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French EU Minister Cazeneuve to EuroFora: Financial Perspectives need November EU Summit compromise+

Written by ACM
Friday, 07 September 2012

 

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*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- After the latest EU Ministers' debates in Cyprus on EU's Financial Perspectives for the forthcoming period of 2014-2020, main developments will have to wait until the recently anounced, exceptional EU Brussels' November Summit of Heads of State/Government, specially dedicated to this crucial and strategic issue for EU's Future, said to "EuroFora" the New French Minister for EU Affairs, Bernard Cazeneuve, after inaugurating, earlier today, Strasbourg's EuroFair right in front of EU Parliament's building, where MEPs are due to hold an important debate on EU's "State of Union", next week in Strasbourg, on Wednesday morning.


- "We'd better wait to see how things may evolve at the November European Council" (recently anounced in Brussels for the 22-23.11.2012), carefully replied new French Minister Bernard Cazeneuve to "EuroFora"s Question on his appraisal of the debate on EU's Financial Perspectives which has just taken place at the End of August in a special meeting of all 27 Member Countries' Ministers for EU Affairs in Cyprus, which currently holds EU Council's rotating Chairmanship.


+ "The 2014-2020 EU Budgets should support EU Growth aims", as well as "give to the EU its own Resources, particularly via a Financial Transactions' Tax", declared in this regard earlier Cazeneuve, pointing also at relevant developments inside EU Parliament, (which would probably support at least this latest, concrete point, initially agreed already by German Chancellor Merkel and former President Sarkozy, but opposed mainly by UK Prime Minister Cameroon, despite new French President Hollande's support since June 2012, Comp. infra).

-  The New French EU affairs Minister also observed that EU "in order to restore its Financial Accounts needs Growth", while, at the same time, "if there is no (Financial) Stability, States' sovereignity is dangerously exposed to (Global) Financial Markets' speculation, with too high Interest Rates hindering Investments", and reiterated a call for the latest EU Council's decisions, including of June 2012, to start being implemented the soonest possible, as he said in Strasbourg, just a few Days before a crucial Judgement on the Ratification of the New €uroArea Treaty and €uroZone's Permanent Solidarity Mechanism, by the German Constitutional Court, at nearby Karlsruhe next week, scheduled for Wednesday, September 12, (i.e. the Same Day that EU Parliament's plenary due to hold a public debate on EU's State of Union")...

 

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>>> - In particular, Cazeneuve strongly underlined EU's "Determination" to implement a series of Measures "for Growth", but also for "Financial Stability", decided by the latest EU Councils', and particularly on June 2012, added to "a Growing Intervention of the European Central Bank, as it was confirmed Yesterday by its President", Draghi, at nearby Frankfurt, (etc), which, taken all together, "attest a(n EU) Political Will to act for Growth and Financial Stability, as well as to fight against Speculation, while strengthening Solidarity between European People", as he stressed  to Strasbourg Journalists, including "EuroFora".

 


- Meanwhile, Cazeneuve also noted that new French President Hollande (PSoc.) was "re-equilibrating", as he said, relations to German Chancellor Merkel (ChristianDemocat/EPP), because "we had to say eachother some things", almost as former French and German Presidents Giscard d' Estaing and Helmut Schmitt had reportedly done in the Past, succeeding to overcome some initial differences and reach "Solid Compromises", because "speaking Frankly, we tell eachother several things which allow to conclude Solid Compromises", as he pointed out in conclusion.


 - "We (Germany) are Building a Relationship" with new French President Hollande (PS.), and, at any case, France and Germany have and want to always work closely together for all main, important European issues, positively confirmed, inter alia, earlier in Strasbourg, the experienced, key Minister of Finance, Wolfgang Schauble, (comp. for various relevant Schauble's statements, also to Journalists in Strasbourg, including "EuroFora" at our previous NewsReports, such as : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/schaubledauloneupoliticalunion.html ).
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Cyprus' 7-12 EU Chair tries to prepare an Agreement on EU's Multi-Annual Financial Prespectives for the December 2012 Brussels' EU Summit, as also EU Commission's President José Barroso and many MEPs have set as target.


But an initial exploration of intentions among EU States , According to well-informed sources,  found an important Divide between those who have already asked to practically "freeze" EU's Budget for the foreseeable Future, during the forthcoming period of 2014-2020, and those who, on the contrary, wish to extend further EU-funded activities, particularly, f.ex. on Cohesion policy, etc.

An EU Parliament's majority has also urged EU Governments to mainly ensure an adequate funding for EU's New Areas of Action, introduced for the 1st time by the Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force from January 2010, (f.ex. on Foreign Policy, with the creation of EU's External Action Service, on Human Rights, with EU's Charter of Fundamental Freedoms and EU's Envoy for Human Rights, on Space policy, etc).


Thus, experienced MEP Catherine Trautmann, from the new Governing Majority in France and Head of the French Socialist Delegation to EU Parliament, speaking to "EuroFora", expressed the view that, probably, current disagreements might need to extend Negotiations further, i.e. even after December 2012, towards the beginning of 2013, (under Irish EU rotating Chairmanship^, by new ChristianDemocrat/EPP Prime Minister Kenna : Comp. Kenna's statements to "EuroFora"s co-founder, as eary as since the March 2007 Summit in Berlin, etc).

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- "However, we can't postpone final decisions for too long, i.e. for more than just a few more Months during the 1st semester of 2013, because the (EU) Budgets which will be prepared for 2014 and sp on, must have a Multi-Annual Financial Framework, which needs an Agreement at EU Council", MEP Trautmann warned.


+ "Meanwhile, EU Parliament will both follow closely developments on the 2014-2020 EU Financial Perspectives inside EU Council, and probably hold several relevant Debates and Votes by MEPs during the forthcoming  Months, the experienced, long-time MEP who was often consulted by new French President Hollande during his recent 2012 Elecorral Campaign,  said to "EuroFora", confirming also MEPs' support to the Financial Transaction Tax as EU's own Resource, (comp. Supra).
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- As for the President of EU Parliament's greatest Political Group, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Joseph Daul from Strasbourg, speaking earlier to "EuroFora", he already anounced his intention to incite MEPs' Debates "as soon as we'll have some Numbers" (on EU Funds) from the European Council.


+ Daul also added, earlier this week in Strasbourg, on the occasion of a Conference at the CoE where he was a Key note Speaker, after German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble, (Comp. "EuroFora"s relevant NewsReport of Monday, September 2 : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/schaubledauloneupoliticalunion.html), a topical call to "raise the question of  Raw Materials , which are  an issue that we should examine more seriously, because it concerns the Future of the World", as he warned.

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- Particularly since there are recently growing "Radical Changes" on "all Raw Materials" worldwide, f.ex. in Brazil, etc, on which "we (EU) must open a Debate", Daul anounced, (speaking just a Month after ECB President Draghi's observations, at nearby Frankfurt, on the Global rise mainly of "Food Prices", etc., which, according to the latest Global Economic Statistics, have constantly raised, during the last 5 or 6 Years, even more than Metals, Oil, etc., for reasons which don't concern so much the materials used by Agriculture, but other, more important aspects of Food Production and Trade, which should be seriously examined also on the occasion of the 2014-2020 MultiAnnual Financial Perspectives : F.ex. available Land, number of Peasants, Equipments' cost, Commercial Distribution, European or Foreign production, etc).
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Cazeneuve had earlier saluted ECB's move, anounced yesterday at nearby Frankfurft, which opened possibilities to buy €uroArea Member Countries' Sovereign Debt  without limits, in order to fight Global Financial Markets' Speculation, on the Condition that the concerned Governments decide and implement serious and efficient Structural Reforms, monitored together with the IMF : A step forward in a tendency towards a growing ECB role since the October 2011 Tripartite Franco-Germano-Italian Summit (the 1st with new Italian President Monti : Comp. Mario Monti's statements to "EuroFora" at EU Parliament as early as since 2009, etc); followed by President Draghi's invitation at the December 2011 Brussels' EU Summit (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from Brussels, as well as from EU Parliament's plenary in Strasbourg), which prepared ECB's intervention to help €uroArea Banks' liquidities, further stressed by  former French President Sarkozy's speech at Vendome square in Paris, and indirectly supported also by the latest June 2012 EU Brussels' Summit, with the active participation of new French President Hollande, etc.

