newsitems

*Strasbourg/June 16 (+partly Updated in the Middle of June 17) 2013/-  Speaking to "EuroFora" on CoE Secretary General, Jagland's recent call about the Public Service Broadcasting controversy in Greece, supporting to advance towards a "Reform" for a New RTV "without DisContinuation", "even if it's only a Temporary one", the competent Greek Government's Spokesman, Minister Simos Kedikoglou, and CoE Parliamentary Assembly's Director for Culture/Science/Education and Media, Roberto Fasino, reacted to Topical Questions on the latest topical developments about the currently Burning Issue of Old "ERT" and efforts to create a New "NERIT", after a much needed, Structural Reform :

I.e. mainly the fact that the Greek Government immediately accepted to start RTV emmissions at first by a slim team composed by Journalists due to be selected by a Trans-Parties Committee according to Transparent criteria on their Experience, Education and Capacities, until a fully-fledged New PSB "NERIT" is developed the soonest possible, but, this offer was bluntly Rejected by representatives of the controversial, Old PSB "ERT"s staff, and even by the Order of Journalists (ESHEA/EPHEA), which went as far as to add, (3 times !!!), a series of Threats against .. All Journalists, of All Medias (not only Radio-TV, but also Written Press/Newspapers, even Internet/On-Line, etc), not allowing them neither to contribute into that Transitional Re-Opening of at least a provisional PSB, not even to .. Publish any News whatever, to any Medias, (except on Old "ERT's issue, and that, exclusively from one side alone : the controversial Old "ERT"s staff. Not by the Greek Government, nor by any MP or any other, Civil Society sources at all, obviously raising issues of Press Freedom vis a vis Thousands of Journalists concerned, and Millions of Citizens threatened to be deprived from any News and Information at all, until such an unprecedented measure practically prohibiting Journalists from doing their Duty, might, eventually, be suspended and/or lifted, later-on...

    To put it in a nutshell, the competent Minister Kedicoglou confirmed in a Phone Interview to "EuroFora" various, even more Harsh Threats against Journalists' Freedom to work either for that, immediate but transitory, opening of a prelude towards the New PSB "NERIT", or even for any other Media duiring a much Wider "Black Out" thus imposed by ESHEA's "Order" (comp. Supra and Infra), while CoE Assembly's competent Committee Director, Fasino, later-on, surprized, characterized that issue as "Tricky", and, after reminding ECHR's principles for the Freedom of all Journalists to Publish News without undue Restrictions or any Threats by anyone (including Corprorative "Orders" as ESHEA, etc), he advised anyone among the Press Workers which may be affected by ESHEA's orders against Working and/or against Publishing News (comp. Supra), to Challenge this Legally at the Courts, asking Public Authorities' protection of their Freedom to work, until it comes in front of the ECHR in Strasbourg (See Infra).

 Meanwhile, however, despite the fact that the Courts declared those ESHEA's coercitive measures as illegal, nevertheless, the Corporatist "Order" persisted to exert heavy Pressure on all those Journalist who might dare to simply do their work by asking them to "submit" to its decisions, threatening them with various sanctions, and even starting these days to impose various Punitive Measures and f.ex. "Strike off" its official Lists many Journalists who had worked in the past despite ESHEA's opposite orders, in an obvious attempt to Terrorize any Journalist who might think to DesObey it now...

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    Notoriously, the Old PSB "ERT" issue resulted after the 1st big attempt by the New (2012) Greek Government led by Antonis Samaras, (President of the "New Democracy"  ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party, currently the Biggest of the Country, and former Foreign MInister as well as MEP at EU Parliament in Strasbourg/Brussels), in Coalition with another 2 Small Parties of Center-Left ("DHMAR" and the remnants of "PASOK"), to start solving the well known Problem of an Excessive (compared to Greece's smalled Productive Sector) Number of Cushy-job holders and/or Political Lackeys, sometimes even Corrupted etc., Civil Servants which had been Scandalously appointed to the Public Sector by former Clientelist and/or Nepotist Governments of the Past, mainly PASOK, etc., during the latest 30 Years (1981-2011+), resulting to a Growing Debt which "exploded" after the recent Global Economic and Financial Crisis, since the end of 2009 (comp. "EuroFora"s NewsReports f.ex. from Brussels' EU Summit of December 2009, and afterwards). The issue has become particularly "Hot" since that Heavy Debt provoked grave consequences after the Global Crisis to the detriment of Poor People, and against the Productive Sector of the Economy (necessary for a Future Growth), by threatening, more and more, to aggravate an already Hard Pressure, which had resulted on some 1.800.000 Unemployed in the Private sector, in addition to previous (during 2009-2011 PASOK's former Government) Cuts even at the basic Health sector, and a persisting Recession, (despite a recently Upward trend towards Better Financial parameters), etc, and many Popular Sufferings, which Contrast with the 20 or 30 Years, comparatively "comfortable" and often Undeserved Public Sector Jobs by others, many Counter-Productive, even sometimes Abusive, Corrupted or oherwise Criminal, and largely Unpopular, surnumerary Civil Servants.

