
newsitems
CoE Chair, Albanian President Nishani to EuroFora : Trans-Adriatic Pipeline important for EU+

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- CoE's Chairman, new President of Albania, Bujar Nishani, speaking to "EuroFora", firmly confirmed his country's Political Will to make whatever possible in order to realize the Strategic Energy Transport link of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, ("TAP"), which can help create permanent links between all the EU and Eastern Mediterranean Sea's on-going Oil/Gas New Findings, (in addition to eventual old terrestrial but controversial and uncertain projects which might be added also from various other Directions/Origins).
- "The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline is very Important for Albania", President Nishani stressed from the outset in Reply to "EuroFora"s Question.
- In this regard, "we've just had an Agreement Signed by Albania, Greece and Italy", he observed.

+ However, TAP is not only "Important for All those Countries, but also for the European Union", as a whole, the Albanian President rightfully added, considering the fact that the project obviously intends to create Energy Transport Links also towards the rest of the EU, via Austria, Slovenia, France, etc.
- That's why, "Albania will offer the Maximum of Engagement",so that "in Albania, TAP will find a Safe Place, and a very Good Environment in order to implement this project", he promissed.
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Already, in general, "the average Economic Growth of GDP reached +5%" in Albania "during 2007-2012, while, "World Bank's 2O12 Report on "Doing Business" this year ranks Albania onthe 24th and 16th place, in "Getting Credit" and "Consumer Protection", respectively, placing Albania among the Countries with the Highest Results" worldwide, President Nishani had observed earlier.
=> Therefore, "I think that (all) the European Countries will Profit from that (TAP) Project, (which) is a very Important one", the current CoE's Chairman concluded.

- This goes even more Today, when "there are, currently, wider EU Projects to Fund such strategic Energy Transport links", as "EuroFora" reminded to President Nishani, who agreed wholeheartedly with a crystal-clear - "Yes, absolutely !",
(concerning in particular EU's recently anounced Plans to start soon doing so in order to also boost Growth throughpout all the EU, as New French EU Affairs Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has already confirmed in reply to an "EuroFora"'s question, earlier at EU Parliament, and as it was moreover reiterared even by the Foreign Minister of the country, experienced Laurent Fabius, during his recent visit to Cyprus, current EU Council's Chair, and new Oil/Gas findings' host, including on Pioneer, High-Tech Projects agreed with Israel, after preparatory deals with Egypt, soon possibly Lebanon, etc)
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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already sent earlier to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version may be published asap.)
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ΓΓ. OECD Γκούρια σ'Ευρωφόρα: Χρόνο στην Ελλάδα+Διαρθρωτικές Αλλαγές κατά Διαφθοράς, +Παιδεία=κλειδιά
*Στρασβούργο/Συμβούλιο Ευρώπης/Αγγελος Κ. Μαρκόπουλος/- Σε δηλώσεις του στα Ευρωφόρα πριν και μετά από Διεθνή συζήτηση στην Κοινοβουλευτική Συνέλευση του Συμβουλίου Ευρώπης στο Στρασβούργο για την ετήσια Εκθεση 2012 του Οργανισμού Οικονομικής Συνεργασίας κι Ανάπτυξης, όπου μίλησε κι Ελληνας ΕυρωΒουλευτής, ο Γενικός Γραμματέας του, Αγγελο Γκούρια, τόνισε την σημασία "κλειδί" που έχουν κυρίως οι Διαρθρωτικές Αλλαγές, ιδίως στο Δημόσιο τομέα, η καταπολέμηση της Διαφθοράς, κι ο εκσυγχρονισμός της Εκπαίδευσης, για να εξασφαλισθεί αποτελεσματική έξοδο απ τη Διεθνή Κρίση, και κατέληξε καλώντας, (εφόσον εκπληρωθούν οι προυποθέσεις για "ισοροπημένες" πολιτικές Εξοικονόμησης Δαπανών κι Ανάπτυξης), να δοθεί Χρόνος στην Ελλάδα, όπως ζητά η Ελληνική Κυβέρνηση, εν όψει του Ευρωπαικού Συμβουλίου Οκτωβρίου 2012.
- Πρέπει να δώσουμε περισότερο Χρόνο στην Ελλάδα, έστω κι αν δεν φαίνεται να υπάρχουν περισότερα χρήματα. Και δεν νομίζω ότι θα χρειαζόνταν να φύγει οποιοσδήποτα απ την Ευρωζώνη, που, αντίθετα θα διευρυνθεί. ... Με τη Νέα Κυβέρνηση στην Ελλάδα, και τα Μέτρα Εξοικονόμισης δαπανών που λαμβάνει, πρέπει να τους υποστηρίξουμε, τόνισε ο επικεφαλής του ΟΟΣΑ στην Συνέλευση του Συμβουλίου Ευρώπης.
- Οσες χώρες κάνουν πραγματικές κσι σωστές προσπάθειες, πρέπει να βρίσκουν κατάλληλη βοήθεια, ιδίως γι απαραίτητες Διαρθρωτικές Μεταρρυθμίσεις, και για να ξαναβρούν την χαμένη Εμπιστοσύνη αγορών και πολιτών, για την οποία έχει καίρια σημασία κι "η καταπολέμηση της Διαφθοράς", πρόσθεσε ο Ανχελ Γκούρια,
- Με τα πρόσφατα Μέτρα που έλαβε η ΕυρωΖώνη, ιδίως με την νέα Σύμβαση 2012, την Τραπεζική και Δημοσιονομική Ενοποίηση, κεντρικό έλεγχο, κα, γενικά το Μέλλον προβλέπεται καλύτερο, κι άν υπήρχαν τέτοια Θεσμικά εργαλεία στο Παρελθόν θα είχαμε προλάβει και το πρόβλημα της Ελλάδος, που είναι σαφώς "Διαρθρωτικό", οπως επεσήμανε ο έμπειρος επικεφαλής του ΟΟΣΑ.
(Εμμεση αλλά σαφής αναφορά στις γνωστές αρνητικές συνέπειες σ αναλογικά υπερμεγέθη Δημόσιο Τομέα (σε σχέση με την Παραγωγή της χώρας, που προξένησαν κυρίως Πελατειακές πρώην Κυβερνήσεις, ιδίως ΠΑΣΟΚ, τα τελευταία 30 Χρόνια, 1981-2012, βολεύοντας πολλούς αντι-παραγωγικούς, αυθαίρετους ή/κσι πολιτικούς "εγκάθετους", κάποτε ακόμα και Διεφθαρμένους, στο Δημόσιο, που ακόμα και μετά από Δεκαετίες οικονομικής αφαίμαξης Δημοσίου Χρήματος, αντί να επιβληθούν επιτέλους κάποιες απαραίτητες Κυρώσεις και να γίνει πλήρης και δίκαια Κάθαρση, αντίθετα επιμένουν να συνεχίσουν να αφαιμάζουν σκανδαλωδώς την Ελλάδα γι ακόμα 20, 30 ή 40 επιπλέον χρόνια, εισπράτοντας ακόμα Μισθούς, Συντάξεις, κπα)...