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But, Cazeneuve apparently was less locacious, or perhaps more careful, at least for the moment, (i.e. just before a Franco-German Economic gathering, together with new French President Hollande, tomorrow at Evian, etc), on experienced German Finance Minister Schauble's vibrant call, launched earlier this week in Strasbourg, (See also Shauble's statements to Journalists in Strasbourg, including "EuroFora", that we published in a previous NewsReport : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/schaubledauloneupoliticalunion.html), to urgently and seriously launch an important move for Europe's "Political Union" able to attract strong Popular support, as a necessary means in order to succesfully and definitively tackle all €uroArea's Ecoonomic and Financial currently outstanding issues.


However, the new French Minister for EU affairs,  smiling at "EuroFora", apparently eluded a specific reply on this, obviously Top Political issue, perhaps satisfied by his previous readiness to kindly reply to our earlier, but somehow differend Question on EU's Financial Perspectives and the November 2012 Brussels' EU Summit, (comp. Supra), which, however, will deal with just another aspect of the same matter concerning also Europe's Future....

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Even if he had just inaugurated Strasbourg's 2012 EuroFair together with Japanese Consul General Karube, (comp. his statements to "Eurofora" at a previous publication, earlier this week : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/strasbourg2012eufairjapanusachina.html ), as this years' "Guest of Honour" is Japan, maternal land of Coudenhove-Kallergi, the also Greek, Russian, Austrian; Italian and Czech-origin (ultimately French-culture oriented) famous Ideological "Father" of the International "PanEuropa" movement,  which reportedly inspired many aspects of the still on-going European Political  Integration already since 1926-1977+ (including key parts of Schuman's, Monet's and even De Gaule's ideas on Europe, etc), whose Headquarters have recently moved in Strasbourg. (Currently hosted at the same premisses with the "Franco-German entente" (FEFA) Association chaired by former Minister, the experienced Gaullist politician André Bord, close friend of mainstream University Professor on Public Law, and former President, Jean Waline, a strong supporter of de Gaulle's advisor, Rene Capitant's plaidoyerie for Popular Referenda and other forms of Direct Democracy able to give EU Citizens a better say and stronger links with their EU Representatives, on European issues)....


But, PanEuropean movement's founder, Coudenhove-Kallergi's initial Education on Philosophy had significantly started at the strategically located, in a crossroads between Austrian, Italian and Greek culture and civilisation famous "Episcopal School" of Brixen/Bressanone, a city located close to Alpes' Mountains, at an Italian crossroads between Venice's Adriatic Sea links to Greece (from where stem his "Kallergis" ancestors), and even all former Byzantine empire, Austria's Wienna and Germany's Munich, etc. : By a coincidence, it's also the city chosen by Pope Benedict while preparing  (close to German Chancellor Merkel's Summer Holiday ressort, at a nearby Mountain), his landmark visit to France, then EU rotatng Chair for July - December 2008, where he mainly stressed, later on September 2008 in Paris, (before a Pan-European/International Popular gathering at Lourdes, close to the Spanish borders), during his reply to former French President Sarkozy's welcome at Elysee Palace, that Europe could become able anew to create vitally needed Popular Support for European Political Integration, (as it's now urgently needed : See Schauble's statements in Strasbourg, as published at "EuroFora"s previous NewsReport earlier this week :http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/schaubledauloneupoliticalunion.html), if it effectively guaranteed EU Citizens' basic Human Rights. (Comp. : "EuroFora"s relevant NewsReports, then, both from Brixen/Bressanone, Paris/Elysee Palace and Lourdes : F.ex. : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/beneprimoangelus.html and http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/beneeuropehumanrights.html ).


Natural ingredients for any succesful recipe to build a real European Political Union in the foreseeable Future, as Historic Realities have already proved that Economy, Finance,  Institutions, Politics and Human Rights are closely interwoven together in real practice, in quest of a new coherence able to stimulate EU Citizens' indispensable, genuine support, (Comp. supra).   


Topically, it was, then, (during August and September 2008), almost Time to Start the preparation for EU Pariament's June 2009 Elections, almost as now, we are soon approaching the time to start preparing the forthcoming, June 2014, new EU Elections, that the European Parliament has already begun to planify, (f.ex. by already creating a special "Group" for that purpose, etc),  as well informed EU sources recently told "EuroFora", since, in fact, it's just 1 year and a few Months still available before this exceptionaly important, if not desicive, political event, where EU Citizens will also be able to practicaly Vote for the 1st time for the person and the policy of the next EU Commission's presidency, according to MEPs' socio-political choices, at a very Crucial juncture for Europe's Future. 

 

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(NDLR : "Draftnews", as already send, earlier, to "EuroFora"s Subsribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version may be published asap).

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EU-Fair CEO Fuerer+Japan Consul G/al Karube to EuroFora: Strasbourg neutral in Apple-Samsung row

Written by ACM
Tuesday, 04 September 2012

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The 8Oth Strasbourg's EU-Fair, at the Franco-German borders, while it welcomes first Japan as this year's "Guest of Honour", before probably the USA during the Next Year (2013),  is "Neutral" vis a vis the current Apple-Samsung row, as it results in substance from what its CEO, Feurer, and Japan's Consul General Karube, told "EuroFora" :

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Strasbourg, Headquarters of ECHR's "Fair Trial" values (Art. 5 of the PanEuropean Human Rights Convention), as well as of EU Parliament's polyphonic, full Plenary Session Debates, and of the CoE, where both Japan and USA have got a Special Status since the 1996 entry of Russia as full Member, intends to keep a perfectly "Neutral" stance in the row which currently opposes High-Tech Giants Apple to Samsung, over the popular I-Phone and Galaxy smartphones, even during the forthcoming 80th European Fair which welcomes Japan as Guest of Honour from 7 to 17 September 2012, since "we already plan to have USA as our next Guest of Honour, on 2013", symbolically but practically revealed smiling to "EuroFora" the CEO of "Strasbourg-Events", (body which organizes all Mega-Conferences here, including this Popular, MultiNational, Economic and Cultural, Large-Public Mass gathering, right in front of EU Parliament's majestic Tower), the experienced Managing Director Claude Feurer.

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Japanese Consul General, Hiroshi Karube, who saluted "EuroFora" at a Press Conference in EU Fair's premisses, after having recently met during an interesting Exhibition on "the Country of the Rising Sun" at the CoE, after a friendly smile, soberly observed that Samsung, even if economically and geopolitically close to Japan, is a South Korean corporation headquartered at neighbouring Seoul, despite the fact that Global Top News are currently pointing at an important Japan Court's decision to drop Apple's copyright legal move versus the famous "Galaxy"  in the Japanese Smartphone market, contrary to an American Court's 1st ruling in favour of the Cupertino firm, both headquartered at California, US, practically Blocking the big North American market for the Competitor of Apple's "I-Phone", which has just lodged another, new Complaint there, extending also to Samsung's latest Novelties just presented in Europe at Berlin's International Fair, (such as "Galaxy Note II" Phone-Tablet, new Digital TV Screens, etc)...

