh Move as that, in fact, Minority Amendment No 7 (See Facts cited above), it's now the CoE which may Risk to progressively Lose in practice its biggest Member Country : Russia, recently more and more attracted; notoriously, towards an "EurAsian" Strategy looking towards Vladivoctok's Coasts to the immense Pacific Ocean, (facing the 2 Koreas, Japan, Australia and even .. the USA !). I.e. inevitably reminding a "Chinese Map" existing (according to a BBC collegue) at EU Commissioner for Markets, experienced former Minister, French ChristianDemocrat/EPP Top Politician, Michel Barnier's office in Brussels, (which, by the way, obviously takes thus a Strange look of a lonely ... "Far West", in such special Geopoliical settings)...

- Who "Isolates" whom ?  EU Commissioner Barnier's "Chinese Map", according to BBC, makes Brussels (and even Strasbourg) look as a kind of lonely "Far West"....

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 Such Dangerous GeoPolitical Games, notoriously Playing with Fire in Europe, and risking to provoke an obvious "Lose/Lose" (instead of "Win/Win") situation, about - "Who Isolates whom ?",  as the above mentioned "Chinese Map" of the World clearly indicates, (Comp. Supra), run also Contrary to one among the main messages that new China's President Xi Jinping's 1st official Visit to the EU, gave just a few Days ago, particularly when he focused, during his trip accross Germany, at the brand new, Trans-Continental Railway Transport Links between China and Europe : A kind of "New Silk Road", (from the Historic name of the Pathway that famous Venitian Explorer Marco Polo had initially used, crossing then through the former Christian-Greek Byzantine Empire right to India over Imalaia Mountains (already followed by the Great Alexander since 300 BC !), towards nowadays Mongolia, mainly China, and Japan, before returning afterwards more by a Southern Sea Ships' Highway back towards Europe, where he notoriously played a key role in contributing to a European Renaissance, thanks also to the manifold Discoveries that he found at the Chinese Civilisation and brought Westwards in his well known Book) : But, unlike Marco Polo's 1.200 era's round trips, President Xi JinPing's  Strategic "New Silk Road", whose succesful completion he's just celebrated in Germany, instead, crosses through Siberia's Long Horizontal straight areas, i.e. via Russia, whose Stability and good Cooperation with the EU obviously becomes not only an Energy and Space High-Tech, as well as Cultural/Science, but also a Pioneer Trans-Continental strategic Transport Axis' asset of undeniable Value for all Europe, as well as a key link between the most Ancient EurAsian Civilisations nowadays, with a considerable Potential of Development in the foreseable Future.

 

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+ CoE's "Dialogue to find a sustainable and Peaceful Solution" motion, tabled by key PACE MEPs :
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That's one of the reasons for which it's naturally Understandable why the most Recent Motion, tabled at the CoE earlier this week, on April 8, while clearly denouncing any "Violation of the Territorial Integrity and Sovereignity of Ukraine", and even after finding "a serious Violation  of CoE's basic Principles", as it says, nevertheless, concludes by pointing not towards Sanctions against Russia, but mainly towards a "Call upon PACE's President, CoE's Committee of Ministers' Chairman, and CoE's Secretary General, "to convene, at the Earliest opportunity, a High-Level Meeting, with the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, in order to Desescalate Tensions, and to Start a Dialogue to find a durable and Peaceful Solution to the present crisis", as advises the Text drafted by experienced ChristianDemocrat/EPP Dutch MEP Hans Franken, and signed mainly by the New President of PACE's Political affairs Committee, former Foreign Minister Mrs Dora Bakoyianni, from Greece (the current EU Chair), as well as the President of the EuroLeft Group Tiny Cox, some Socialist MEPs from the Netherlands, etc., as well as the Head of the German Delegation to PACE, Axel Fischer, and many other mainstream ChristianDemocrat/EPP or EDG Group's MEPs from several CoE Countries, such as, f.ex., Norway, Germany, Poland, Finland, the Netherlands,n Ireland, Slovak Republic, Spain, etc.