Αλλά, καταλήγοντας στην Ολομέλεια της ΚΣΣΕ, ο Ανχελ Γκούρια προειδοποίησε ότι, (ιδίως σε σχέση μ αναγκαίες Διαρθρωτικές Αλλαγές), χρειάζονται τώρα Αποφάσεις, κι όσοι δεν κάνουν παρά μόνον τα μισά απ όσα είναι απαραίτητα, θα το πληρώσουν ακριβά.
+ Εν τω μεταξύ, είναι κι η κατάλληλη ανάπτυξη της Εκπαίδευσης, ιδιαίτερα Πανεπιστημιακής, που παίζει ρόλο-κλειδί, μαζί με την Ερευνα και τις Τεχνολογικές Καινοτομίες, για την αναζήτηση μεγαλύτερης Ανταγωνιστικότητας κι Ανάπτυξης, που μπορεί να φέρει θετικά αποτελέσματα πιο σύντομα απ ότι νομίζει κανείς, πρόσθεσε ο Ανχελ Γκούρια σ επιπλέον δηλώσεις του στα "Ευρωφόρα",
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Σε παρέμβασή του στην συζήτηση Ολομέλειας της Κοινοβουλευτικής Συνέλευσης Συμβουλίου Ευρώπης, ο Βουλευτής των Ανεξαρτήτων Ελλήνων, Κωνσταντίνος Μαρκόπουλος, κατήγγειλε το γεγονός ότι η Οικονομία της Ελλάδος βρίσκεται σε Υφεση για 5ο Χρόνο στη συνέχεια, ενώ έχασε ήδη πάνω από 25 % του ΑΕΠ που είχε προηγουμένως, κι η Ανεργία μαστίζει 25 % του πληθυσμού, ξεπερνώντας το 50 % μεταξύ των Νέων που μεταναστεύουν στο Εξωτερικό, κι ακόμα και τα Σπίτια τους χτυπιούνται ρίχνοντας την αξία τους και οι επιχειρήσεις ασφυκτιούν, κπα, δείχνοντας ότι τα Μέτρα που είχαν ληφθεί μέχρι τώρα δεν αρκούσαν διόλου, (όπως είπε, μάλλον επικρίνοντας πολιτικές που επέβαλαν περιορισμούς κυρίως στην Παραγωγή και στερήσεις σε Φτωχούς, αλλ αφήναν όλους τους "βολεμένους" στο Δημόσιο ουσιαστικά ανενόχλητους, μ εξαίρεση κάποιες, συγκριτικά περιθωρειακές Μειώσεις ορισμένων απ τα πολυάριθμα Επιδομάτά τους, ή/κι απ τους πολυετείς, κάποτε παχυλούς Μισθούς τους, Θερινές Διακοπές, Συντάξεις, κττ, ενώ παραγωγικές Επιχειρήσεις κλείναν και Φτωχοί Ανεργοι καταδικάζονταν σ απελπισία)...
Ετσι, αυτό που χρειάζεται τώρα, πάνω απ όλα, είναι όχι μόνο να δοθεί Χρόνος στην Ελλάδα, αλλά και να στηριχθεί η παραγωγική Επιχειρηματικότητα (όχι αναγκαστικά με χρήματα αλλά και μ όλα τα κατάλληλα μέσα), κατέληξε ο Ελληνας ευρωΒουλευτής. ----------------------------------------------------------