    In this regard, the EU/CEB/IMF "Troika" has asked from Greece to urgently make adequate Structural Reforms, including by the departure of at least 50.000 surnumerary Public Sector's employees, among many Hundreds of Thousands more, and this has been repeatedly agreed and promised by successive Governments, until now without notable Results. So that the current point is a almost last-minute attempt to Start implementing Greece's commitments in this regard, at least vis a vis less than 2.000 staff only, beginning by the Old PSB "ERT", notorious for its Cushy Job Holders and/or Political Lackeys, often accused also for useless and/or excessive Waste of Money, (more than 300 Millions € each Year), while both various Politicians (not only of the current Governing parties, but also from the Opposition), as well as many People were fed-up and angry, often complaining for Biaised, Discriminatory and/or Bad Quality News Reporting, judged unacceptable for a real "Public Service" Broadcasting, which should, on the contrary, serve exclusively the General Interest by a Quality and Pluralist News Reporting. In consequence, Strong Changes vis a vis Old  PSB "ERT", are widely Popular, among a Majority of Critical Citizens (as also numerous reactions published now at the Web remind), but also Journalists (some having faced f.ex. Contempt/Discrimination and/or even Political Harassment against their Human Dignity and/or Press Freedom by certain such Cushy Job Holders/Political Lackeys, etc), including various Politicians from a broad spectrum of Parties. So that CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland's earlier Statement clearly "acknowledge(d) the Need to Remedy the Shortcomings of (old) ERT", as he pointed out, calling to better follow, in Future, "CoE's Standards for Public Service Media",  in order to "Become a True Public Broadcaster, corresponding" to them. ---------------------------------------------

    But, meanwhile, the written anouncements published by Old "ERT"s staff and endorsed by that Order of Journalists (ESHEA/EPHEA), not only Refused the Offer for an immediate Opening of a Transitory service, while preparing a fully Fledged New PSB "NERIT" (comp. Supra), but even appeared to practically Threaten any Journalist, "not only of ERT, but even Out of ERT", who might accept to Work for it, (after a Transparent and Pluralist procedure of Selection : Comp. Supra), f.ex. by "strongly declaring" from the outset, "that Not any Journalist, ....Member of ESHEA, will ever accept to offer his services", not even "to Contracts of 2 or 3 Monhs", (i.e. just to help the Transition towards a New PSB "NERIT", "without DisContinuation", as CoE's SG. Jagland has asked : Comp. Supra) ! Such threats are obviously dangerous for Journalists' Press Freedoms, because ESHEA/EPHEA's Corporative "Order" and some other Bureaucrats notoriously try to Impose to all Journalists a controversial Obligation to always have a "Card" Monopolized by ESHEA/EPHEA, exposing them to a constant Risk to see their Press Freedom as Journalists to be trumpled underfoot at one or another pretext...  

+ Moreover, at the seme time, ESHEA/EPHEA and a group of similar Corporatist "Orders" governing the Media landscape, issued an additional collective Prohibition for any Journalist who wants to be their Member and/or to be assimilated to their Members from the point of view of Freedom of Press, to Publish any other News, except for the issue of Old PSB "ERT", and, even on that, all Journalists were exceptionaly ordered to exclude any other Source (f.ex. from the Greek Government, any MPs or other Politicians, NGOs, Experts, Civil Society, Citizens, etc), except from the controversial Old "ERT"'s staff, (to the point that several MPs, and/or political parties, particularly from the Governing coalition, as well as other interested People, even simple Citizens, started to Denounce various Incidents of blatant Discriminations, Brutal Censorship, etc, obviously incompatible with Democratic Pluralism and Freedom of Speech)...

- >>>  Any Journalists who might desobey to such ESHEA/EPHEA a.o. Orders, (especially the 1st one : to Refuse to Work for the immediate Opening of a Transitory, elementary PSB, as a bridge towards the New PSB "NERIT" : Comp. Supra), ..."were Threatened even to be ... Lynched !", denounced the Greek Government Spokesman, Simos Kedikoglou, speaking this Sunday evening to "EuroFora".....

Something which, added also to various other Shortcomingss among such Medieval-like Corporatism, has recently led various Emerging, New Socio-Political Movements, including, f.ex. that of former Comedian (notoriously excluded from Public RTV in the Past just for havoing dared Criticise a former Socialist Party leader as Corrupt, before he was judged and condemned, later on), Bepe Grillo, whose "5 Stars' Movement" has just succeeded to be Voted as No 1 Party of the Country in the latest Italian Parliamentary Election, after adopting in his Official Program .. .to Close Down the Italian Order of Journalists (as even famous Liberal former MEP Panella had already asked in the Past) !

All this comes in addition to a notoriously Spreading Popular Insatisfaction, almost Revolt, against most Traditional Medias, in a growing number of European and other Countries accross the Modern World, where Citizens can, for the 1s time in History, also judge by various Direct Modern Communication Technology tools, what is the Truth about topical News, so that many People's Distrust vis a vis Traditional Media, aspires for New, Alternative Information, from the USA up to France, as well as Italy, Germany the UK, Hungary, Greece, etc.. It's in this context, f.ex., that the Italian People voted as 1st political Party in the last Elections that of Grillo's "5 Stars Movement" which had reportedly excluded any Traditional Journalist, with a Bureaucratic "Card" from the infamous Corporatist "Order" (comp. Supra), from ever covering any pre-electoral or post-electorall Meeting of his party, prefering motivated Citizens' a.o. Alternative, more trustworthy tools...