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On the contrary, despite an obviously .. "High-Tech" inspired, symbol of Japan's 2012 "Guest of Honour" role, for the 1st time in the long History of Strasbourg's "European Fair", which celebrates this year its "80th Anniversary" since a landmark, pittoresque start back on .. 1926, i.e. well before the most serious Global Economic/Financial Crisis of 1929, that many compare to the 2009 Global Crisis, fcrom which both Europe and the US, as well as Japan, China and all the World currently strive to find an "Exit Strategy", (comp. f.ex. the landmark Speech by the experienced German key Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble at a Conference in the CoE/EU Parliament, with relevant Statements to Strasbourg's Journalists, including "EuroFora", earlier this week : See NewsReport http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/schaubledauloneupoliticalunion.html), nevertheless, the sympathetic French Young Lady who is in charge of the practical organization of all Japanese Exhibitions here, surprisingly prefered to focus rather on ... apetizing and even optically beautiful .. Culinary (from Sweets to Saké drinks, etc) as well as Artistic demonstrations, and splendid Landscapes for Tourism, often more Popular than SmartPhones, including, naturally Music, Danse, etc. and even a Giant, real size, collective Representation of a Japanese "Chess" and/or "Go", etc. Game, with almost a Hundred of volunteers at  Exrta walk-on roles, etc., among an impressively rich list of various other interesting items for Visitors to discover. (Possibly after an initial Exploration at a New Website, specially decicated to this exceptional event, at the Internet address : "www.JapanStories.fr", which can be usefully combined, by all Peuple planning to visit the Mega-Event's huge area, at the crossroads of 2 Rivers, near EU Parliament, CoE and ECHR, as well as a spelendid "Green" neighbouring Nature, Sport areas, etc., also with the main, central Website for the entire Strasbourg's EU fair at : "www.FoirEurop.com", including a very practical, handy Interactive Digital Plan of all installations).

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- But, already, "USA's General Consul", (who traditionally keeps an eye also on CoE's PanEuropean activities in Strasbourg, at least since Washington DC got a "Special Status", back on 1995, opening the way also for similar developments, later-on, in the CoE with Japan, as well as Canada, Mexico, etc), "is expected to be with us, later this week, during the Inauguration of the 2012 EU Fair (by New French Minister of EU Affairs, Bernard Cazeneuve : Comp. his statements to "EuroFora" on another topical Economic/Political issue concerning Energy : ... ), in order to examine together the perspective of welcoming North America, as Guest of Honour next year, on September 2013, anounced Fuerer to "EuroFora", (while also wispering, by the way, that, after all, even 2012 Strasbourg's Euro-Fair might present, at least for the moment, "rather more I-Phone", than "Galaxy", smartphones)...

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I.e. Pointing at an obviously "Key" year for Euro-American relations, since, whoever might win at the forthcoming US Presidential Elections of November 2012, will naturally  be starting a brand new 5 Years mandate on 2013. While both Obama and Romney already have a special link to Strasbourg, since it was the 1st City of the European Continent that the current  US President visited, in the 1st Multilateral, collective Intgernational Summit in his career, back on April 2009 on the occasion of NATO's 60th Anniversary Summit of Heads of State/Government, (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from that landmark Summit). While, even Romney-picked vice-Presidential Candidate, Ryan's Family originates from nearby South-Eastern Germany (mainly Bavaria), as well as neighbouring Baden-Wurtemberg, and even Strasbourg's own Alsace region in France, where Homonyms, reportedly called "Hutter", continue to live today, both in various neighbouring Villages and DownTown, (the other Ryan's European Ancestors stemming from Ireland, which is, by coincidence, the forthcoming EU President from January to July 2013, with whom both opposed American politicians, Obama and Ryan, notoriously opposed on Medicare and other important issues, nevertheless share together in Europe)...

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But, since Russia, (already a full CoE Member Country, and Strategic EU Neighbouring Partner, etc) has naturally been already invited as Strasbourg's European Fair's "Guest of Honour" in the recent Past, natural Questions obviously raised about the other currently rising Giant : China, couldn't remain without any reply, particularly at Strasbourg, the Historic host - City of Gutemberg, the famous Inventor of Typography and Printing Machines which produced Books, notoriously inspired by Marco-Polo's earlier findings after his Medieval visit and intgeraction with the Chinese Civilisation, (the only one, among those existing during his Lifetime, that Ancient Greek King "Alexander the Great" didn't manage to reach, contrary to his wish to Unite together all great Civilisations, still alive and known then, after succeeding to do so for Ancient Greek, Persian, Egyptian and even Indian Civilisations, networked mainly through Personal Links, such as Marriages, etc., harmoniously living for Centuries, side by side, around the Largest ever combined Geo-Political Area in World's History, from Northern Greece and the Aegean Sea up to Egypt, including Jerusalem, and the Huge ancient Persian and Indu Empires and wider Cultural areas, until "Alexandria eschate" : "the Last Alexandria City", strategically located at the "Silk Road", which bypasses the Imalaya Mountaints, heading right towards China).

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- Indeed, "China is, already this (2012) Year, our own, No 1, International "Guest of Honour", boasted to "EuroFora", the active President of the well-established International "Inventors' competition Lepine", (traditionaly based in Paris, but exposing also in other Countries), which celebrates on 2012 its ...   "111 Years", since its inception just after the Historic 1900 International Exhibition in Paris, globally Famous mainly for the focus it gave to Pioneer Inventions from various Countries around the World, because of a Will to "accelerate Development" in a New Century, at aTop Moment of the "Art Nouveau" movement, in a Similar spirit, mutatis-mutandis, to that of our current 21st Cenury, when it presented from the first "Diesel Engines", Escalators and Eiffel Tower, a spectacular Russian "Trans-Siberian Railway Panorama", (currently under Renovation, after recent Projects between French and Russian High Speed Train compagnies, as Alsthom, whose main TGV Factory is located near Strasbourg), etc., including even a premonitory .. "TeleGraPhone", a Modern IT ancestor.. However, the Presidency of the "Inventors' concours Lepine" Association has recently decided to be Permanently transferred from Paris and installed in Strasbourg, for the 1st time in its long History, Dorey told "EuroFora".

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Among various other such Chinese practical Inventions, (10 to 20 presented now in Strasbourg), are also included some handy and useful ArtWorks which aim f.ex. to "Purify the Air from Particles dangerous to Human Health", (something which could obviously be useful in heavily Polluted, too active and Car-overloaded Cities, as Brussels, London, Paris, Rome etc., (unfortunately including Strasbourg's Down-Town area, according to well-informed Scientific sources from ASPA, the officially recognized Association of Experts dedicated to monitor Air Quality), as well as a New Wind Power machine, reportedly able to work even without strong winds, an Invention to "Clean Water", or a slim Lift able to fit inside almost any Home, even in Old Buildings, as Dorey's Press Attachée enthousiastically told us...