+ Επανερχόμενος αργότερα σε θέματα σχετικά με την Ελλάδα, ο Ανχελ Γκούρια πρόσθεσε ότι η Ευρωζώνη δοκιμάστηκε από ένα πρόβλημα που αφορούσε μόλις το 2% του συνόλου, δηλ. στην Ελλάδα, αλλά το οποίο αφέθηκε κρυμμένο, (ιδίως απ τα γνωστά σκάνδαλα απόκρυψης το 1999-2001, 1), να συνεχίζει για πολλά χρόνια, χωρίς να διορθωθεί έγκαιρα.
- Ακόμα και τώρα, που φτάσαμε σε 3ο Στάδιο ενεργειών για την Ελλάδα, δεν κατορθώσαμε ακόμα να σταματήσουμε αυτή την εκτροπή, απάντησε ο ΓΓ του ΟΟΣΑ σε παρεμβάσεις ΕυρωΒουλευτών,
(μάλλον κάνοντας υπαινιγμό στο γεγονός ότι ο πρόσφατος συμβιβασμός μεταξύ των 3 κυβερνόντων κομμάτων, όπου συνεχίζει πάντα να συμμετέχει και το ΠΑΣΟΚ, προβλέπει κυρίως Φόρους στον Παραγωγικό Τομέα κι άλλους Περιορισμούς για τους Φτωχότερους πολίτες, αλλά δεν σταματά την αφαίμαξη Δημοσίου Χρήματος απ όσους αντιπαραγωγικούς, συχνά αυθαίρετους, κάποτε διεφθαρμένους κι ίσως κι εγκληματίες που είχαν σκανδαλωδώς διορισθεί στο Παρελθόν από πελατειακές/νεποτιστικές πρώην Κυβερνήσες ιδίως ΠΑΣΟΚ την περίοδο 1981-2011+, εφόσον ΔΗΜΑΡ και ΠΑΣΟΚ λέγεται ότι έπεισαν ή ανάγκασαν ακόμακαι την ΝΔ να μην αποδεχθεί διόλου σχετικό αίτημα της Τρόικας για σταδιακές, ελεγχόμενες κι υπό όρους απολύσεις ορισμέμων τουλάχιστον, άδικα κι αντιπαραγωγικά "βολεμένων" στο Δημόσιο, έστω κι άν πάνω από 1.500.000 φτωχοί άνθρωποι, νέοι κι ηλικιωμένοι, στον Ιδιωτικό τομέα, αντιμετωπίζουν σήμερα σκληρή κι απόλύτη Ανεργία απ τις βαριές συνέπειες του Δημοσίου Χρέους, χωρίς να έχουν ποτέ επωφεληθεί κανενός διορισμού στο Δημόσιο ούτε μια ημέρα στη ζωή τους, κάνοντας αναπόφευκτα το Κοινωνικό Αίσθημα σκανδαλώδους Αδικίας να εντείνεται επικίνδυνα, απειλώντας να προξενήσει ανεπανόρθωτες συνέπειες,
=> Σε σχετική ερώτηση, κατόπιν, απ τα ΕυρωΦόρα, ο Ανχέλ Γκούρια διευκρίνησε ότι, πράγματι, η κυριότερη συμβουλή του για το τί χρειάζεται ακόμα στην Ελλάδα αφορά "Διαρθρωτικές Αλλαγές στο Δημόσιο Τομέα", "αλλ' όχι μόνον", όπως παρατήρησε .

>>> Κι η "καταπολέμηση της Διαφθοράς είναι, ασφαλώς, ένα "απαραίτητο" εργαλείο, στην περίπτωση της Ελλάδος, όπως και σ άλλες παρόμοιες περιπτώσεις, πρόσθεσε στην καταληκτική απάντηση που μας έδωσε ο έμπειρος Γενικός Γραμματέας του ΟΟΣΑ.
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Υπερθεματίζοντας. ο Ελληνας ευρωβουλευτής τόνισε σχετικά στα Ευρωφόρα ότι συμφωνεί βασικά με την άποψη ότι "η καταπολέμηση της Διαφθοράς μπορεί να παίξει καίριο ρόλο σ ανεύρεση και Πολιτικής λύσης, και Οικονομικής λύσης στην Ελλάδα". όπως μας είπε χαρακτηριστικά μέσα στο ΣτΕ.
(Σύντομες Ειδησεογραφικές Σημειώσεις, όπως εστάλησαν ήδη σε Συνδρομητές /Δωρητές των Ευρωφόρα. Ενα ακριβέστερο και πλήρες, Τελικό Κείμενο μπορεί να δημοσιευθεί το συντομότερο δυνατό).
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New Moldovan President Timofti (2012-2017) to EuroFora: EU Integration perspective = real + concrete