- That's one of the reasons for which, (in addition to the above mentioned Facts concerning more particularly Greece's Media, mainly of the Public Sector as the Old "ERT" : Comp. Supra), the competent Minister, and Government Spokesman Simos Kedikoglou clearly agreed with "EuroFora" that, in Future, i.e. at the New Public Service Broadcasting "NERIT", every Candidate to a Job, should, normally, explain, if he comes from that controversial Old "ERT", first of all, on the basis of Which Criteria, what Procedure, which Competition among all competent Journalists availabla at that time, what kind of Transparency in the Anouncement of the offer of a Job in the Public Sector, and with what level of Educational background, special Knowledge and/or Experience, etc. had he or she been chosen among many other Journalists and more potential Candidates, by whom, and why, in order to Occupy, often for many Years, even Decades, such a Public Sector Office in a Public Service Media responsible for informing all Society according to basic Democratic and pluralistic Principles, wih what Pay, and what activities he/she really did provide during all these Years/Decades; before being able to be eventually considered for a Job in the New PSB "NERIT"...

Otherwise, the risk is obvious Today for many  among the Notorious former Cushy Job Holders and/or Political Lackeys, who had been Scandalously appointed in the Past by fomer Clientelist/Nepotist Governments, mainly of PASOK etc. in the Old "ERT", to suddenly find, tomorrown,  a way similar to illegal .... "Dirty Money Laundering", in order to Hide all "Dark-spots" of their Past, and even Exploit that by claiming to have acquired some "Experience", precisely from the Unlawful Results of such Scandalously illegal manouvers of an often Corrupted Past... Such Setbacks would obviously have too seriously Negative consequences, undermining from the start all Reform efforts. Considering, among many other important factors, also the Facts that, as various former or current Journalists, other witnesses, etc. already have or could denounce, in several real cases, as those for which the Greek Attorney competent to fight Corruption, Helen Raikou, has reportedly just started to Investigate, at the invitation also of Economy Minister John Stouraras, in the case of Old "ERT", (hopefully not only in some too Narrowly restricted Time limits, considering the obvious importance of all the last 30 Years 1981-2011).  

Among many and various other shady cases, f.ex., while one among many mere .. Assistants to one or another former PASOK MEP, without any serious Experience in Journalism, nor any noteworthy but rather Low University background, etc., was suddenly chosen, without even knowing exactly when, by whom and why, to occupy some Monopolistic, "Exclusive" cushy-jobs, too " comfortably" Paid for Decades, with Expensive Hotels, Cars, Offices, Air-Travels, etc., at some exceptionaly sensitive matters, of Crucial Importance for entire Countries, etc.,  (normally made only for well Experienced, Qualified, and sincerely Motivated People able and willing to practive fearless and efficient Investigative Journalism in order to find often an oftent Hidden Truth and dare publish it even against one or another Dominant opinion, with a Pluralist point of view), on the contrary, at the same time, some other available Journalists, with a much Longer and full Experience of Press Work, much Higher University Education/Research levels, without having ever been a Servile tool easily bought by any Politician of any color, but keeping a sincerely Independent Journalists' judgement, working hard even without time to sleep overnight, and publishing Thousands of Original News at mainstream Media, sincerely motivated by the Task to find and publish the most Interesting, original News for crucial Socio-Political issues, often after a carefully and actively Investigative Journalism advancing far beyond the "obvious", even by taking  various personal Risks, and without any demand for so Expensive Payrolls as those wastefuly distributed to some Petty Carrierists, were, on the contrary, in certain more or less serious cases, Discriminated and/or Excluded, Slandered and/or Harasssed, even Physically Aggressed in various Serious "Incidents" curiously occuring at certain exceptionally important Dates for crucial Political Decisions in the areas that they were covering, sometimes even brutaly Oppressed and/or Hindered to Work, their Human Dignity trumped underfoot, even their Family harassed, etc., requiring a very Strong Moral and Intellectual Resistance, as well as their active but desinterested contribution to some positive Political developments, in order to be anew more or less Free to simply have the honour to continue Working as Journalists without more grave, obvious hindrances recently...

All this obviously asks for a really New Start in a  brand New, PSB "NERIT", in full Transparency and with complete Knowledge of all important Facts and what really happened until now around at least the more Crucial Junctures  in the entire History and present Landscape of a given Media Sector, with a Team of sincerely Motivated, Experienced, well Educated, and Honest, Hard Working and Efficient Journalists, Stimulated by the Public Service Mission of such an important Broadcasting Media, to find and publish the Best possible News on Topical issues of Importance for the Lives of the People, Society's main values, and the Country's History and Future, but less by the Money that they might put at their pockets, as some others did in a notoriously "Dark" Past, here and elsewhere...

Naturally, this doesn't mean that ALL Old "ERT"s staff would be worthless, since, on the contrary, there are several Honest and Efficient Journalists and/or RTV Technicians among them. But they will have simply to be clearly Distinguished from those who are remnants of an Anti-Democratic and too Wasty Past.

 A key stake in the Political a.o. Negotiations between main Actors reportedly due to hammer out an efficient, transparent and pluralistic Procedure for the Transition towards a New Era at least on Public Service Media in so thorny cases as that of Greece, starting from crucial meetings and possibly decisions Tomorrow, Monday afternoon, etc.