One could also understand, at least partly, some among what seem to be the main Complaints made by the Russian Delegation to the PACE Today, (even if most were said only in Russian language, by a regrettable, exceptional Lack of Translators at the Press Conference organized at the CoE in early Afternoon : Comp. Supra), and more or less supported by various Other MEPs from Differend CoE Member Countries who supported all or part of Russia's point of view, either in Yesterday Evening's or Today Morning's PACE Debates, respectively on the recent developments at Ukraine or the Crimea peninsula issue and Russian MEPs' credentials and rights (Comp. Supra) :  - They didn't want to Hear Anything from what we were saying, and several among them spoke with insults, almost a Hate against Russia, while also staying "Blind" even to the most blatant Facts, (etc), were some among the Complaints  reportedly made by Alexey Pushkov, Head of the Russian Delegation to the PACE and President of the EDG Group, and Leonid Slutsky, vice-President of PACE's Socialist Group, as an experienced Russian official later told "EuroFora", briefly  Summarizing some main parts of latters' original interventions at a Press Conference at the CoE, unfortunately made only in Russian, and exceptionaly lacking any translation, which apparently covered both Yesterday's PACE Debate on all-Ukraine developments, as well as Today's Debate on Crimea and Sanctions against Russia (Comp. : .......). One among the Strongest Complaints made by the Russian MEPs, was also that a slim Majority inside PACE had rejected any attempt to simply note the fact that a Part of the current, New Coalition in Power at Kiev, included even some notorious "Extremists", "Racists, NeoNAZI, Xenophobic" and "AntiSemitist" Grouplets, such as reportedly "Swoboda", "Right Sector", etc., even if they had been recently Denounced also by a Resolution of EU Parliament adopted recently in Strasbourg ! In addition, Pushkov branded also a Legal Analysis reportedly made by a French Professor in Law about the "UnConstitutional" and "Illegal" way that a part of the former Opposition Seized Power at Kiev, while all naturally denounced the notoriously Violent, Deadly interruption (including with some still Mysterious Killer "Snipers", etc), which Topped the Peaceful Agreement that had reached the former Ukranian President Yanukovich with the Leaders of the Opposition, under the auspices of 3 Key EU Foreign Ministers from France, Germany and Poland, on the 21st of February ; reported Threats of Harassment/Oppression against current Opposition Parties such as that of "Regions", the "CP", and/or the Russian-speaking Minorities ; the fact that Crimea wasn't an Historic part of Ukraine, but had been unilateraly attached to the former Region of Ukrania by a controversial decision of Khrutsev ; and/or that, contrary to several Inaccurate Accusations, Russia did Not "Invade" Crimea, since its Navy used traditionaly to stay there always at an important Defensive Base, which had been even recently Negotiated and Financially paid to the Ukranian State (a former-USSR land, and, in addition, Historic Birthplace of all Russian Civilisation, since Ancient Times) ; as well as the fact that a large Majority of the Population at Crimea really wished its "Re-Unification" back to Russia, as also a Popular Referendum (denounced by PACE's co-Rapporteurs as Irregular) attested, (Contrary, f.ex., to the Turkish Military Invasion in the Northern part of Cyprus, a Country with 3 Thousand Years' long Independent History, which notoriously Killed Thousands of People, leaving also more than 1.800 "MISSING" Greek Cypriots, (as ECHR found, repeatedly Condemning Ankara), and brutally provoking the Displacement of more than 190.000 Greek Cypriot Refugees, still Hindered Today, during soon 40 Years of Forced Displacement, to Return Back to their Family Homes and Ancestral Land, from which Ankara's Military notoriously Uprooted the Majority of the indigent, lawfull Population, that it's systematically "Replacing" by Settlers massively imported from the Turkish Mainland, as PACE itself has repeatedly Denounced in 2 Reports, both on the 1990ies and since 2003) ; etc. Other MEPs, (f.ex. from Hungary), had added Yesterday, also a claim that the Strange, Dealy Violence which topped the EU-brokered Agreement of February 21 in Kiev, could have resulted from direct and/or indirect  Interferences by one or more Foreign Powers (f.ex. "the US"), reportedly aiming to seize control over Ukraine in order to Destabilize and/or attack, sooner or later, also Russia.

So that the brief, but interesting reply that gave recently in Berlin, during a Press Conference held together with German Chancellor Angie Merkel, the new Chinese President Xi Jinping, to a collegue's Question on Ukraine/Crimea events, might not be so far away from a basic Truth (which still needs, notoriously, a serious, transparent and efficient Investigation, as almost all sides are more or less obliged to admit : Comp. : ....) : - After evoking what he called a very "Complex" History of Ukraine, vis a vis the Russian Civilisation up to the recent events, President Xi Jinping (whose Country had recently Abstained at a UNO General Assembly's Resolution, voted by almost Half of its Members, with Criticism vis a vis Russia), denounced a violation of both "Principles of Non Interference in the Internal Affairs" of a Country, and of its "Territorial Integrity", (apparently implying that some Foreign Interferences seem to have provoked f.ex. that Deadly Violence which Topped the February 21 Agreement for a Peaceful Solution under EU auspices, pushing Russia to protect its Crimea Fleet and the peninsula's notoriously Russian-speaking People, by operating what Moscow prefers to call "ReUnification", without any serious, nor any deadly Clash at all, even if in a hurry, and/or with this or that possible Irregularity).     