- "EuroFora" asked the President of the Republic of Moldova to assess how are going currently his country's EU perspectives, thanks also to its experience at the CoE.
- "Moldova's European Union Prespectives are going well !", President Timofti (who has just been elected for a 4 years term : 2012-2017) sharply replied immediately to "EuroFora"s query, with a serious smile.
- "They are Real and Concrete", went on to stress the Moldovan President, concerning his country's EU Integration prospects, after having also welcomed CoE's useful help in order to make further "advances in Democratisation and Rule of Law", as he told us at the conclusion of his meeting with CoE Assembly's chairman Mignon.

+ "The European (Union) Path that we have chosen is Irreversible", and our "Vision" is for Moldova to "become a Full EU Member", President Timofti added afterwards.
- For the 1st time in the History of the country, the present Government is supported by a Coalition of 3 political parties which is placed mainly under the banner of "EU Integration", topically reminded to "EuroFora" our ex-collegue, former Journalist, and later CoE Press Attaché, new Head of CoE's Office at Chisinau, Ulvi Akhundlu.

-- "After 3 Elections and 1 Referendum", now "EU needs your vision", mainly about the area's European Integration but also on how to solve the Transnistrian issue, observed later CoE Assembly's President, ChristianDemocrat/EPP French MEP Jean-Claude Mignon, addressing himself to Timofti.
= Replying later to various MEPs' Questions during a subsequent Debate which followed his Speech at CoE Assembly's Plenary in Strasbourg, Moldovan President Timofti, (who has also a long Experience as former Judge and even f. Head of Moldova's Supreme Magistrate Council), stressed that "the most Important" Reform that he wants to accomplish in his country, is to "Change the Prosecutors' and the Courts' system", in order to make it "more Transparent" and able to efficiently "fight Corruption in the Judiciary".

Confirming his Government's "Political Will to implement" ECHR's judgements, President Timofti also stressed that "EU placed Human Rights at the Core" of European Integration, as he said on this occasion.
+ But it's also about "developing Pluralism", and, for that purpose, Mass "Media must be De-Nationalized" throughout the Country, as the experienced, former long-time Top Judge, and now New President of Moldova officially anounced, later Today, at CoE's Parliamentary Assembly's Plenary, where he also expressed his interest for the 1st "World Forum for Democracy" due to start in a few Days in Strasbourg, after an exceptionaly overloaded and busy EU/CoE+ European Agenda during the last 3 weeks, (See also "EuroFora"s questions/replies with the Organizers of the 2012 WDF at the preparatory Press Conference of April 2012 at the CoE : mms://coenews.coe.int/vod/20120625_04_e.wmv ).
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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already sent earlier to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version might be published asap).
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New CoE d.Secretary General Battaini-Dragoni to EuroFora: EU/CoE on Education, a North-South bridge?
*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Education could offer a useful North - South bridge, including on spreading Democratic Culture in Europe's Neighborhood, etc., but it remains to be seen whether and how CoE and EU might coperate in this regard, in particular on the Universities' survey that EU Commission has just launched last week, replied in substance the new Deputy Secretary General of the CoE, experienced Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni (2012-2017), to "EuroFora"s relevant questions.
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- "EuroFora" asked CoE's New deputy Secretary General if she thought that Higher Education, (i.e. Universities), could usefully contribute to CoE's curent mission to diffuse "Democratic Culture" also in its Mediterranean Neighbourhood, as she had just stressed at CoE Assembly's Political affairs Committee.
- "Yes ! I think yes, obviously", replied positively to "EuroFora"s question the new CoE's deputy Secretary General, who already holds an extensive Experience on PanEuropean Education issues, as former long-time CoE Director of Culture, Education and Youth.
- "That's one of the reasons for which we believe that CoE's North-South Centre should continue to accomplish its task, as it has already started to do, at least in part, during the last few years", experienced Battaini-Dragoni observed.