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+ Meanwhile, according to well informed sources, after a highly Symbolic phone call by German Chancellor Angie Merkel, who reportedly stressed her Support to efficien Reforms as it had been agreed earlier, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is due to have soon also an expression of Solidarity (in his efforts to at last restructure the ailing Public Broadcasting sector, in a way able to overcome the notorious obstacles of the Past, by the experienced Head of the European Popular Party, Wilfried Martens, from Brussels.

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+ Fresh CoE UPDATE :
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    + Later-on, the competent Director of CoE Assembly's Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media, Roberto Fasino, speaking later-on to "EuroFora" on ESHEA's moves against Journalists' work not only for the proposed transition to New PSB, but even in order to publish, at any Media whatever, any News (except on ERT, and only from one side, excluding all others), was adamant :

  - If another, non-State body whatever, be it a professional "Order" (f.ex.of Journalists) or other, is really threatening and hindering Journalists from Publishing any News of topical and serious importance to the Society, then, this seems obviously Opposite to all what we, as CoE's Parliamentary Assemby's Committee on Media, and the European Court of Human Rights have been doing in order, on the contrary, to protect all Journalists' Freedom to Publish, (and even Citizens), to freely express themselves on issues of current importance to the whole Society, because this is not only a Human Rights Issue for Journalists themselves, but also a Democratic Principle for the Information of all the People", he stressed, as a matter of General Principle.   

    - The sole Condition under which exists this Right to the Freedom of Publishing News, is that it  has, naturally, to be done, as always, in full respect of certain elementary Principles , such as against Racism, Violence, Slandering persons, etc, he reminded.

    => Therefore, if such (abnormal) obstacles come from an Order of Journalists (f.ex. ESHEA/EPHEA etc.), as you said in the case of Greece, then, this seems to  be a very "Tricky" issue, and whoever, among Journalists, faces such threats and/or orders not to publish anywhere, any News (except on ERT and only from one side of the current conflict) should Challenge this Legally, starting by the National Courts, and, if needed, arriving ultiimately to the ECHR" in Strasbourg, the experienced  CoE Assembly Culture/Science/Education and Media Committee Director advised in conclusion.

    + He also reminded in this regard a previous Official Statement by the President of CoE Parliamentary Assembly's sub-Committee on Media, Italian MEP Deborah Bergamini, who had already expressed the "Hope that Everything will be done to ensure that the Greek Parliament can Speedily adopt the necessary Measures to preserve Media pluralism and freedom and to provide an effective guarantee of Greek Citizens’ right to Information".

    Previously, Bergamini (a former Journalist and Press Attachée herself) had observed the fact that "the Financial situation of the public broadcasting service in Greece is extremely serious", and said that she had "No reason to believe that, in taking such an unusual decision, the Greek government intended to infringe the right to freedom of information, or that it exceeded its statutory powers". But she had also expressed her "extreme surprise"  for "the closure ... of ..3 public radio and TV services” "instantaneously", and she felt  mainly "Concerned about the possible harmful consequences, in the shorter and the longer term, of the simultaneous withdrawal of All Public media", whatever, (i.e. practically asking, as Jagland, for at least an elementary PSB to be opened, as the Greek Government accepted, shortly afterwards : Comp. Supra, but facing a blunt Refusal from the other side (that of Old ERT's controversial staff, comp. Supra).

(.../...)

 

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

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*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/- During the Votes of a new Resolution on Turkey this Thursday, after a critical Debate yesterday (Wednesday) on the recent and still on-going Police clashes with Demonstrators, EU Parliament clearly Rejected the proposed Opening of a Chapter in the EU - Ankara Negotiations, while, in addition, even the slightest mention of the word "Accession" in order to characterize them, was "Withdrawn'" at the last minute.

In particular, a controversial Amendment No 13, initially tabled by French "Green" MEP Flautre and Brittish "Socialist" MEP Howitt etc, which was asking to "Open" EU - Turkey "Negotiations" on Chapters 23 and 24, i.e. about the "Judiciary and Fundamental (Human) Rights", was strongly Rejected by MEPs, with a clear Majority of more than 310 Votes against only 272 and 13 Abstentions, (i.e. by a Difference of more than -38 Votes).   

EU Enlargement/Good Neighborhood Commissioner Fühle had claimed yesterday that opening that Chapter was needed because the resposnsible Turkish Minister was asking him : - "Where is the EU Report on the (Human Rights') Benchmarks that we (Turkey) should follow ?". But such claims provoked various Critical remarks by MEPs, wondering about the Paradox to "reward" Turkey for .. oppressing Demonstrators during these latest weeks, when the "Democratic Spring" Mediterranean Wind apparently started blowing also in the direction of the only Non-EU Mediterranean Country which had surprisingly skiped that, until now. Astonishingly, Fuhle seemed to ignore the Fact that the ECHR in Strasbourg has already Condemned Turkey for an exceptionaly long list of serious Violations of Human Rights, so that the CoE, the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, has already designed, and constantly keeps update, more than 20 Years now, a comprehensive "To Do" List of Reforms badly needed in Turkey, in order to fullfil its duty to implement ECHR's Judgements, ikn front of whic, Ankara, on the contrary, persists to close its eyes for more than 20 years now, so that it's not the Rules, but the Sanctions for Violating them, which obviously lack in this case...