However, it's also true, as f.ex. mainstream German Newspapers like "Die Welt" a.o. observed these Days, that several EU Countries, who naturally wish to make Investments close to the Russian borders, f.ex. in the Baltic States and/or Ukraine, Moldova, etc, obiously need to have certain tangible Guarantees of Stability for the foreseabe Future, excluding any risk of this or that kind of so-called "Annexation" or "ReUnification" of all or part of Lands which were notoriously Parts of the Former USSR until some 20 or 30 Years ago. But, in addition to Poland and Romania, it's also the 3 Baltic Countries (Lithuania, Latvia and Esthonia), which have, in the meantime, become Full NATO Members, (in addition to their Historic Identity, often extending during many Centuries in the remote Past), while even Finland, a "Neutral" EU Country, remains obviously Stable and without any known threat whatever for many Decades, so that, obviously, all these neighbouring to Russia Countries (despite some notorious "Nationality" and Linguistic problems for their Russian-speaking Minorities, that CoE has repeatedly denounced, as in any other among its 47 Member Countries), don't seem to face any risk at all. Notoriously, only Ukraine had been, for Centuries, almost identified with the very Creation of the Russian Civilisation in the Past, but many Russian key Officials have repeatedly stated (even, a few years ago, to "EuroFora"), that Moscow might even accept an EU Accession for Kiew, at the only (defensive) condition that it won't become also a NATO Member, considering the fact that, recently, the Extension of the TransAtlantic Military Defense Organisation Eastwards, has obviously taken such proportions that might reasonably give to nearby Moscow some natural reasons to feel concerned for its own Security in the Future, (as a simple look at Europe's Map clearly shows). Moreover, Russia has notoriously co-guaranteed, together with other Countries, the Existence of Ukraine as an Independent State, and has repeatedly reiterated that it does not intend, nor wish at all to extend its present borders back to the former USSR era, but just to be able to leave in Peace and Security both itself and the Russian-speaking Minorities, notoriously located at Ukraine's South/Eastrern Regions, (if need be, f.ex. thanks to a Regional Autonomy or Federal system, as that advocated also by CoE's Chairman, Austrian President Heinz Fischer, earlier this week at the PACE in Strasbourg, who also advised to drop any NATO extension idea, in order not to undermine Stability in that sensitive area). As for the special case of Crimea peninsula, notoriously, it wasn't attached to the Ukrainian former Region but only after a controversial 1954 decision of Krutschev, while it also hosts, traditionaly, Moscow's Black Sea Fleet (a well known Vital Security issue for Russia itself) since more than a Century, while it has also the particularity to be Widely composed by a Russian-speaking Population since many Centuries. However, according to the arguments used by Moscow and some observers, it's obviously only after that strange Deadly Violence eruption, suddenly provoked at Kiev, immediately after an EU-sponsored Compromise Agreement was reached by former Ukranian President Yanukovich and the Leaders of the former Opposition, shortly Toppong that Deal for a Peaceful Solution which might have kept Ukraine much more Stable and United, that Russia apparently felt a Threat advancing against its own Security, so that this could have obliged her to react at least by what it called the "Peaceful ReUnification" with Crimea, (denounced as "Annexation" by that CoE's Majority Text).         

                                                                                
At any case, however, officially, CoE is no more a 100% Political, nor a Security/Defense Organisation at all, particularly since its 2005 PanEuropean Heads of State/Government Summit at Warsaw (Poland : Comp. "EuroFora" co-Founder's NewsReports from the spot), which notoriousy decided to explicitly Focus the PanEuropean body's Role mainly on Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law. All other concerns, being rather a matter belonging to EU's emerging Foreign/Security Policy, to NATO, and/or to UNO, as well as, particularly to the Wiena-based OSCE, (which, indeed, currently seems due to probably play a useful role in various possible attempts to desescalate and settle the current Ukranian crisis).           

And, from that point of view proper to the Strasbourg-based CoE, meanwhile, ECHR has notoriously asked recently, as a matter of Urgency, (given not only the developments at Kiev, but also the current moves around reported Popular Demonstrations at Eastern Ukraine, criticial vis a vis the New Central Government), both from Moscow and Kiev Authorities, to do their outmost in order to help guarantee Respect for People's Human Rights and Democratic Freedoms, according to an official ECHR Statement issued earlier in Strasbourg, making an original and interestng application of Article 39 of the PanEuropean Court's Rules of Procedure,  on the occasion of a relevant application, in an obvious attempt to Save Human Lives and prevent more Sufferings to the Population. An issue of even more Topical Importance Today, as the recent Start various Popular Demonstrations among the Russian-speaking Populations at the Eastern part of Ukraine, as well as the Risk for Kiev's New Authorities to eventualy over-react Violently, clearly shows now.

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 - COE, this same Day, strongly denounces Turkey's regime as... "Incompatible" with Europea Human Rights Standards.

=> What Sanctions  ?...
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 - Nevertheless, as far as CoE's above mentioned main Tasks are concerned, as well as regarding a frequently reiterated Complaint of Russian MEPs about alleged "Double Standards" against Moscow, compared to the treatment reportedly reserved to other CoE's Member Countries, by a Timely coincidence, it's also a Fact that, later Today, PACE's Legal and Human Rights Committee, Exceptionaly issued a Public Statement to Strongly Denounce the Fact that "Ecxessive use of Force by the Police" in Turkey, "and the ... Impunity of the Perpetrators" violating Human Rights, "is Incompatible with the (PanEuropean) Convention" of Human Rights, that all CoE's 47 Member States must respect.

¨PACE refers to the PanEuropean Commissioner on Human Right's latest Report for 2013, presented by Nils Muiznieks and debated this week in Strasbourg, which stresses that "Ill Treatments inflcted by the (Turkish) Police", "Excessive use of Force", "and Impunity of law enforcement Officials, was a Long-standing human rights Problem in Turkey, as attested by Numerous judgments of the (PanEuropean) Court", which has repeatedly Condemned Ankara in this regard. "Stressing that impunity was a Major Problem, Seriously Hampering Turkey’s capacity to tackle the Causes of Human rights Violations committed by law enforcement officials, the (PanEuropean) Commissioner Urged the Turkish authorities ....notably (to) remove all Obstacles to effective Investigations", in order "to (make) them promptly, adequately and effectively".

- This is added, "recently", also at "overly Restrictive Measures, (which) have Impeded Peaceful Protests, also in the Beginning of 2014, and (even) in the Context of the (recent) Election campaign" for Municipalities and Regions, PACE critically observes.

+ Moreover, "recent Restrictions of Access to Internet services by Google, Twitter and Youtube, (particuarly) during Election time, are Patent Violations of the Right to Freedom of Expression and Information, protected by Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights", stressed PACE's competent Committee on Turkey.