+ Battaini-Dragoni appeared genuinly interested to clearly find out the concrete details about EU Commissioner Vasiliou's recent initiative to launch a High Level Group^, chaired by former President of Ireland, Mary Mcaleese, in order to examine, debate and propose a strategy for EU Universities' Modernization, in comparison with what is currently done also in Russia, China, Japan, the USA, Australia, etc. arounde the World, as "EuroFora" reminded her, (see relevant, earlier "EuroFora"s NewsReports at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/vassilioumodernizeuniversities.html ).
- Even if "I haven't seen yet that proposal, so that I can't pronounce myself right now" on that, nevertheless, the possibility for an EU - CoE Coperation on such issues concerning Higher Education's Modernization in front of Globalizatio, (i.e. practically including also Countries as Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Norway, etc., which are obviously very interesting to study in this regard, in addition to USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, etc, who already have a Special Status inside CoE since 1996, etc), "is a Question which deserves to be raised", as she said, pointing in particular to the specialized CoE's Education service Director, Sjur Bergan, "who constantly follows on-going developments on Higher Education".
+ Meanwhile, "we, (at the PanEuropean CoE), already have, in this regard, the International Convention for Recognition of (University) Diplomas, also known as "Lisbon Convention", and we (CoE) continue to work on the basis of a similar Methodology (as also the EU), but with the difference that our (CoE's) Scope is much more Wider", (since it includes also some very Important Countries in this regard, such as Russia, Switzerand, Ukraine, Norway, etc), the new CoE's deputy Secretary General added in Reply to "EuroFora's Question.
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The competences of the PanEuropean Organization for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law in the domain of Higher Education, naturally includes not only Freedom of Access, elementary Equality of chances and No Discrimination, but also ability for Qualified Work in a Multi-Lingual and Inter-Cultural, International context, able to provide an Education of PanEuropean value and usefulness, as well as the Democratisation of Universities, etc.
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- "It's important for the CoE to help develop "Democratic Culture" in Neighbouring Countries, and, in this regard, its "North-South Centre (for Gobal InterDependance, based in Lisbon, Portugal), is the natural Partner (Interlocutor) of Mediterranean a.o. Neighbouring Countries. But, for that purspose, the CoE has also to help fill the gap which may exist in the Creation of such a Democratic Culture", stressed Battaini-Dragoni earlier, as the key-note Speaker during an Exceptionally coordinated meeting of CoE Assembly's Political affairs/Democracy, Culture/Science/Education and Media, as well as Social affairs/Health and Sustainable Development Committees, on CoE's "North-South Centre and the Arab Countries in transition".

- "This is a Timely and Important Debate", today, when a "Paradox" appeared, between CoE's "efforts to Sharpen the role of (its) North-South Centre, and the recent Decision of 4 Countries to drop this "Partial Agreement", leaving behind 14 other COE's Member States, as well as 3 Non-CoE Members, so that there will inevitably be a discussion, inside COE's Committee of Ministers, she pointed out. However, this is not specific to the "North-South Centre", since CoE has also received more other Demands of Withdrawal from various other Partial Agreements as well, which might be due purely to some budget restrictions, the experienced Battaini-Dragoni observed.
- Now that the CoE has already adopted the principle of its Neighbourhood policy, for which it is extremely important to use also the tool of GRECO, CoE's Anti-Corruption watchdog, another area which has not yet been used sufficiently enough is about developing a Democratic Culture in Neighbouring Countries, f.ex. around the concept of Citizenship, etc., CoE's new Deputy Secretary General proposed.

In this regard, North-South Centre's Executive Committee's Chairwoman, mainstream ChristianDemocrat/EPP Italian MEP Deborah Bergamini, observed that, already, many Women and Young People around the Mediterranean show a vivid interest for such CoE's activities in the area, as it was proved, also by the fact that, "f.ex., when we (CoE) offered just 50 places in a program about "Global Education", we received more than 400 demands, as she revealed, while a Spanish MEP also raised the issue of the future role of the nearby Molina University in Spain, which is interested mainly in projects on Women, Youth and Medias.
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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already sent earlier to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version might be published asap).
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CoE Rapporteur, German Delegation's Head, Hörster, to EuroFora : Move on Cyprus from February 2013 ?

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- CoE's long-time Rapporteur on Cyprus and Head of the German Delegation to CoE's Assembly, Joachim Hoerster, MEP from the Governing ChristianDemocrat party (CDU), speaking to "EuroFora" on the sideliness of CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly, clearly indicated that a fresh move for a solution is expected from the beginning of 2013, just after the country's crucial forthcoming Presidential Election, scheduled for February.
- The experienced German MEP told us that he didn't expect anything substantial in this regard, at this moment, despite UNO Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon's anounced exceptional arrival in Strasbourg next week, on the occasion of the 1st World Democracy Forum, (Comp. relevant "EuroFora"s previous NewsReport : ...., and UNO's Secretary General's reply to "EuroFora"'s Question on Cyprus at another, similar occasion, back on October 2010, during ECHR's 60th Anniversary : .... ), which seems, indeed, rather focused towards Syria's more topical and urgent issue.
=> - But, very probably, "there will be a Move for a Political Solution for Cyprus' Reunification early next year (2013), after the elections", the competent CoE's Rapporteur replied to an "EuroFora" question.
+ - Hoerster's estimation was almost confirmed by the Spokesman and representative of Cyprus' Governing Party (AKEL) at CoE's Parliamentary Assembly, MEP George Loukaides, who didn't find any Cyprus solution related developments feasible, at least for the moment, as he told "EuroFora", busy to prepare his current PACE activities.