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+ At the same time, also another Amendment, tabled by 2 Italian MEPs, which was going to introduce the word "(EU) Accession process" into this new Resolution on Turkey which doesn't now contain any such mention at all, was officially declared as "Withdrawn" at the moment of the Votes, and, therefore, Definitively droped down.    

Significant of the clearly Political Importance of this Withdrawal was also the fact that it's experienced German ChristianDemocrat MEP Bernt Posselt, notoriously Critical to Turkey's controversial and Unpopular EU bid, who intervened from the outset, at the Beginning of the Voting Time, in order to ensure that this Amendment had been indeed "Withdrawn", (as the Resolution's "Voting List" had already clearly indicated also by writting)...

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=> Both those 2 New collective MEPs' moves clearly converge together towards a more Critical stance inside EU Parliament on controversial and Costly EU - Turkey Negotiations, just before the forthcoming May 2014 EU Elections, where EU Citizens' Majority voice could be Democratically heard by their representatives, as they had already started to do since 2007-2009, but hopefully now reaching to those long-awaited conclusions which might help to ptrevent another growing Abstention Majority an/or any dangerous "Boom" in various Anti-European Parties' currently worryingly High Standing in most Polls.. 

(../..)

 

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

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*Strasbourg/Parlement Européen/Angelo Marcopolo/- Le Représentant permanent de la Russie auprès de l' Union Européenne, ex-Ministre, l'Ambassadeur Vladimir Chizhov, dans une Interview à "EuroFora" lors de ses rencontres avec les Leaders des Groupes Politiques au Parlement Européen pendant la Plenière de juin, vient de Confirmer des rumeurs récents qu'une Loi pourrait bientôt interdire d'obliger des Enfants Russes à se soumettre à l' Autorité d' Homosexuels sous pretexte d' "Adoption", et que cela aménerait d'exclure les Adoptions par des Pays qui ont récemment livré Mariage et même Adoptions d' Enfants aux Homosexuels, (comme actuellement la France, dans une loi très controversée et largement Impopulaire, comme tous les Sondages indiquent, immitant de suite la tendance de quelques Etats féderés des USA, etc).

    + De surcroit, des questions actuelles sur les Droits des Enfants vis a vis tels dangers et d'autres, ainsi que sur la facon selon laquelle sont traités les opposants à certaines lois tres controversées et impopulaires qui insistent à imposer de telles mésures même contre la Majorité du Peuple, comme p.ex. les denonciations recentes de Violences Policières en France et/ou parfois d'acharnement contre des Dissidents à n'importe quel pretexte, etc. pouraienyt commencer à être soulevées au CdE, OSCE, etc,  a ajouté à cette occasion l' experimenté ex-Ministre aux affaires Européennes.

    - "Comme vous savez, il y a une forte opinion dans le Parlement (Russe), et dans l' Opinion Publique, contre l' Adoption d' Enfants Ruses par des couples Homosexuels certainement, mais aussi dans des Pays où les couples Homosexuels sont autorisés d' "adopter" des Enfants", a-t-il observé d'emblée, répondant vivement à une question d'actualité par "EuroFora".

 

    => - "Ainsi, je ne serais pas surpris, si, d'un moment à l'autre, un texte (cad. Loi ou Amendements, etc)  Législatif puisse être officiellement déposé (à la Duma), qui empecherait de continuer cette pratique (d' Adoptions d' Enfants Russes) vis a vis des Pays dans lesquels on a donné à des couples Homosexuels un "Droit" (même) d' "Adopter" des Enfants" (nés par des Parents Naturels completement Etrangers) aux Individus qui prétentent imposer leur Autorité sur ces Enfants), il a averti.

 

    + En plus, "c'est sûr que des pareils problèmes", (concernant les Droits des Enfants, ainsi que les denonciations de violences policières contre les manifestants, p.ex. recement en France, etc. (v. la Question écrite du Président du plus grand Group de l'Assemblée Parlementaire du Conseil de l'Europe, Luca Volonté, ainsi que les 100 prémiers Recours déposés par un groupe d' Avocats à Paris, etc : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/cdeviolencespolicierescontremanifestantsantimariagehomo.html ), "souleveront des questions au Conseil de l'Europe, (l' Organisation PanEuropéenne, qui a 47 Etats-Membres, censée oeuvrer pour les Droits de l'Homme, la Démocratie et l'Etat de Droit, surtout dépuis le Sommet des Chefs d'Etat/Gouvernement qui a eu lieu à Varsovie en Avril 200 : Comp. des NewsReports envoyés alors par le co-Fondateur d'"EuroFora" de Varsovie,  etc), "mais aussi au sein de l' ONU, de l' OSCE", (l' Organisation Trans-Atlantique de Sécurité et Coopération, basée à Vienne), "etc". a-t-il ajouté.  

    - "Parceque ceci est une affaire qui, je croît, souleve des préoccupations égales à tous" les Pays concernés,  a estimé l' Ambasadeur Chizhov, ouvrant des perspectives encore plus larges, comme il a dit aux "EuroFora".
    -------------------------------------------------              

    + Déjà, lors de la recente session du Conseil Mondial des Droits de l'homme à l' ONU , la semaine dernière à Genève, pendant les Débats Publcs du 6 juin 2013 sur l' adoption des résultats de l' Examen périodique de la France, "qui s'est vu adresser 165 Recommendations", selon le Compte-rendu des services Onusiens, la Délegation d'encore un autre pays, de la Bélarus, a appelé la France d' Amender cette Loi controversée et Impopulaire qui livre le Marriage et des Enfants aux Homosexuels, plus particulirerement, "en vue de Ne pas permettre l' Adoption d'Enfants par des couples Homosexuels".