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But, for President Dorey, a landmark 2012 item in Strasbourg's Inventors Lepine Exhibition is, together with Peugeot's fully Electric Car "Ion", particularly Renault's "New 100% Electric Car "Twizy", which will reportedly be presented for the 1st time in Strasbourg's European Fair, before a forthcoming International Exhibition abroad, as he said to "EuroFora" here, i.e. at the Trans-Border Rhine area between Alsace and Baden-Wutemberg neighbouring Regions, that a 2010 Franco-German Summit has already chosen in order to become an International show-case for Innovations on Climat, Health and Environment-Friendly "Soft" Transports of the Future, (comp. also "EuroFora"s NewsReport on the "2020 Franco-German Agenda" decided at the February 2010 Elysee Palace Summit* :http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/francogermanagenda2020.html).

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In a doubly Symbolic  move, the overall series of 2012 events at this year's Strasbourg's Euro-Fair, is placed under the Enigmatic Image of 2 Japanese ideograms (apparently of a similar Family with the Chinese : See relevant Photo), which reportedly mean :  - "Sun" and "Origin", as the Press Attachée responsible for the Japanese "Guests of Honour" told Journalists, including "EuroFora", while Japan Consul General Karube heartfuly agreed with the estimation that, in fact, contrary to false appearances for European People, it's much more Easy to learn the Japanese Language (which reportedly has a comparatively "more Simple" Grammar structure), than for Japanese to learn French ! An appraisal which was immediately confirmed even by "EuroFora"s Scientific Advisor, the young Dr. Constantin Marcopoulos, who has just visited, shortly after succeeding his PHD thesis in Physics, the Mega-City of Shanghai, between Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Vladivostok, etc, where the World famous International University Rating system is located)..

"Sun" + "Origin" Ideograms can serve also as an obvious reference (given also Lepine's International Inventors' competition exhibited 100% Eletric Cars, Wind Power Machines, etc, Comp. Supra) not only to Japan alone, but even to Renewable Energy Sources, including f.ex. Sun-generated Electricity, even for Cars and other machines.

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However, current Electricity Power prices' rise in nearby Germany and even France, etc., as wll as well known issues of comparative Engines' Power, etc. which notoriously still remain to be solved by Inventors Worldwide, inevitably remind that, at least for the time being, .. Electric Cars are not yet ready to efficiently challenge more Classic or even "Hybrid", i.e. Diesel+Electricity powered (also present at 2012 Euro-Fair, particularly with Peugeot-Citroen's "HYbrid 4" or "RXH", etc), as a Huge Add on the forthcoming, October 2012 "Rallye of France", (with the participation also of Strasbourg-born, 8 times World Rallye Winner,  Sebastien Loeb, etc), topically reminds to all visitors, right in front of Strasbourg's Euro-Fair's main entrance, placed all-along Alsace Region's High-Tech, Ecology-friendly Building, at the indispensable Tram stop leading even to EU Parliament, CoE, ECHR, etc...

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

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Schauble+Daul:Exit from Economic Crisis=Political Union +Media/Institutions boosting Popular support

Written by ACM
Monday, 03 September 2012

 

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 *Strasbourg/CoE+EUParliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- The Need to urgently develop New Media able to motivate EU Citizens and develop a European space with Topical Debates for EU Decisions with strong Democratic Legitimacy on important common issues, was strongly stressed by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble, together with EU Parliament's biggest Group (ChristianDemocrats/EPP) President, French MEP Joseph Daul, speaking at the Historic CoE's Hemicycle in Strabourg, shortly before crucial Scheuble meetings with New Greek Finance Minister Stournaras tomorrow in Berlin, followed by a much-awaited ECB collective decision-making session at nearby Frankfurt, on the occasion of a Conference on EU's Future organized by the prestigious French Senior Administration Officials' School "ENA", in cooperation with Paris' International Manager School ECSP's "Europe" section, in the Original frramework of  a Simulation of EU Decision-Making process with the participation of more than 650 Students from various EU and other Countries, followed also by relevant statements to Strasbourg Journalists including "EuroFora". :

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- "Strasbourg is one of the Best places to Discuss Europe's Future", because, in addition oif being "the Seat of several European Institutions" (such as the PanEuropean CoE and the ECHR, the full plenary sessions of EU Parliament, etc., the City "has also become a Symbol for both Franco-German Reconciliation (since the 1960ies), and European Unity", (particularly since the 2004 EU Enlargement, prepared by a Decade of CoE previous extension to former Central-Eastern European Countries between 1993-2003), stressed in this regard from the outset its "Neighbour" from the other side of the Rhine, based at nearby Offenburg.

=> - In fact, the main Risk is not so much Economy as such, but to "lose sight at how to Advance Europe's (Democratic) Legitimacy with its Citizens" (See Infra) :  

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    - "I'm deeply convinced" that "all .. Measures .. agreed in Europe about Stability and Growth-oriented policies .. will ultimately fail, IF we cannot convincingly Explain to (EU) Citizens and Markets why we Need Europe in the 21st Century", warned the experienced German Finance Minister


    - "My" brief Answer is that EU's "contribution to Global Prosperity", "Long-term, Stable and Sustainable Growth"; "Mix of Freedom and Social Equity", and capacity to provide Public Goods on a Global scale", that Member states cannot provide themselves"


    However, it's true that, today, "it's mainly Asian Countries (as China, India, etc) who are leading the way out' of the Global Crisis, while EU's and USA's contribution to Global Growth "has been fairly Limited", added to a "Demographic Decline", as well as "stubborn .. Unemployment", and "EuroZone Crisis".


     But, even if there is an unavoidable "Shift" of Growth rates towards Asian and other emerging Countries, nevertheless, EU's "differend" contribution to the World is that "We (Europeans) can provide Stability and Sustainable Growth", in the middle of "an Uncertain World", "if we overcome a too High Division", "prevent political Fragmentation", and create "Political and Economic Bridges", Schauble stressed,


    .. objectively pointing on September 2012, at a Warning already launched by the IMF at ECB's 1st Decade Anniversary Heads of State/Government Summit, back on June 2008 in Frankfurt (see "EuroFora"s co-founder's NewsReports from the spot at this exceptional Frankfut event, on which we had an interesting Question/Reply with IMF's Director for Europe, Alessandro ..., precisely also on how to overcome such a Competitiviness and Growth Diverging pattern denounced 4 Years earlier, on 2007-2008 just before the Global Crisis).. ------------------------------------------------------
    Because "Problems" such as "Nuclear Weapons" proliferation and "Climate Change", "Terrorism, Disease and Migration", as well as "Finance, Energy, Food and Water supply", are "Global Problems that require Global Solutions", which "cannot be addressed effectitvely by States, which have Sovereignity only within their own Territories", as he observed.
    -   
     + Moreover, "in the 21st Century of Globalizaton, which Changes the balance of Economic and Political Power" worldwide, there is an even greater "reason for European Unification", for "Europe to come ever Closer" together, to "become en Entity able to take Action in the World", and, therefore, "European Integration.. must create New SupraNational Governance structures", as "the Next Step towards European Unity", Schauble firmly anounced.
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    - Back "in the 1990ies", "we (EU) agreed to .. advance European Monetary Union", while "it was yet impossible to agree also on a Political Union, at the time, even if policy-makers were already "aware" that we needed that eventually", he revealed, acknowledging a pattern similar to "EuroFora"s earlier presentation, about Common Currency being created with €uro and ECB, with the expectation that subsequent Contradictions will incite Member States to establish also an Economic and Political Governance, sooner or later, as a landmark EU Parliament Plenary's Debate on "Europe and the World", together with the then UNO's Secretary General, etc? in Strasbourg, had already highlighted as early as since 1995, (See relevant previous "EuroFora"s NewsReports).