++ "In Addition", CoE's Assembly "is Worried about the Prosecution of Peaceful Opponents,under overly Broad and Unclear "AntiTerrorism" Legislation", given also the fact that "the Duration of such Criminal Proceedings, their Secrecy and Contradictions regarding Evidence used, as well as the Excessive Length of Pre-Trial Detention.. are Incompatible with European Standards", as it points out, citting as a concrete Example that of Fusun Erdogan, a Young Radio Journalist who has been thrown and kept to Jail for more than 6 Years Time, without even being Judges yet, under mere, undocumented Suspicion by the Turkish Police to be a fan of an abusively outlawed political Organisation, as her Lawyer and Sister denounced in a Press Conference, earlier this week at the CoE in Strasbourg.

+++ "Finally, ... substantial Pressure on Judges, Prosecutors and Police Officers Investigating allegations of Corruption against Leading Politicians, (some notoriously linked even with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's own Family Members, and/or Ministers), observed in Recent Months, may Undermine Public Trust in the Independence of the Judiciary, which is the Basis for Rule of Law", PACE warns.

>>> "Therefore", CoE "calls on Turkey to step Back from the Repressive Measures already taken or threatened, and, in particular, to Restore and protect the Independence of the Courts, and the Impartiality and objectivity of the Criminal Justice system, including in cases involving allegations of Wrongdoings against persons in positions of Power", 'f.ex. by implementing the Reforms prescribed by CoE's PanEuropean "Commission for Democracy through Law", (known as "Venice Commission”).

=> Otherwise, CoE's main role being to protect Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, the obvious Question legitimately raised Today is : - "What Sanctions will PACE impose, after all these Years (of various serious Violations) to Turkey (as it has just done for Russia) ?.....

Or will Ankara, perhaps, still profit from a scandalously Total Impunity, and only seek to exploit the problems provoked in Ukraine between EU and Russia, in an attempt to push again its Old Plans  - notoriously  too Long, too Expensive, and too Unsafe (i.e. facing Earthquakes, Conflicts, Financial and even Political Blackmail Risks) - for zig-zaging Pipelines through the Turkish territories (too close to Kurdish populations' regions) ?

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

+ Kiev's Deadly "SNIPERS" Mystery deepens.. 

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

 Such a move could also explain the real reason for which, paradoxically, all Turkish MEPs voted Today for an Amendment tabled by Brittish MEPs (No 15) to accuse Russia even of "Grave" (and not just simple) Violations of International Law, while the Turkish Army; notoriously, still persists to do itself so , during Decades, both against Cyprus, with an on-going Foreign Military Invasion-Occupation of the Northern part of that EU Member Country, and against Greece, with Military Threats at the Aegean Sea, as well as against Iraq, with Deadly Turkish Military Interventions inside its territory, from times to times, and now, reportedly, even inside Syria, where Turkey has just been accused by MEPs at the CoE this week in Strasbourg to Host in its own territory and "infiltrate" Al Quaida Terrorists destroying and Killing Armenians villing in certain Syrian Villages (fex. Kesab, etc) as rescapees from the 1915-1922 Armenian Genocide,  that all Turkish lobbies still persist to Deny, etc.. ..

But it remains still to find out why ALL numerous Turkish MEPs also Voted Yesterday against an Amendment  (No 2) to another Report dedicated to the recent developments inside Ukraine, which had simply tried to reestablish the Truh on the notorious Fact that those Mysterious Deadly "Snipers", who suddenly started to Kill People from Both Siders at Kiev's Maidan square,  (just after the February 21 Agreeement, under the auspices of 3 EU Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Poland, between former President Yakaukovich and the f. Opposition's Leaders, which had found a Compromise for a Peaceful Solution in a United Ukraine, provoking a Bloody Revolt which practicaly topped that Deal and now obviously Threatens to Divide the Country and even all Europe), had murdered also Ukranian "Policemen and others".

Tabled by mainstream Dutch MEP Tiny Cox, President of PACE's EuroLeft Group, together with 4 other MEPs from Germany, Denmark, Moldova, etc., that Amendment (No 2) succeeded to attract also the Support of more than 50 MEPs, (added also to 9 Abstentions), and came after the recent revelation of Estonian Foreign Ministers' findings, during a visit at Kiev, about Euro-Maidan People's concerns vis a vis the Fact that those Deadly "Snipers" had killed both Protestors and Policemen,  by shots fired both in front and .. behind the Demonstration, as a famous and confirmed leakage of a Phone Call to EU's High Representative for Externa Action Cathy Ashton notoriously revealed, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/calltoinvestigatekievnipersdropedateuparliament.html ).