    - En outre, le ONG "Franciscain International", a soulevé une serie de questions concernant "la Traite de Personnes" Humaines et ses "Victimes" en France, tandis qu'en même temps, le Conseil de l'Europe à Strasbourg est déjà saisi d'une série de questions concernant les Problèmes du Traffic d' Enfants aux Pays-Bas, et même l' Impunité scandaleuse et manifestement Dangereuse de certains Groupiscules déjà accusés et condamnés par les Tribunaux pour Propagande de ... "Péderastie" (sic ) : 2 Fleaux qui ravagent, semble-t-il recemment les Pays Bas, moins de 10 ans après evoir été ... le 1er Pays au Monde d'avoir autorisé le "Mariage" entre Homosexuels et même la soumission d' Enfants à l' Autorité (soi-disant "parentale") d' Homosexuels, dépuis 2001 déjà, (cad. lorsque tou cela était Interdit partout ailleurs)....

    + A cela c'est ajouté même, pour la 1ère fois, une Critique des "Violences Policières" en France contre les Manifestants opposés à cette loi controversée et impopulaire qui livre le Mariage et des Enfants à des Homosexuels via "Adoptions", par l' ONG Américain (fondé par le celebre et Populaire Universiteur, Editeur et idéologue Conservateur Pat Robertson), "Centre pour le Droit et la Justice", où le Directeur de son Bureau pour la région Européenne, Georg Pupnick, a pratiquement repris presque toutes les dénonciations initialement faites dans le Conseil de l' Europe à Strasbourg par le Président Volonté sur l' excessif Harcelement récent contre les Dissidents, plus de 500 Personnes ayant déjà été arretées par la Police française, la plupart même sans raisons valables, de manière excessive ou irregulierement, multipliiant des abus, selon plusieurs témoignages, (Comp. déjà : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/cdeviolencespolicierescontremanifestantsantimariagehomo.html ,  http://www.eurofora.net/forum/index.php?&topic=603.0   , http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/conseildeleuropeetmariageshomosexuels.html , etc). Une controverse qui motive en Amérique du Nord aussi, dépuis au moins les Elections Présidentielles de 2004, un similaire Mouvement Populaire émergent aux Etats-Unis, ancré surtout autour des Valeurs Morales en BioEthique, la protection de la Famille Naturelle, etc, montant de plus en plus aux "Primaires" du GOP en 2008 et 2012, mais aussi de manière indépendante, p.ex. lors de Referena Populaire, (p.ex. en Californie dépuis 2008 déjà, etc).

    Le Répresentant Permanent de la France auprès de l'Office de l' ONU à Genève, Nicolas Niemtchinow, a rappelé "le rôle qu'avaient joué les droits de l'homme et les Libertés publiques dans la construction de la République française" lors de son Histoire propre, de sorte que «ces Droits .....sont ardemment défendus par le Peuple français» lui-même, comme il a souligné en réponse, selon le compte rendu officiel de l'UNOG.  En tout cas, la France demeure «extrêmement Vigilante sur la situation des droits de l'homme sur son territoire», et  «considère le regard extérieur et la Critique comme Essentiels pour aider à Améliorer sa situation des droits de l'homme et à renforcer son niveau d'exigence à cet égard», a-t-il conclu (selon la version en langue française), promettant de prendre en considération les remarques faites par les intervenants, (selon la version en anglais).
-----------------------------

    +Même si Chizhov était exceptionellement à Strasbourg "juste pour 1 jour", aussi pour inaugurer une Exposition consacrée au 70e Anniversaire dépuis la Victoire sur le NAZIsme dans la fameuse Bataille de Stalingrad, la ville de Volgograd aujourd'hui, qui marqua un tournant Historique dans la 2nde Guerre Mondiale, ouvrant la voie vers la Libération de l' Europe toute entière du NAZIsme et Fascisme par les Alliés, (1943-2013), après plus de "200 Journées (cad. environ 7 Mois) de conflits "sans interruption", qui "ont fait a quart de Million des personnes tuées", dévenant "une Legende, a fort Symbole de pouvoir Spirituel et d' Unité", "Bravoure et Héroisme", "a monument au soldat Soviétique qui a liberé l'Europe de l' esclavage et de l'extemination NAZI", d'où "provient le Monde Contemporain, et plus particulièrement l'Europe d'aujourd'hui", où "nôtre Dévoir est à cette époque, pas seulement de promouvoir la Paix et la Stabilité, .. payées avec de nombreuses Vies Humaines, mais aussi de sauvegarder la Mémoire de ceux qui ont mouru pour nous laisser Vivre", en "renforcant la Coopération et en soutenant les Contacts entre les Peuples dans nôtre continent, et en contribuant de bâtir une Europe unique, Sans lignes de Division", comme il a souligné dans son allocution ce matin, exprimant l'espoir qie "les evenements d'aujourd'hui, dans le Parlement Européen, serviront pour faire un Pas de plus" dans cette direction, pourtant, le thème de l' Enfance fragile à protéger de tous les dangers, était spectaculairement illustré, là aussi;