    - But, even if it had been foreseen from the start that States which couldn't or didn't want to respect the Stabiility Pact should be penalized by having to pay Higher Interest Ratezs, nevertheless, "it didn't work as scheduled", and several EU Member States enjoyed comparatively "Low Interest Rates for Years", and "allowed Public Deficits to balloon", while they were "Forgetting about the need to improve Competitiveness", Schauble denounced.


    However, this stopped "after 2008", when, "as a result of the (Global) Financial Crisis, ... Markets are increasingly Uncertain as to wheher .. Deficits and .. Debts will be .. Sustainable", so that "Investors' willingness to accept High Levels of Public InDebtedness Shifted" away, hiiting some €uroArea Countries badly, even if "this has not yet impacted the US", (whose growing Debt was practically leftin order to be examined in 2013, (i.e. after the forthcoming US Presidential Elections)...


    " A main Problem" that EU "Politicians are facing" is that, recently, "Investors lose Confidence in Europe", to the point that, sometimes, "We (EU) loose in 1 Month the Confidence that we are gaining only in Years and Years :  That's our problem, and we have to find a solution", Schauble pointed out speaking also later to Journalists in Strasbourg, including "EuroFora".

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    >>> The principal reason is that Investors "don't understand why Decisions in Europe take so Long", since "Europe's constitution is Complicated, so that, if Decisions are taken with Democratic Legitimacy, they take Time" (f.ex.,  for 27 Member States to agree, both between them at EU level, and inside each Country, at National levels, etc), as he said. But, meanwhile, "Painful Reform Programs conducted by Countries in Trouble", and "Credits Guaranteed with Taxpayers' Money in "Solid" Countries",


    => To overcome that "Confidence Crisis", EU "Monetary Union has to make "Institutional  Reforms" (A), and "Troubled Countries .. have to implement Structural Reforms, that lead to Competitiveness and Growth" (B), Schauble pointed out.


                                                     (A)


    The first point means that EU "has to create a Fiscal Union, alongside the (already existing) Monetary Union", the experienced German Finance Minister stressed.


    Because "the Crisis cannot be solved just by Joint Debt Liabilities of €uroArea Countries, without a possibility to Press Members for Stability-oriented Policies", since "this would eliminate any Incentive for High-Deficit Countries to make necessary Efforts to Reduce these Deficits", he warned.


    => "In order to Prevent such Moral Hazard, Decision Power and Liability have to be in 1 Hand", so that we can have "Fiscal Consolidation in All €uro Countries", Schauble underlined. "This is an Important lesson from the Financial Crisis", as he said.


    - Indeed, "if you try to Solve the Problem of Sovereign Debt just nu Monetaru policies, you won't succeed, because this would Destroy any Incentive for any Member State to make necessary Reforms : We need also Fiscal Policy measures, in order to boost Stability and Sustainable Growth", Schauble explained further later-on, launching a Timely Warning just a few Days before a crucial ECB's Governing Council meeting at nearby Frankfurt scheduled for Thursday.


    => That's  why an important 1st step is the New €uroTreaty that we agreed a year ago (between August and December 2011 : See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from August 2011 Elysée Palace Franco-German Summit in Paris, and from December 2011 EU Summit in Brussels), which contains a "Debt-Brake" agreed by 25 EU States", he reminded, "since (Financial) Stability is a Pre-Condition of Sustainable Growth", as he said.


                                                          (B)


    - "But, if we want €uroArea to function properly, .. it will require also that Countries be economically Competitive as well" , he added.


    - "This is the Task of every single (€uroArea Member) Country, and, therefore, lies at the Core of the Adjustement Programs, agreed by the EU with the so-called "Program Countries", where some "Long-term Structural Problems .. must be addressed", as, f.ex., "Dysfunctional Labour Markets", disproportionate and/or counter-productive Public Sectors, etc., "in order to preserve and strengthen the EU and its Capacity to act in the World.


    Already, f.ex., "Recent Reforms in Estonia, but also some Years ago in Germany", as well as "Ambitious Reforms which are on track in Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy", "bear witness of EU's ability to Change for the better", he observed, while also noting, later-on, that Greece has also to catch up the Time lost (by previous, mainly PASOK Governments, since the 1990ies-2012) in completing necessary "Structural Reforms", (not only of the Labour Market, which has reportedly advanced rather well, but particularly on the Public Sector, where the Clientelism/Nepotism of mainly PASOK previous Governments, during the period 1981-2011+, has notoriously appointed a disproportionte number of counter-productive  Cushy Job Holders and/or abusive Political Lackeys, often Corrupted and/or otherwise Criminal, who have become Unpopular among a Majority of People; froim various Political Horizons, who strongly wish a kind of  "Clean Hands" Anti-Corruption campaign, throughout all the Greek State's assets : Comp. several relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReports published previously).


    + Concerning "Fiscal Discipline and Economic Coordination, .. some Fundamental Reforms were introduced by the so-called "Six-Pack", already since 2011, he reminded :


    - F.ex., there is now "a stronger focus on Prevention", as regards "the Maximum Levels of Deficit (3% of GDP) and of Debt (60% of GDP) set by the Stability and Growth Pact (the so-called "Maastricht" criteria), "by emphasizing the Medium Term Objective (MTO), towards nearly Balanced Budgets", and by "obliging now States to Reduce excessive Deficit by 1/20th each Year", as well as by "Earlier Financial Sanctions, and more Automatic Decision-making, with a "Reversed qualified Majority Voting", (i.e. Sanctions are imposed unless a Qualified Majority objects).


    + A "MacroEconomic Surveillance procedure helps to Prevent and Correct Imbalances", by "obliging States to address Structural weaknesses and improve their level of Competitihveness at an Early Stage", as he added.


    - Moreover, the "agreed "Fiscal Compact" (New €uroArea Treaty, on Stabiliy, Coordination and Governance), "on January 2012", (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from 1/2012 Brussels' EU Summit), "amongst others", it also "requires States to  use "Debt Brakes", with an Upper Cap of Structural Deficit at 0,5% of GDP", whose "Implementation .. will be Checked by the European Court of Justice".


    ++ "A European Stability Mechanism (ESM) was created, as a Permanent Financial Assistance provider to States, if needed. The New €uroArea Treaty, links Solidarity and Solidity, by conditioning the Financial Assistance to the Treaty Ratification and to the Implementation of the Balanced Budget Rule.


    +++ In addition, the so-called "2-Pack", supplementary Reform, brings Stronger Monitoring of National Budgets, via the "European Semester" in the 1st Half of each Year, so that infringements of the Stability and Growth Pact "shall be Detected and Corrected the Soonest" : States submit a Draft Budget for Next Year before Mid-October, taking into account the Recommendations received since June, so that EU Commission can Assess the Draft and Request a Revision in case of "Serious Non-Compliance". Moreover, €uroGroup will Discuss EU Comission's assessment, and Results will be Published, in order "to increase Pressure on States to adhere to Maastricht Criteria".
-------------------------------------------------------
    >>> "But", all these "Improvements", "will Not suffice to overcome the Weaknesses of Economic Governance",  Schauble warned. Because the "Crisis revealed that, .. Monetary Policy must be combined with more EU Competences in Economic and Fiscal policies", for the Union to become able to function properly.


    => "F.ex. by introducing a VETO Right on Draft Budghets which don't comply with Stability Criteria", he suggested.


    + Thus, "we have to Think about a Further Transfert of National Competences", he concluded.


    * But, this "Raises Questions regarding National Parliaments' Budgetary Sovereignity, and DEMOCRATIC LEGITIMACY", the experienced German key Minister stressed.