Something which obviously underlines even more the Crucial Importance that has in fact the "transparent" and "objective"  "Investigation" that CoE has just asked to do on this thorny affair of "Snipers", who appeared just after various individuals "Join(ed) the crowd at Maidan" coming from "OUTSIDE Kyiv", as the Report that PACE adopted Yesterday points out (§ 15), particularly when, Today, even the mainstream German RadioTV Media "ARD" has just published an Original Press Correspondence from Ukraine, with 3 Key Interviews at Kiev (including a High ranking Official involved in the Investigations, as well as a "Radio Track" from the events, etc) : http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/maidan-schuesse102.html ), which strongly contests the Official Version about the supposed Identity of those Deadly Snipers, and even adds much more, new and factual elements of proof (including Eyewitnesses, etc), confirming the Astonishing Fact that those Killers came also from Behind the Protestors, from Inside an Area controlled by them, and targetted, indeed, both Policemen and Demonstrators, i.e. obviously showeing that the Truth on what really happened in Ukraine still remains to be found, as the most crucial Question (WHO were all those Deadly Snipers who undermined the Peaceful EU-sponsored Agreement ?) remains Unanswered.-

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/-The still on-going, recent incidents around Ukraine, since the end of February and March, despite their importance, should not overshadow Crucial issues which affect most European Citizens' Human Rights, Economy and even State Security, after the recent and current revelations on Mass Internet Spying by Foreign a.o. Secret Services, agreed in substance the New CoE Assembly's President, Anne Brasseur from Luxembourg, former Chairwoman of the Liberal Group of MEPs in Strasbourg's PanEuropean Parliament (which includes also Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, etc), in reply to a relevant "EuroFora"s Question at her 1st official Press Conference, which has just Opened an early Spring 2014 Plenary weekly Session, by deciding to include Both these two Topical Big Issues, with last-minute Changes to its initial Agenda.

This concerned a sudden spectacular GeoPolitical "'U-turn" at CoE's PanEuropean Assembly (PACE), which had apparently changed Focus from a still Topical Issue that Unites Europeans, could protect Citizens' Rights and strengthen their Digital Economy, questioning some notorious abuses by USA's NSA and others'  excessive and dangerous Internet Spying revealed recently by WhistleBlower Edward Snowden (who found Asylum in Russia, after crossing China), towards another one, compeletely different : Ukraine's subsequent events, which, despite its importance, obviously risks to Divide Europeans, weaken their Economy and/or destablize Peace, questioning, at least until now, much more Russia, at least as far as Crimea's controversy is concerned for the time being.

To the point that several MEPs asked PACE  to impose one or another Sanction against Russian MEPs, raising an issue that wil be discussed by CoE's Monitoring Committee on Tuesday and voted Wednesday, for a Plenary public Debate on Thursday, as its Chairman, Austrian Socialist MEP Stefan Schennach, told "EuroFora" later Today, while a majority at CoE's Committee of Ministers last week in Strasbourg, criticized the recent developments at Crimea.

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

 - "EuroFora" reminded mainly the fact that, as it had been Initially Scheduled, since last January 2014, the  Agenda of the PanEuropean watchdog for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law's Assembly, was due to focus on April particularly on the Need to Protect Citizens' Rights and Freedoms, which are notoriously facing currently manifold Threats, as almost everyday Internat Users, and to address the thorny issue of Mass Surveillance on Citizens, Businesses, Public Administrations and even Political Leaders (as f.ex. it had started to be revealed since last October 2013's EU Heads of State/Government Summit in Brussels, affecting even German Chancellor Merkel, etc :Seee "EuroFora"s NewsReports then from Brussels, f.ex. :...., and still continued, just a few Days ago, with American, WhistleBlower Snowden's latest denonciation about the existence of Serious Risks against Personal, Private, Family, Professional and Socio-Political Life of Citizens by Spying, from USA's NSA Authorities and/or others, on mere Internet "Meta-Data", marking everyone's TeleCommunications). But, suddenly, after the 22 February - 16 March 2014 GeoPoliitically important, Regional incidents in Ukraine, from Kiev up to Crimea, etc., pushed the CoE's Assembly to apparently Re-Focus the main thrust of its Spring Plenary Session obviously much more, (if not even Exclusively) on the Ukraine, Crimea a.o.such differrend issues, involving particularly Russia.

In this Context, f.ex.mainstream MEP Pieter Omtzigt's landmark Draft Report on "Internet Mass Surveillance"and "WhistleBlowers", including mainly Snowden, etc., was "Postponed" for an unknown yet Date in the Future, after a PACE Committee meeting initially scheduled at Moscow on March in order to discuss a Draft Report prepared by the new Head of the German Delegation to CoE's Assembly, CDU MEP Axel Fischer, on the protection of Internet Users and eventually try to contact Snowden there, (as he had told "EuroFora"), was suddenly transferred, instead, to .. Paris,  while even experienced Kimo Sasi's' Report on "New Failures to Cooperate with the ECHR" was pushed from Wednesday to Late Thursday this week, i.e. at a moment when most MEPs are preparing to leave Strasbourg, (etc).

=> .."Does this mean that it (...) has been pushed aside, comparted ti the other issues, or can we hope that in the foreseable Future, or even this Week, it can be dealt in a way which attracts CoE's and People's Interest, since it affects both Human Rights and Economy, Security, Politics, rtc.,  "EuroFora" asked Brasseur in conclusion.
-------------------------------------------

    - "Thank you.  Internet, of course, it's going to be one among our (CoE's)Major Concerns", CoE Assembly's new President immediately ensured, in her Reply to "EuroFora"s Question.

     - "Internet is a tool which didn't exist when the (PanEuropean) Convention (on Human Rights) was set up, and Now we (CoE) have to look how, on one hand, the Free Flow of Information, the Acces to Information, is still in line also with the Protection of the Private sphere".

    - "That was easier before Internet has been invented, but Now it's more and more Difficult", she Warned.

    =>  - "So, what we (CoE)said is that now, we should really have a Revision of all our Texts and also on the Convention (on the Protection of Personal Data), which exists, but which is Outdated".