Other informed sources, speaking to "EuroFora", speculated that an eventual move by CoE's Rapporteur on Cyprus might, eventually, arrive at CoE Assembly's Plenary at the latest on June or September 2013, after the usual preparations and contacts.
Meanwhile the Turkish side's intransigeant stance, reportedly, still makes things difficult, (as illustrated f.ex. even today's scandalous kidnapping, by Turkish Military Occupation troops, of 3 Cyprus' Policemen while they were trying to check a Truck Driver for excessive speed and dangerous driving at a Highway , when he immediately run away to hided himself at the Turkish Occupied Territories of Cyprus, where Ankara's Soldiers arrested the Cyprus' Policemen and left the illegally tresspassing Truck Driver run away unpunihsed, as they have already done with many other, even more serious Criminals, currently hidding at the No Man's Land of the Occupied Territories held by Ankara's Army, according to a recent UK Police denunciation)..

However, CoE Parliamentary Assembly's President, French MEP Jean-Claude Mignon, apparently succeeded, recently in Strasbourg, to at least give the ... visual impression that Turkey might have, at least, "recognized" Cyprus, as the EU has been vainly asking Ankara to do, for many years, since a provocatively negative claim by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, back on July 29, 2005, shortly after visiting the former Brittish "Socialist" Prime Minister Blair, followed by an official EU counter-Declaration, negotiated at the UN Summit of Heads of State/Government on September 2005 (See "EuroFora" Co-Founder's relevant NewsReport from UN Headquarters at New York with a statement by former French Prime Minister Villepin), and confirmed, later on, by all EU Member States, from 2005 up to 2009, as well as now, on 2012, when Turkey is notoriously risking to jeopardize its controversial, unpopular and expensive EU bid, by stubbornely refusing even to respect EU Institutions which include the rotating EU Council's Presidency by EU Member Cyprus during the July - December 2012 Semester :
A never seen before Differend, which currently threatens to provoke an unprecedented Cancellation or long "Postponement" of the EU - Turkey Joint Inter-Parliamentary Committee meeting, normally due for this Month of October 2012... Indeed, Turkish vice-Foreign Minister Bagis had been clearly warned by the EU-Turkey JPC vice-President, experienced Greek MEP Georges Cumutsakos, that, if Ankara persisted in its Refusal to recognize Cyprus, then, it should forget about holding its EU - Turkey JPC on October (See "EuroFora"s relevant NewsReport, from EU Parliament's June 2012 session : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/danisheupresidencyonturkey.html )
In this context, it was, therefore, a Surprise to see, at the end of September 2012 in Strasbourg, Turkish Assembly's President, Cemil Cicek, deliver a Speech at a CoE's meeting ... Chaired by Cyprus' Parliament's President Yannakis Omirou, as co-President of CoE's Bi-Annual National Parliaments' Presidents' Summit, (together with CoE Assembly's President, French ChristianDemocrat MEP Jean-Claude Mignon).

Instead of refusing to do so under an ostensible CoE Summit's rotating Chairmanship by Cyprus, on the contrary, Cicek surprisingly accepted to deliver his speech when invited to do so by Omirou, focusing on Turkey's notoriously, long-time favorite issue to Restrict Freedom of Expression under pretext of so-called "Hate Speech", (a usual claim by the Turkish regime when it persecutes and jails Dissident Journalists, that he used also on the occasion of the Brutal Murder of US Ambassador and staff at the American Embassy in Benghazi, on pretext of a suspiciously provocative Video, curiously filmed by an Egyptian with Actors mainly ..."from Turkey and Pakistan"), without even raising his eyebrows...