    - "Treaty Changes have to be considered not only for the Tranfert of Competences, but also for Democratic Legitimacy improvements".


    - "That means that we need 27 Member States, because we'll Preferably do it by EU Treaty Change, and, therefore, we have to ask our Brittish Friends Not to Block such a Change, whose general lines are shared by all, as he found, pointing out that "we'd be happy ofo the UK would play a more Important role in Europe, as he added later-on.


    => But, the most Important point of all, is the fact that "EU's Nation States have definitively Lost their Monopoly on Regulation", even if "No one wants to impose an EU Super-State, because it would basically be an attempt to tranfert the Regulation Monopoly, (characteristic of Out-Dated Nation-States), to a Larger Unit", so "that would neither be New, nor Worthwhile", he observed.


    >>> So that "we have to address the Basic Problem" :  -  "Today, in 2012, EU Lacks the approval of Wide parts of its Peoples", but, at the same time, "We (EU) Need their Approval, if we re-allocate Political Powers and Responsibilities on a Large Scale", Schauble stressed.


    + Moreover, "If Europe is to grow together and become an Effective Entity, we Need much more than only the support of political, economic and academic Elites : What we Urgently Need is the Backing of the Wider Population" of EU Citizens, the experienced, Key German Minister warned.


    - "One of the underlying Problems, is the fact that HERE IS NO EUROPEAN PUBLIC", (yet), he regretted, (obviously pointing at a main aspect of "EuroFora"s Project, i.e. to actively contribute to create a European Public Area for EU Citizens Debates on main European Decision-making, which affects their Lives)....


    - "To put it more positively : - The chronic Problem of Democratic Legitimacy became more Accute, thanks to the €uro Crisis", also because, "on the Contrary, we are faced with a Worrying Tendency towards Nationalistic  Movements and a revival of prejudices and Hostilities". "But it's also clear that there is No Neat Solution  to the Problem of Democracy in the EU", he admitted.


    => Therefore, concerning "the EU, which represents a a genuinely New SupraNational politeia, Part Inter-Governemental, and Part Federal", "for me, it is indisputable that More Democratic Legitimacy for Europe requires Reforms at Both the National and the European Levels", Schauble pointed out.


    - "Because", "when the EU is aquiring More Powers", it obviously "needs" also more "Direct Democracy", he observed. Even the current "EU Treaty states that Members" States are "Resolved to continue the process of creating an even Closer Union among the Peuples of Europe, in which Decicions ae taken as Closely as  possible to the (EU) Citizens", he observed.


    >>> Thus, "we have to Strengthen the ... Links between Europe's Citizens and its Institutions", and that means that EU "Treaty Changes have to be considered not only with regard to the Transfert of Competences (from National to EU level), but also in order to improve Democratic Legitimacy", the German key Minister stressed.


    - This could be done, "F.ex. by a Direct Election of (EU) Commission's President, and/or a Stronger involvement of National Parliaments in the EU Legislative processes, (e.g. by establishing a 2nd Chamber or a Joint Committee)", etc., he suggested, among various such possibilities.


    "There is No Alternative to European Integration", because "in itself, No European State is Big and Powerful enough to play any Meaningful Role in a Globalized World", so that "if we are to Shape this World in the 21st Century, we must do it Together", Schauble pointed out, declaring that "Germany is determined" to resolutely advance "in the Path where "€uroZone's partners have embarked upon", on the basis of "the Right .. Principles" :


    - 1) "The central Economic Principle that Whoever Decides should be Liable for the Consequences of these Decisions",


    - 2)"a Balanced Mix of (Inter-Governemental) Cooperation and Sovereignity Transferts (to EU level),


    - 3) "as well as a Strengthened Democratic Legitimacy",


=> with which EU can "build a genuinely and durably Stable Monetary Union, thus expanding the influence of a Federal EU in the Making", as Schauble concluded, optimistically.


    - "This will not happen overnight", but, "on the contrary, it will take Time and needs Hard Work, but I'm deeply Convinced that it will finally pay off", the experienced German key Minister promissed
----------------------------------
    + Agreeing on this obviously Important point also for "EuroFora"s Project, the President of EU Parliament's greatest Political Group of MEPs, that of ChristiansDemocrats/EPP, Joseph Daul from Strasbourg, stressed, in conclusion, that EU must better communicate, in the way it speaks with our (EU) Citizens on main issues, such as Economic and Financial Policy, etc.. That's why "there is currently a Need for Press Media to come much Closer to (EU) Citizens", to Drop esoteric Technocratic "Formulas" (such as ... "6-Pack", "2-Pack", etc., Comp. Supra), but speak a language that "People can understand" in Public "Debates", "explaining" things in a "Simple" and crystal-clear way.

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    Daul stressed that point on EU Media and Citizens in relation to Scheuble's call to build a Democratically Legitimized Political Union able to solve the current Financial Problems, just before an exceptionally important EPP Group MEPs' Conference at Florence, Italy, later this week, with the participation also of Prime Minister Mario Monti, EU Council's President Herman Van Rompuy, EU Commission's President Jose Manuel Barroso, vice-Chairman Antonio Tajani and Janusz Lewandowski, EU Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget, etc, who will al focus, precisely, on "a New Political Europe"...


    "EuroFora" remains, more than ever, firmly convinced, that our Initial, Original Idea, (initially conceived, formulated and published as early as since 1997, but which became much more necessary after the 1999-2004 unprecedented, sharp Majority Abstentions in EU Parliament's Elections, followed by the 2005-2007 three "No" to EuroReferenda in France, the Netherlands and Ireland, etc), to prepare and start stimulating topical, serious but pluralist European Debates with EU Citizens' active participation on the most important forthcoming and/or recent EU Decisions which affect their Lives, and related EU News, is one of the Best Ways to energetically and efficiently contribute into building that European "Public Space" (Offentlichkeit) and Popular support which is Urgently Needed in order to become able to create that Democratic and strong Political Union which has become of vital importance today (Comp. Supra).

(.../...)

***

(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already sent earlier to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version is due asap).

***

Pope's Strasbourg choices:New Bishop Dollman+ArchBishop Grallet to EuroFora: BioEthic+Family Debate

Written by ACM
Sunday, 02 September 2012
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*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- It is with a quest to "see how to Find Ways" for energetically engaging in topical "Debates" on crucial BioEthics, Family and other basic Values' issues, in Strasbourg's particular PanEuropean and even International cross-roads' meeting place, that was marked the ordination of Alsace's New Bishop responsible for Education and Press/Communication, Mgr. Vincent Dollman, as he told "EuroFora", after being apointed by Pope Benedict, following 3 Years of recent work at the Vatican (2009-2012), and at the eve of an exceptionaly important Synod, anounced for October 2012 in Rome, due to launch a "New Evangelisation" focused on People's current need for Faith's Values in front of today's Crisis, almost at the same time that another exceptional Mega-gathering for a "General Assembly of Christians" from all confessions, (Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, etc), is convoked in parallel in Strasbourg, which can become "a Laboratory for Dialogue", currently needed on such issues, both "with Specialists" and "between Cultures and/or Religions", as ArchiBishop Mgr. Jean-Pierre Grallet later stressed to "EuroFora" (See Infra), while "hot" controversies on Genetic Manipulation of Human Embryos, the need to protect natural Families', Marriage, Childrens' Birth and/or adoption, etc., come on the Agenda in France, Germany, Switzerland, USA, etc., even more and more frequently at the European Court of Human Rights...