P.ex. par une saisissante Photographie, document authentique, prise pendant que les Bombardements NAZI avaient mis en Feu et en Sang la plupart de la Ville, avec ses Maisons Détruites, sa population, ses Familles tuées, blaissées, ou fuyant, voire cachées sous les descombres pour Résister, tandis que, .. .presque par Miracle, une Statue montrant quelques Enfants en train de Jouer, Danser et Chanter, comme en .. Manifestant, Heureux, Souriants et sans souci, restait, curieusement, encore débout, blaissée mais impeturbable, au milieu d'une Désolation cauchemardesque, pleine de Ruines, Feux, et places vides, désertifiées; sous les Bombes qui Mattraquaient encore toute la Ville, comme une pluie torrentielle...  Comme un "Pont" Symbolique vers l' Avenir, qui est dévenu le Présent de l' Epoque contemporaine, après la fin de la 2e Guerre Mondiale et des anciennes Divisions de la "Guerre Froide", (comme ont rappellé aussi le co-Organisateur de cette Exposition, Quaester du Parliement Européen, EuroDéputé  tchèque, Jiri Mastalka, et le vice-President du Parlement Européen EuroDéputé Espagnol Angel Miguel Martinez), faisant de Volgograd une Ville reconstruite et, surtout, Fière de servir comme une Base pour Echanges Culturelles et Educatives entre la Jeunesse de la grande Europe, "de l'Atlantique à l' Oural", comme disait De Gaulle.

    - Mais, "malheureusement, une autre raison de plus qui m'amène ici est aussi ce que certains préparent pour la séance du Jeudi, (cad. lorsque la plupart des EuroDéputés sont, notoirement, .. partis de Strasbourg, dépuis la suppression des séances du Vendredi matin en 1998-2000, ne laissant derrière même pas une pauvre .. Trentaine parmi les plus de 750 Membres du Parlement Européen, de sorte que le moindre Grupuscule pourait, en fait, adopter n' importe quelle Résolution il voudrait, et concocter un pseudo-"Débat" exclusivement entre un Miniscule nombre de "déjà convaincus" dans un Hemicycle pratiquement Vide...), oû il est prévu un projet de "Résolution sur l' Etat de Droit en Russie", avoua Chizhov, en exprimant l' "Espoir que la Raison et la Logique puissent prévaloir, pour que persone ne tombe Victime de quelques Explosions Politisées et très émotionelles par certains Membres Individuels du Parlement Européen", comme il a dit, (manifestement faisant réference à 4 ou 5 MEPs, toujours les mêmes, qui ne font rien d'autre que de chercher n'importe quel pretexte pour dire du mal de la Russie, (curieusement, la plupart d'entre eux, trouvant, en même temps, la .... Turquie plutôt "sympathique" à leurs goûts étranges)...

    + Entre temps, divers dévelopments convergents, indiquent, clairement, que les questions BioEthiques dont on vient de parler ici, sont, effectivement, au Centre des mouvements actuels :

    -  La Duma vient d'adopter à Moscou, à l' Unanimité, une nouvelle Loi qui interdit la Propaganda pour l' Homosexualité vis a vis des Mineurs (Enfants), avec 436 Votes pour, aucun contre, et seulement une abstention, (suivie même d'une autre Loi sur "les Droits des Enfants", qui a été adoptée aussi à la quasi-Unanimité, avec 2 voix contre seulement).. .

    - Pourtant, en même temps, le projet de la Résolution sur la Russie, tel qu'il est actuellement préparé pour être débatu et voté par le Parlement Européen le jeudi, en fait, ne contient presque aucune autre grande Nouveauté que, plus ou moins seulement une Attaque dirigée, précisement, surtout contre cette nouvelle Loi Russe, qui interdit la Propaganda pour l' Homoséxualité (v. Supra). Curieusement, les auteurs de ce Texte, apparament esquissé à la hate, ont placé côte à côte, dans deux articles adjacents sans raison valable, des mentions  sur les "Groupes "LGBTI"" (le "I" étant manifestement une adjonction récente, pas encore connue du Public), et un appel d' Accroître (en pleine Crise Financière et Coupures de crédits, même des prestations Sociales aux Pauvres, que subissent les Citoyens de l'UE) même davantage des .... Financements de l' UE (importés de l'étranger) aux "Groupes" et Individus de la "Société Civile" en Russie, ... Le tout, au même temps qu'on "oublie" même de mentioner dans ce texte hatif le fait incontestable que ladite Interdiction de Propagande pour rélations Homosexuelles vaut seulement "vis a vis des MIneurs", cad. pour protéger au moins les ENFANTS : Ce qui a été totalement caché au Texte préparé pour être soumis au Vote !...

    Mais, par une "coincidence" extreme, juste le week-end qui vient de passer, il y a seulement 2 jours, un groupe de jeunes jeunes fût arrêté lors de la Finale du prestigieux Tournoi International de tennis à Roland Garros, après y avoir manifesté avec des inscriptions appellant à Sauver les "Droits des ENFANTS", ...précisement à l'egard de cette loi controversée et impopulaire, opposée par la Majorité du Peuple de France, comme tous les Sondages indiquent, (surtout en ce qui concerne la soumission d' Enfants à l' Autorité d' Homosexuels totalement étrangers à leur Famille Naturelle, sous prétexte d' "Adoption")...