    -"But, there, I think that there must be Cooperation between Countries not only of the CoE, but also a Broader approach, (f.ex.) also with the U.N.", she pointed out, shortly  after meeting, just a few Days ago, with UNO's Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, on the occasion of other outstanding issues. (A Key-point, developed also further as German mainstream MEP Axel Fischer's Report  on Internet User Protection : Comp. ....)

    - "Also, on my Report  on Democracy and Internet (concerning mainly It's potential to ReVitalize Parliamentary Democracy, etc., Comp. "EuroFora"s NewsReport :..... ), I suggested top have a White Paper on this matter, and to Work with All StakeHolders Together", Anne Brasseur reminded.

    + "And the (Fact that ) Mr Omtzigt's Report (on Internet Mass Surveillance)  has (indeed) been Postponed, (as "EuroFora" had observed :  Comp. Supra), has nothing to do with that" and doesn't mean at all  "that We (CoE) wouldn't be interested", she ensured.

    >>>  - "On the Contrary, we (CoE), really have to Continue to Go Deeper in this Debate", PACE's President stressed, in conclusion to her Reply to "EuroFora"s Question.

     - F.ex., among other relevant developments, "I've just told that the (CoE Assembly's competent Sub-Committee is going to meet on May in Turkey", Brasseur pointed out, reminding the fact that she had just said earlier at another reply to a differend question by a Turkish collegue that "the SubCommittee on Media will go to Turkey on the 12th and 13th of May,  precisely in order to hold  a Debate, in Istanbul, on Freedom of Access to Internet, on Freedom of Press, etc".

    - "That's positive", but "I appeal to the Turkish Authorities ...to refrain from breaching CoE's Values, .... (that,on the contrary), we should all support"- CoE naturally stands for Freedom of Access to Information, including to the Internet (for which there is another, special PACE Report to be debated and voted this week in Strasbourg), "and for Freedom of Press, because there can't be Democracy without it. That's why I firmly condemned the Tweeter Ban" by the Turkish Authorities (during the recent Local Elections, notoriously held in Controversial conditions : Comp. : ....), as she added on that occasion.

    - On the contrary, in Egypt, even the current, transitory Military regime doesn't block Internet Websites, unlike what happens frequently in Turkey, told earlier to "EuroFora" a young Dissident Blogger and Journalist, Shahinaz Abdelsalom, who has taken an active part to the Mediterranean "Spring" which spread recently various Popular pro-Democracy Movements from Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt up to Syria, recently approaching Turkey. Speaking before the forthcoming, June 2014, crucial Presidential Elections, where Egyptian General Alsisi will face another Candidate, that she finds close too her ideas, while knowing that many will "boycot" that vote, the young Internet Press worker reminds, laughing, that the only time that Web Access was Blocked, back in the Past of former President Moubarak's era, in a vain attempt to Stop Mass Demonstrations, then, suddenly, on the contrary, all "the People went out to the Streets", and that regime was toppled over in a few days, between the end of January and the beginning of February 2011, she reminded.

(../..)

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

***

*Strasbourg/CoE-ECHR/Angelo Marcopolo/-  Will History repeat anew itself on a crucial and strategic Human Rights development ? The CoE's member Country which triggered the Enter into force of he ECHR, for the respect of Human persons' Rights  by States, was Luxembourg, back on 1953. Today, more than 60 Years later, Luxembourg might also become at least a Facilitator to the application of ECHR also to EU Institutions, which have, in the meantime, gained considerable control over many important activities affecting People's lives, according to the outcome of the forthcoming, May 2014 EU Parliament's Elections, as the mere fact of an exceptional visit of Luxembourg's Grand Duke Henri to all CoE's Leaders in Strasbourg, followed by a solemn Hearing at the PanEuropean Court, indirectly but inevitably evoked, at least symbolically :

- Indeed, Today, both COE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly new President, Anne Brasseur, (at the Head of the body which is due to elect the New Secretary General of the CoE for the period of 2014-2019 on June), and ECHR's President, Dean Spielmann, come from Luxembourg. At the same time, the biggest EU political Party, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, headed by French MEP Joseph Daul from Strasbourg, has just elected, at a Congres held in Dublin (Ireland), Luxembourg's former long-time Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, in order to lead the Campaign for the May 2014 EU Parliament's Elections, which, according to the EU Lisbon Treaty and an agreement between MEPs and EU Governments, are due to determine the new EU Commission's President. Now, Juncker, notoriously is the Key European Personality to whom CoE's Heads of State/Government's latest  Summit at Warsaw, back since 2005 : Comp. "EuroFora" co-Founder's NewsReports from Warsaw, +published then at "TCW", etc)), had officially entrusted with the exceptionaly important Mission to make a Report on the main Idea, Strategy and Tools for the Future of an EU - CoE cooperation, i.e. between the nowadays 28 EU Member States and PanEuropean CoE's 47 Member States (including Russia, etc. but also Turkey, etc), which had finaly focused on a kind of Standard-setting function for the CoE on Human Rights values and issues, the EU dealing more on Political choices and practical implementation. Thus, he could become the 1st EU Commission's President in Brussels, with a very good knowledge of CoE's Strasbourg activities, centered around the ECHR.