- "Caritas (Charity, Love) of Christ urges us", as "Pope Benedict XVI reminded, citting Sait Paul, in his Letter "Porta Fidea", which invites Christians, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Vatican II concilium", (the World-Famous event which tried to revitalise and renew the Christian Credo in order to face Modern World's challenges), "to renew their Faith at the Sources of Holly Texts and Church's Tradition", similar to "each Mass, where we can be enlightened and encouraged by the love which is in the Source of Father's Heart, revealed in Christ, and  given to the World by the Holly Spirit", stressed from the outset Mgr. Dollman, in his Thanks and "Message", that he read to the People after his ordination at Strasbourg's Cathedral, filled up with numerous People and representatives of various Public Authorities and Religious Communities from France, Germany, Switzerland, the Vatican, the CoE, etc., as well as from elsewhere in the World, (comp. Infra).

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=- But, "Christ's Charity (Caritas, Love) which Urges us", also "incites as to live up to Concrete Commitments", particularly when "we realize Today's social Challenges, when everything seems to become Relative, object for Discussion : Even the Foundations of Society, as the Respect for Life and for Family", also Warned Mgr. Dollmann.  


=> - "Let's find in Christ's Charity (Caritas, Love), the Light and the Strength needed in order to take an active part in these Debates, which concern our Society's Future", he appealed in conclusion, largely applauded.

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 - "I think that Strasbourg is a Labo, it should be a Laboratory for Dialogue. If we can help from Strasbourg other Cities, other Regions, etc., to engage in Dalogue, also between different Cultures and/or Religions, I'd be very glad", replied afterwards to "EuroFora"'s questions ArchiBishop Grallet, (who was himself ordinated on 2007, i.e. the year which prepared Pope Benedict's official visit in France : Comp. "EuroFora"s 2008 NewsReports from Brixen/Bressanonen, Italy, followed, later-on, by Paris and Lourdes, on August and September 2008, while France had just taken over the Responsibility of EU Council's rotating Presidency).

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+  Concerning "EuroFora"s specific question on BioEthics, given recent and/or imminent developments in France, Germany, Switzerland, even at Strasbourg-based ECHR, EU Parliament, etc., Mgr. Grallet focused to what he believes to be the Main point at this crucial juncture :


 - "I won't reiterate now all that I've said on BioEthics, because it would be too long. But, we must renew Dialogue with (Science/Technology) Specialists : There is not enough Dialogue !", he denounced.


- "That's why we have to Restore Dialogue between the Various Components of the Society today", Mgr Jean-Pierre Grallet appealed in conclusion at his statements to "EuroFora".
----------------------------------------------------

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    + Significantly, Vincent Dollmann was ordinated Today by Strasbourg's ArchiBishop Mgr. Grallet and his deputy, Mgr. Kratz, as well as the exceptionally visiting Mgr. Jean-Louis Brugues, former Secretary for Education at the Vatican, where they worked together for years under the auspices of Cardinal Grocholewski, at the Eve of undertaking his new Duties as responsible for Vatican's "Archives and Library", Tomorrow at Rome, where Pope Benedict has just appointed him : An area of ectivity obviously important both for clearly establishing recent Facts, as well as for eventual Historic Research on the "Sources" of Early Christians' initial spirit, Texts and Historic Tradition, able to inspire today's struggles too.

 dollmanns_insignia_saint_pierre_vatican_400

    - "Many (Persons) are linked with father Dollman, by Family links, by his office in Alsace, in Germany, and at Rome, as well as by links of Friendship", observed from the outset Strasbourg's ArchiBishop, Mgr. Jean-Pierre Grallet, after thanking also "the Neighbouring Bishops, who came from Germany and Switzerland : Mgr Felix Gmür from Bale, Mgr Rainer klug from Freiburg, Mgr Otto Georgiens from Spire, Mgr    Bischof from Munich", etc., in addition to an impressive list of French Bishops : "Mgr André Lacrampe, ArchBishop of Besancon, Mgr Claude Schockert from Belfort, Mgr Vinvent Jordy of Saint-Claude, Mgr Jean-Louis Papin from Nancy, Mgr Jean-Paul Mathieu from Saint-Dié, Father Jean-Marie Wagner, General Vicar of Metz", etc., as well as Vatican's permanent Envoy to the CoE, Mgr. Aldo Giordano, etc.

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    + Mgr. Dollmann himself, concluding a subsequent reception in Munsterhof, the Historic meeting-place of Strasbourg's Cathedral, pointed at the "Diversity" among various participants in the Strategic Cross-roads City's event, host of EU Parliament's Plenary Sessions, of PanEuropean CoE, as well as of several International, University and other Scientific, Economic, etc. Organizations : - "Diversity of Social Origins, Diversity of Horizons, almost from everywhere, indicating the Christian Church's links to many places accross the World, be it f.ex. from Haiti or Syria, Austria or America, even Pakistan, etc., praising such opportunities for "Personal Contacts, while serving the Unity of the Christian Church, with responsibility and Tenacity", as he observed, after speaking in French, German, Italian and even Alsacian Dialect when he thanked all participants at the Religious public ceremony, earlier today.

    ArchiBishop Grallet officially entrusted Dollmann to carry out, inter alia, also the Responsibilities of Education and Cathechese for Adults, as well as of Communication, including for the Press.

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    In his speech at Strasbourg's Cathedral, ArchiBishop Grallet associated Mgr. Vincent Dollmann's new mission with the task "to go right at the Heart of Caritas (Charity, Love) and Faith, as Pope Bendict XVI invites us, for that "Year of Faith" which will open" soon, (with an exceptional Synod convoked in Rome for October 2012), where "Faith without Charity (Caritas, Love) bears No Fruit, while Charity (Caritas, Love) without Faith would be a sentiment constantly at the mercy of Doubt". Because " Faith and charity, each require the other", as he reminded, citting the apostolic Letter "Porta Fidei" of October 2011, in which Pope Benedict anounced his intention to launch a "New Evangelization for the Transmission of Christian Faith”, since "we cannot accept that Salt should become tasteless, or the Light be kept hidden", as "the People of Today can still experience the Need to go to the Well...and to draw upon the Source of Living Water", "rediscover a taste for Feeding ourselves on the Word of God, ...and on the Bread of Life", with "a Unitary Cultural Matrix", appealing "to .. Faith and the Values inspired by it", able to help tackle today's "profound Crisis", as he denounced in the original text, while various Popular a.o. concerns and grassroots Movements, in Europe, in America and elsewhere in the World, clearly indicate an emerging Social need for basic Values, (be it in France and Germany, China or at USA's primaries for the forthcoming Presidential Elections, etc).


By another, interesting, interlinking "coincidence", Pope Benedict anounced officialy his decision to appoint Dollmann as a New Bishop in Strasbourg, the same Day that he anounced also the nomination at the Ponitical Council "for the Promotion of New Evangelisation", the Maronite ArchiBishop of Bayrut, Paul Youssef Matar, from Lebanon, that he intends to visit a few Days later this Month (on mid-September 2012), despite general concerns about the on-going Violent Crisis at neighbouring Syria.

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 (.../...)

***

(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already sent earlier to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version may come asap).