 

La principale Photo de ce Manifestant pour "les Droits de l'Enfant" ("Kids' Rights" en anglais) a fait le tour du Monde, ayant été publiée même à la "Une" des New York Times !...

 

   
    Dans ces conditions, il reste à voir combien parmi les plus de 750 EuroDéputés seront présents à l' Hemicycle ce jeudi après-midi, et dans quelle mésure il y en aura, ou pas, un vrai "Débat" Democratique pluraliste, digne de ce nom..

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- The vice-President of EU Commission, responsible for Inter-Institutional relations and administtration, Maros Sefcovic, speaking to "EuroFora" on the forthcoming crucial EU Elections which are scheduled in less than a year time now, on May 2014, urged all Candidates for New MEPs, throughout all 27 EU Member Countries, in view of EU Political Parties' decision to choose and declare from the outset, for the 1st time in History, whom they want for New President of EU Commission (for the New Period of 2014-2019),  to try to choose themselves  the "European Political Family" in which they want to be integrated or associated, normaly before the End of the 2013 Autumn.

    Sefcovic topically spoke on that issue to "EuroFora" at the conclusion of a special meeting of EU Parliament's Constitutional affairs Committee, chaired by Italian ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Maro Casini, initially focused on the 2014 European Elections, including the parliament's Future Composition, as well as the outcome and the perspectives after the conclusion of the present legislature (2009-2014), during which he had also a long discussion with EU's Rapporteur on the European Political Parties, experienced MEP and former Minister Marieta Gianakou, Head of the Delegation from Greece, the country which is due to chair the EU at the final sprint of political campaigns for the May 2014 EU Parliament Elections (Jan.-June 2014).

    Questioned by "EuroFora" on various Polls in several key EU Countries, which reportedly warn about current risks for more or less Anti-EU and/or extreme or outsider Parties to eventually gain momentum, as things stand Today, while also the 1999-2004 sudden uprise of unprecedented Majority Abstentions, slightly decelerated on 2009, might continue futher, even on 2014, unless something important happens before May next year, Sefcovic pointed mainly at what is expected to be the most important Innovation at the forthcoming 2014 EU Elections, i.e. the practical Need and the political chance to hold really European, and no more only National debates, in the quest of European Solutions needed by EU Citzens, who can choose by voting as they wish.

     - "I think that this is the Major Topic of Discussions (inside the EU)", Sefcovic agreed with "EuroFora", i.e. "how can we (EU) actually increase the Interest of Electors in coming to the Voting Booth, and, then, of course, how to bring the European Topics in the Agenda, because,  in the Past, it was only focused on National issues", so that People used to vote according to their perception of this or that national government, without having a European overview of the main topical issues.

    - Therefore, "I hope that we (EU) will be able to convince the European Voters that this is very Important for them : They have (on May 2014) to send the EU Parliament (that they believe it's best in order) to work for European Solutions, because, as we have seen during the Crisis, in a Globalized World, these (EU's) these are the only forces which would help us get out of the (Global) Crisis", he stressed.

    - In this regard, "I think that there is a lot to communicate wisely, important, and  to get the People to Vote, and explain how important this (2014) vote is for the new (2014-2019) EU Parliament", EU Commission's vice-President competent for inter-Institutional questions concluded optimistically on this key point.

     + Sefcovic didn't deny "EuroFora"s more  suggestion that such a result might be better obtained if EU Institutions found ways to make their Communication policy vis a vis EU Citizens "more Spicy", particularly by inventing how to , allow People to express their feelings on issues which really interest them, f.ex.  by giving them a chance to be heard before the most important EU Decisions which will affect their lives are to be taken, (according to our co-Founder's main 1997-2007 idea).

    - "Yes", he started to reply Positively  in this regard, but went on to underline, once again, the  fact  that, by doing so, ipso facto, at the same time,  "what would be very important is to bring also the European Topics to the Debates : I.e. to show also that, look, if you want f.ex. Employment, or Growth in most of the Countries which are under (Economic/Financial Recovery) Programs, which are absolutely in Need of the EU suppport, what will happen if we don't have (adequate) European Solutions ?", Sefcovic wondered.

     - For that purpose,  we  (EU) should "make it very Practical for the (EU) Citizens", i.e. "explain them what we (EU) do, and bring them to the Voting booth" in order to choose the representatives that they prefer.

    => -  That's why, in ToNight's (Monday, 10 June 2013) EU Commission-Parliament Debate inside the Constitutional affairs Committee, "what was the Most Important was that EU Parliament and EU Commission want to really make Sure that the European Political Parties will clearly say who they want as President of the Future (2014-2019)EU Commission, and the National Political Parties should make it very clear to which Family of the EU Political Parties they belong", he stressed.

    Questioned by "EuroFora" on the "Best Timing" for such parallel, almost coordinated moves, which are due to take place for the 1st Time in EU's History, vice-President Sefcovic observed that the relevant "Communication was already out by he EU Commission and EU Parliament", so that, "I think that all this wil Start to be very practical in the Late Autumn"  of 2013, he estimated.