-  But, until now, even if, "what is anounced as a New Substantial Stage", i.e. "the forthcoming Accession of the EU to the (Pan)European Convention of Human Rights, ...is foreseen by the (EU) Lisbon Treaty", nevertheless, "some Legal Obstacles still stand on its way", warned the Great Duke of Luxembourg at his address to a special Hearing by all the Euro-Judges at the ECHR, where "EuroFora" participated.

- "However, there is a clearly expressed Political Will, and this would reinforce even more the Importance of Strasbourg's Court", Grand Duke Henri highlighted positively at the Horizon, pointing to the virtues of conscious European Politicians' voluntarism.
Experienced observers were, moreover, surprised by the unusual Fact that, just after Luxembourg's Grand Duke and Duchess were earlier officially Welcomed by all COE's Leadership, at the main Building of the PanEuropean Organisation, as "EuroFora" witnessed personaly, he arrived at his last bilateral meeting with the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europen, Herwig Van Staa from Austria, the country which currently Chairs COE's Committee of Ministers, he had already taken an unexpected Delay of at least Half an Hour, which was later tranfromed at the nearby ECHR building, where many People were anxiously Waiting for his Speech, into more than 3/4 of an Hour later than initially scheduled...

>>> An obvious indication that his successive encounters, particularly with the experienced CoE's Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, from Italy, as well as with the Representative of the Austrian Chairmanship of CoE's Highest Political body : that of its Committee of Ministers, Permanent Representative/Ambassador Rudolf Lennkh, had apparently a .. much Longer Duration than expected, (while the forthcoming, next EU Council's Chairman-in-office for the period of July - December 2014, Italian Minister Andrea Orlando has just met in Strasbourg, on Tuesday, March 25, with CoE's Secretary General Thornbjorn Jagland, who is due to visit EU Commission's Headquarters in Brussels next week), leaving the impression that something interesting might be currently prepared as far as it concerns such Top issues on EU - CoE relations as f.ex. the above mentioned EU Accession to the ECHR  :
+ An issue currently judged so Topical that it will be at the focus of a forthcoming Conference and Debate with ECHR's President Spielmann at the prestigious French School of Top Officials for National and European/International Governance "ENA"'s Headquarters in Strasbourg on April 10.

- The experienced, long-time ECHR's Director of Press and Communication, Roderick Liddell, responded to a relevant "EuroFora"s Question simply with a kind smile and by waving friendly"" his hand towards the open sky, adding that there was "no immediate relation at all, between these two differend developments, precisely as he was expected to do... - "We can always dream...", replied "EuroFora" to Liddell, who, at least, didn't deny that...  As for ECHR's Head of Public Relations, Stephanie Klein, at first Amused with the speculation, afterwards got a Thoughtful expression... - "As the Grand-Duke told us himself : "No Hegemony of Luxembourg !", reacted laughing an Ambassador/Permanent Representative of a key European Country to the CoE, to "EuroFora"s suggestion, but without excluding at all a friendy facilitation of an, at any case, Collective EU/CoE probable Decicion soon..

- That Ambassadorial observation pointed at Grand Duke Henri's sense of Humour, in his speech at a special Hearing of the ECHR, where he "ensure(d)" a prestigious CoE audience that "this rare situation, where a (CoE's) Member State of a Modest Dimension (as Luxembourg), Accumulates such Responsibilities (as, currently, those of CoE Parliamentary Assembly's and ECHR's Presidencies, by former Head of the Liberal Group of MEPs Anne Brasseur, and EuroJudge Dean Spielmann, respectively : Comp. Supra), inside an International Organisation of primordial Importance, does Not result from any Hegemonic will of Luxembourg's Great Duchy on CoE's Institutions", but "is a fruit of circumstances", "as well as it Reflects an Appetite of my Country for the Values on which is Founded the Cooperation inside the COE,  since its inception, namely Respect for Human Rights, strengthening Democracy, and the preeminance of Law", as he said. Also because "the Challenges faced by a Small State, cornered between 2 Big European Powers (France and Germany), and, even worse, the direct Threats for its own Survival during the Decades, have impegnated it with a particuliar Sensitivity vis a vis anything affects the Rule of Law, be it for States, or for Private Persons", he explained.

=> "It was Natural, therefore, for Luxembourg, one among CoE's Founding Members, to be a first order Ally of ECHR, already since its own Birth : Symbolically, the Great Duchy of Luxembourg was the 10th State to lodge at the COE the instrument of Ratification of the (Pan)European Convention of Human Rights", back on 1953, "thus allowing its Entry into Force", he observed.  - "I love to remind that it was my Grand-Mother, Great Duchesse Charlotte, who has put her Signature under the Ratification Law" : "This act expressed Luxembourg's Commitment for a Union of Europeans "by developing Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties", he concluded on this Historic point of obvious Symbolic Value also for the Future.