Thus, Omirou soberly focused on expressing support for current prospects to develop a Political Europe strong on principles and values, as well as to denounce the "Massive Violations of Human Rights" notoriously committed and perpetuated in Cyprus since the 1974 Foreign Military Invasion and Occupation by Ankara's army, despite CoE Assembly's recent Resolutions (adopted both by its Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg, and by its Committee of Ministers at Brighton, UK, as ECHR's President Sir Nicolas Bratza reminded here yesterday) asking from National Delegations of MEPs to ensure that their Government implements ECHR's Judgements.
Topically, the President of Cyprus' House of Represenatives observed that to "EuroFora", just a week before CoE's Committee of Miisters examines if Ankara respects ECHR's case-law on the issue of Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced Persons' Family Homes and private properties, that the Turkish Occupation Military is illegaly hindering them to access.
***
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Recent developments proved that Europe can suceed to overcome challenges by aiming at great objectives, and this is needed also in 2009, said EU chairman, French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
- "It's in the name of Great Ideas, Projects, Ambition and Ideals, that EU can overcome" challenges, stressed Sarkozy at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, in conclusion of a dense 7 months EU Chairmanship. "It's even easier for Europe to have Great projects, able to overcome national egoism, instead of limiting itself only to small projects" (unable to do alike), he observed.
- "Europe must remain Ambitious and understand that the World needs her to take Decisions". "The World needs a Strong Europe", which "thinks on its own, has convictions, its own responses, its imagination" : "A Europe which does not limit itself into following" others, (as it did in the Past, when it followed USA, f.ex. on Bosnia). On the contrary, "Europe should undertake its own responsibilities", he said, after a series of succes in stopping the War between Russia and Georgia, and organizing the 1st EuroZone's Summit in Paris, which incited the Washington DC G-20 Summit to extend similar decisions World-wide.
- "When you sweep it all under the carpet, prepare yourself for hard tomorrows", he warned. "What hinders decisions is the lack of Courage and Will, the fading away of Ideals", he stressed before EU Parliament's 2008 debate on Human Rights and Sakharov prize on Freedom of thought attributed by MEPs to Chinese cyber-dissident Hu Jia, followed by an EU - Turkey meeting on Friday.
- "I don't abandon my convictions" and "I will take initiatives" on EU level also in 2009, Sarkozy announced later. "France will not stop having convictions and taking initiatives" on Europe. + "It's an Error to wish to pass over the Heads of those who are elected in their Countries" : "It's an integrism I always fought against"', he warned.
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French EU Presidency faced 4 unexpected Crisis :
- An institutional crisis, with the Irish "No" to EU Lisbon Treaty, just before it started. A geopolitical crisis, wth the threat of War between Russia and Georgia risking to throw Europe back to Cold-war divisions, on August. A World-wide Financial and Economic crisis, arriving at a bad moment before crucial 2009 EU elections. And even a Strasbourg's mini-crisis, with EU Parliament's roof curiously falling down, from unknown reasons, in a brand new building on August, provoking an unprecedented transfert of the 2 September Plenary Sessions...
But it wasn't enough to stop Sarkozy ! On the contrary, it stimulated him...
---------------------------------------
- "The better way to deal with the recent problems of EU institutions (as the "3 NO" by France, the Netherlands and Ireland) is to take them as a "Test" in order to find solutions closer to Citizens' concerns", said later in Strasbourg Sarkozy's new choice as Ministe for EU affairs, Bruno Le Maire.
- On the Institutional front, Sarkozy gave Time to the Irish to think about it, and stroke on December a deal including a New Referendum after the June 2009 EU Elections, in exchange of a promise to keep the rule of "one EU Commissioner for each EU Member Country", and some opt-outs on Defence and Fiscal EU policies, Abortion, etc. If the Irish get a "Yes" Majority, then the institutional package could be completed in 2010 or 2011 on the occasion of Croatia's probable EU accession.
He was accused in Strasbourg to upgrade EU Council and downgrade EU Commision, but he replied that "strong Political initiatives by EU Council reinforce also the more technical role of EU Commission, under the political-technical leadership of its President", all 3 "working together with EU Parliament".
- But, meanwhile, Sarkozy energetically spearheaded an Historic 1st Summit of EuroZone's 15 Heads of State and Government at EU's core, exceptionally enlarged to a partial participation of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, on October 12 in Paris' Elysee palace, which started to tackle succesfully the growing world Financial crisis.
It also paved the way for its endorsement by a subsequent Brussels' 27 EU Member States' gathering, before it all come to Washington's G-20 Summit. And "Europe was united, it asked for the 1st G-20 Summit, and it will also organise the next G-20 Summit on April in London", he observed.
But a Conference with EU, Russia, African and other Developing Countries, hosted in Strasbourg shortly after Washington G-20 Summit by the French EU Presidency, took a Resolution asking to enlarge participation to Global Economic Governance. Many found, indeed, illogic and unacceptable that f.ex. states as Turkey were given a seat at G-20 level, while all African Countries, and even the African Union itself, representing the greatest Continent on Earth, were excluded...
Meanwhile, even USA''s "Paulson No 3" Plan, was, in fact, inspired by Europe's No 1 Plan", Sarkozy observed, largelly applauded by MEPs.
And "Europe showed Solidarity" by mobilizing some 22 Billion credit for Hungary, 1,7 billion for Ukraine, as we do nowadays for Baltic States, etc., he added.