+ By the way, as "EuroFora" had already highlighted, on the occasion of the "ECHR entry into force 60th Anniversary, eve of EuroFora Editor's Birthday: 3 September (1953)-2013 !", as E.M. had observed then (See :  http://www.eurofora.net/brief/brief/echrbirthdayeveofambirthday.html ), wishing a "Hapy Birthday" to all concerned !", "by another coincidence, it's also in 1953 that was discovered the DNA, theoretically opening a way for Genetic Manipulations of Human Embryos 20 years after Aldus Huxley's "Brave New World", and obviously making at least an elementary protection of Human Rights a "must", as probably felt the then Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Pierre Dupong, a Catholic who founded the governing Christian Social Party. Nevertheless, ECHR didn't start to publish important Judgements on BioEthics but later-on, (f.ex. on the Raelian sect versus Switzerland, etc). Meanwhile, however, EU's Court of Justice, established afterwards in Luxembourg, took some landmark judgements in that field, of fast growing, topical importance today, including, particularly, by recognizing officialy a Legal link between the "Human Dignity", in principle safeguarded by EU's Charter of Fundamental Freedoms and Rights, and the Human Embryo vis a vis Genetics, by considerig that Patents are not applicable on such Human Cells. But both Courts -ECHR and ECJ - seem naturally due to have many occasions in the foreseable Future to develop further a consistent BioEthics' case-law soon, given the recently fast-growing Technical and other developments in Genetics Worldwide"

    - Today (27/3/2014), ECHR's President Spielmann, welcoming the Grand Duke Henri in Strasbourg, pointed out that the PanEuropean "Convention (on Human Rights) is Not Frozen in time. In many areas it has Evolved and is even in constant Evolution. The Court has interpreted the Convention in a Dynamic manner, in the light of "Current Living Conditions" (mainly on what is called "BioEthical" issues, as Spielmann had already observed, earlier this year, in Reply to an "EuroFora"s Question : Comp. : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/echrpresidentonjudgementsexecutionandbioethics.html ); it has Broadened the scope of the Rights guaranteed, to take account of Technological and Societal Developments that were Unforeseeable back in 1950". - Indeed, "more recently it (ECHR"s evolving Case Law) has intervened in New Areas, such as BioEthics, education or the Environment. (And) it has set out its Jurisprudence on the protection of the rights of Migrants and of Minorities, Sexual in particular", he observed, adding also some very Controversial and much more Dangerous than generally thought matters, (comp. ibid). 

    - That's one more reason for which, when, back on 1953,  "the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg played a Role that was far from insignificant, by being the 10th State to Ratify the 'PanEUropean Human Rights) Treaty, thus Triggering its Entry into Force (Comp. Supra), "the Luxembourg Parliamentarians were well Aware of ...this connection as, during the Debates on ratification, the Rapporteur observed that the honour fell to Luxembourg to enable the entry into force – and I quote – “of the finest European work that has ever been created”.  A work that he strongly believed would be – to quote him again – “the founding CornerStone of a Democratic Europe ... which alone will be Capable of Defending our Peoples against All those who would seek to Enslave them by Tyranny, from whichever Side it may come”...
    
    => "The first signatories to our Convention, ...expressed their commitment to common Values: Democracy, respect for Freedoms, the rule of Law.  But, above all, they created a Mechanism – the 1st of its kind – a Court to ensure the Observance of their own engagements, thus abandoning part of their sovereignty. ....The System put in place in Strasbourg constituted, from the outset, a major Step forward in the international protection of human rights. Who would have thought, indeed, in the immediate aftermath of the war, that Citizens would one day be able to obtain a Judgment against a State from an International Court? What seems self-evident today, was something Revolutionary just 60 Years ago". Indeed, "what makes our system Unique is clearly the Right of Individual Petition, open to everyone, regardless of nationality, home or residence. This is an unquestionable Achievement, universally commended. An Acquired Right that we have a Duty to Preserve", ECHR's President stressed, in face of some recent attempts by certain quarters, to heavily restrict or even practicaly drop that Basic Human Right, which have provoked strong reactions by some CoE Member States and particularly from International Human Rights NGOs, Personalities, etc.
    
    + Now, after "nearly 17,000 Judgments have been delivered, (so that) to choose just 1, 2 or 3 of the most emblematic judgments is a feat worthy of the heroes of mythology", ECHR's President decided, "nevertheless to cite 3 cases which(he) find(s) of particular Significance" :  The 1st confirmed "the Importance of the FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, an  essential Foundation of Democratic society, not only for information received favourably but also for ideas which offend, shock or disturb"; as he reminded. The 2nd, had "put an End to DISCRIMINATIONS", f.ex. in terms of inheritance Rights, between Children born out of wedlock, and Legitimate Children", while "Court's role in Combating Discrimination, generally speaking, has been Fundamental", as he pointed out. And the 3rd, had associated the Prohibition of "INHUMAN or DEGRADING TREATMENT" with that of "LIFE", by "prevent(ing) the Extradition of a person to a country, the USA, where he risked ...to be ...placed on Death Row – the treatment reserved for prisoners awaiting execution". + Moreover, ECHR, "for nearly 50 Years now it has laid down the main principles of the right to a Fair Trial and the right to respect for Private Life, which also encompasses the right to one’s Reputation", etc., he added.

- The European Convention on Human Rights was due to become "the cornerstone of a Democratic Europe, a project for Peace and Freedom", hailed as "the finest European undertaking to date" by Luxembourg which triggered its entry into force by the deposit of the 10th instrument of Ratification in Strasbourg, (had) declared (then) EuroCourt's President Dean Spielmann, 16.500 judgements and 500.000 applications later, promissing to "strive, everyday, to continue in that direction". "Peace" and "Freedom" both between States, Citizens v. States, and between Citizens themselves inside the Modern and Future Societies, as the recent addition of BioEthical issues naturally implies (Comp. Supra)...

    => So that, Today, in order "to enable our Court to pursue its Mission and for Human Rights to continue to Move Forward, we Need ... strong Support", President Spielmann warned in conclusion, speaking of the foreseable Future.