The move on Economy was extended on December by an EU stimulus' plan totalling some 200 billion Euros, including 5 Billions released by EU Commission for big Projects, as well as various parallel National plans for Economic revival, (fex. 26 billions in France alone). They might appear limited, compared to USA President-elect Obama's reported plan to boost the American economy with 800 billion $, but at least succeded to overcome Europe's divisions for the first time on Economic governance, opening new horizons.
- The French President stressed even harder the unique role of an active EU Council's chairmanship, when he moved swiftly and efficiently, at the beginning of August, to succesfully stop War between Russia and Georgia, at the last minute, which threatened to bring Europe back to Cold War division.
"We (EU) also wanted to avoid a situation like in Bosnia, in the Past, when EU was absent, so that our American friends took their responsibilitues, and EU only followed", despite the fact that the conflict took place in Europe. Now, it was the EU who took its responsibilities".
A roadmap towards a new PanEuropean Security policy, before which all unilateral moves to place new Missiles (from USA or Russia) would be freezed, was proposed by Sarkozy after a meeting with Russian president Medvedev, at the eve of Washington DC's G-20 Summit.
Ukraine's "European" character was stressed at a Sarkozy - Jushenko Summit, September in Paris, while EU adopted on December an "Eastern policy", in which, "I'm convinced that our (EU's) future is to find with our Neighbours the conditions for Economic Development. Peace and Security, by explaining them that.. they must respect (Human Rights') Values, and adopt behaviors different from the Past", explained Sarkozy in Strasbourg.
Meanwhile, the "Union for the Mediterranean" was created, since July's Summit if 45 Heads of State and Government in Paris, as "an organisation for a permanent Dialogue, that we need", mainly in order to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, by bringing together, for the 1st time, Israelis and Arabs, where "Europe must be present, in order to avoid a frontal clash".
- "If Europe doesn't take its part for Peace in the Middle-East, nobody else will do that in our place", Sarkozy stressed.
-----------------------
Meanwhile, other EU Agreements were brokered during the French EU Presidency on Immigration, (fex. common Asylum rules, etc), and Climat- Energy :
- On Climat-Energy, the 2007 German EU Presidency had fixed a triple 20% aim for 2020 (20% renewable Energies, 20% reduction of CO2 emmission, 20% energy efficience/economies), and the 2008 French EU Presidecny realized that, making the necessary compromises in order to modernize EU's industry, but without throwing some former Central-Eastern European Countries into abrupt Economic break down risking "social explosion".
- Defence-Security EU policy was mainly postponed for April 2009, since both German chancellor Merkel and French president Sarkozy want to strike a deal with the new American president Obama in Strasbourg's NATO Summit.
However, with all these 4 unexpected Crisis diverting attention to other urgencies, People wil wonder now, what happened to the famous deal proposed by freshly-elected French President Sarkozy on Turkey's controversial EU bid, back on August 2007, to continue EU - Turkey negotiations, but on the double condition that core chapters, intrinsequally linked with EU Membership, will be excluded, and that a collective Reflexion and Debate on Europe's future would start before the end of 2008.
It was meant to reply to the crucial question : What kind of Europe do we want in 10 or 20 Years from now : A large Market, or a Political Europe, with a popular identity ? In Sarkozy's thinking, presented in his 2 landmark speeches on Europe in Strasbourg, shortly before and after the 2007 Elections, (on February and July 2007), Turkey's controversial EU bid would be incompatible with the second choice.
It's true that EU Commision's Chairman, Jose Barroso, (who had notoriously declared, as former Portuguese Prime Minister, that he found "nonsense" the idea that Europe might become equal to the US), had repeatedly tried to avoid that Sarkozy's criticism on Turkey might start winning a larger audience in Europe, preferring a discrete "wismens' committee" work. And that most of the personalities later chosen in order to participate in a Committee on Europe's Future, are too much linked with Socialist parties and/or American policies, to be really critical of USA's notorious wish to impose Turkey to the EU, as Sarkozy had noted himself since March 2007..
- "It's on EU Council's presidency to take political initiatives. EU Commission has other competences", stressed Sarkozy. The "European Ideal" is to "build Europe with the States, not against them". "Ask Europeans to chose between their countries and Europe won't work. You don't choose between your two parents : We must add them together".
"France and Germany have an Historic Duty to work together, precisely because of what happened to the Past. We have to work hand by hand. We cannot be separated.It goes beyond me and Mrs Merkel today, Mr Schroeder and Mr. Chirac yesterday. It's not a choice, it's a duty to Europe and to the World". "We need Germany, as Germany needs Europe". Compromise is inevitable, here as everywhere, and each one made some steps towards eachother's positions.
But "it's true that Mrs Merkel didn't chose her Socialist partners, while I chose mine", Sarkozy said, in an indirect hint that the Socialist Minister of Finance in Germany might be a cause of minor past disagreements in Economy, which were overcome in recent negotiations.
"We (France and Germany) have particular duties in Europe", but "in a Europe of 27 Member States, it's not enough for France and Germany to agree between them.
"I always thought that Great Britain has a special role to play in Europe. ... Now, everybody "saw what it cost payed the UK for having been too exclusively open towards the US (and) Financial services. Europe needs the UK, but also the UK needs Europe" :- "We were able to face the hardest moment of the Financial crisis because the UK clearly chose Europe", stressed Sarkozy, reminding Gordon Brown's exceptional participation to the Historic 1st Heads of State/Government Summit of EuroZone, October 12 in Paris (See EuroFora's Reportage from Elysee Palace then).
- "Some look at Europe with old glasses aged 30 years ago. While we must look at her in relation to what it will be in 30 years" in the Future, Sarkozy concluded.