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E.Tymoshenko + Lawyers of jailed f.Prime Minister +Ukranian Government to EuroFora on ECHR+ EU moves

Written by ACM
Tuesday, 28 August 2012

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*Strasbourg/ECHR/- Both jailed former Prime Minister Tymoshenko's daughter, Eygenia, her Lawyer Vlasenko, and Ukranian Government's Legal Agent Kulchytsky, speaking to "EuroFora" inside the ECHR after the 1st Public Hearing on the world-famous case, clearly pointed at important EU/CoE forthcoming developments in the following days/weeks, after today's controvercy on allegations of inhuman/degrading  treatments in prison, including mainly a New Application to EuroJudges, now on the Substance of this affair,  but also at a call for EU Sanctions "directly against" those who are held as responsible for what was denounced as a politically motivated prosecution against a prominent opposition leader in the country, while the current Ukranian Authorities claim that all this wouldn't be but only an attempt to politically discredit a fight against corruption and other crimes, before the forhcoming October 2012 Parliamentary Elections.

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

- "EuroFora" was initially surprised by the fact, that during all ECHR's 1st Public Hearing on the case of former Prime Minister Tymoshenko, who has been already judged, condemned, and closed to Prison for almost a Year now (2011 - 2012), nevertheless,  there wasn't yet "any Discussion "about the Substance" of the issue, i.e. on the Condemnation istelf, but just about Prison conditions, as we observed in Questions raised to both Lawyers of Tymoshenko and of the Ukranian Government :

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- It's "because ....this will be lodged the Day after Tomorrow", (i.e. immediately after the final verdict of the Ukranian Higher Court on Tymoshenko's complaint against her condemnation for allegedly brokering irregularly an Agreement with Russia on Gas transfert to the EU at prices now considered as excessive, by the current, Yanukovich Government), anounced, in reply to "EuroFora"s Question, Yulia Tymoshenko's Lawyer, Sergiy Vlasenko.

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+ "No, the Susbtance (of the Tymoshenko case) was not included in this complaint. It was only about the preliminary procedure detention. So that the Condamnation couldn't be taken into consideration" in this Hearing. However, meawhile, "we have exchanged more concrete arguments before the ECHR through Reports by writting", added in reply to "EuroFora" the Legal Representative of the Ukranian Government, Nazar Kulchytskyy.

- "The Worst of all was that we couldn't yet raise the Main Issues on Article 6 (of the PanEuropean Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees a "Fair Trial"), because the (Ukranian) Authorities have been constantly Postponing the last Court's decision" (on Yulia Tymoshenko's Appeal), which will be published Tomorrow. And that's when we would be able to Start asking for my Mother to be Released, ......because the main point is that she's already in Prison for more than a Year", anounced also her Daughter, Eugenia Tymoshenko, speaking to Journalists including "EuroFora" at the ECHR's premisses after the 1st Hearing.


+ However, "a decision made by the European Court" of Human Rights, "would be a Support for our fight". "We need Outside Pressure,".. "because the situation inside the country is "Unacceptable", and  it's "the only way for my Mother to be Released".... "We believe that once the (European) Court makes the Decision that it has to take, and which, we hope, will be supportive in her struggle in the Prison", things can start to change. -"May be the (Ukranian) Government might not ... (fully comply with ECHR's judgement at once, but, of course we'll fight, and, still, we'll have some arguments and documents in our hands", in order to face an "Immense Pressure from the Regime", helping to prove the fact that "the Truth is on our side", the Daughter of the jailed former Prime Minister of Ukraine added.
--------------------

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+ Meanwhile, replying exclusively to an "EuroFora"s question on the role that EU prospects for Ukraine's European Integration might play in helping to find a mutually acceptable solution and ease the conflict in this and other similar cases, the Daughter of the former Prime Minister appeared adamant :


- "Ukrania is not only a CoE Member, (i.e. in principle obliged to comply with ECHR's Judgements).  "Already In 2008, when my  mother  was Prime Minister, were made "1st steps" towards EU Integration". F.ex., "there were discussions (with the EU) on a Trade Agreement, an Association Agreement, etc.", she reminded.

- "But now, when the situation Worsened, and Today .. we have even Political Prisoners, as a New Phenomenon in Ukraine,  of course,.... because of this existance of Political Oppression, the existance of a Waning Freedom in Ukraine", as she said. In fact, "not only my Mother is politcal prisoner, but also, until the recent past, there were also another 2 Political prisoners, now there is 1 more. But there are also Dozens of People more who are running to escape from the regime and its pressure, and it's very important to realize that Dozens of People  are oppressed now by the Prosecution Machine, controlled by (the President)", as Eugenia Tymoshenko found.

=> - "That's why, the EU obviously cannot  say that Ukraine is moving towards abiding to European commitments on Freedom and Human Rights", the Daughter of the Jailed former Prime Minister criticized, denounced from her point of view, (which largely fits most recent Critical reactions from various ΕU Officials on this and other similar cases).
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>>> In consequence, "the only Influence that can be done (exerted) (by the EU) to Change the way the (Ukranian) Government is treating its political opponents, is by Sanctions  applied Directly to the People who exert those pressure against Human Rights : F.ex. by restricting their Travels, by seizing their (Bank)Accounts, etc".     

    
- "Because several People who are in the Government now, they don't care about the political Situation in Ukraine and its Position (vis a vis the EU)", she denounced, apparently trying to explain by that argument the relative Inefficiency of EU action until now.


- , That is to say, No (EU) Sanctions which might affect certain People, but not the whole County ?", "EuroFora" asked to clarify : -  "No, (only) Directly to the(se) Persons", Eugenia Tymoshenco concluded.
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    Denouncing what they claimed to be Inhuman/Degrading Treatments in Jail, contrary to Art. 3 of the PanEuropean Convention of Human Rights, during the 1st Publlic Hearing by ECHR, Yulia Tymoshenko's Lawyers criticized, among others, also a series of Concrete Facts, concerning, f.ex., Poor Food Quality, insufficient Water for Shower, bad Heating, insufficient or lacking facilities for Physical exercive, awakening at 5 a.m. to attend Investigations against her at Courts or even "in the Cell", Artificial Lights being kept open almost all day-long, Isolation, the only Window with a hole for Air Ventilation to her Cell being located "Too High" so that it was impossible to use it freely, Permanent Monitoring by Video, refusal of Independent Medical advise and/or Tests only by persons that she trusts, etc., as well as a "Violent" Transfert to a Hospital overNight, which would have caused "Bruises" to her Hands and Body, after allegedly being "beatten" by Guards, etc.

                                                                                                                                                                                       
    The Lawyers representing the Ukranian Government, dismissed such claims, pointing at several Changes by transfert to Betterr Cells, to the fact that Tymoschenko is using Food and Water by parcels brought by her Family or Friends, denied the alleged existence of permanently open Electric Lights, claimed that the Window wasn't inaccesible, (at least not in the latest Cell), contested the existence of 100% Permanent Video-monitoring and added thet Tymoshenko could ask from the Courts to stop or reduce Video-Monitoring, claimed that the former Prime Minister was in fact trying to avoid any Medical Treatment provided by State Doctors, even when they were included in a Committee with the participation of the Foreign Doctor she prefered, and denied any undue Violence during the precited overnight transfert to a Hospital, claiming that the alleged Bruises might have been caused by Herself, or be due to her supposed illness, etc., and criticized the fact that she had refused Forensic Examinations by a Medical Committee in which participated a German Doctor of her choice.

cedh_e_t_rises_to_helkp_400


    ECHR anounced that it had asked both parties to discuss in particular the Permanent Video-Monitoring and the overNight Forced Transfert claims, while also asking the Ukranian Authorities to comment on the alleged bruises in Tymoshenko's body. Her Lawyer observed that it was her Right to freely choose the Doctor and the Medical team that she trusted for any crucial Examination, (f.ex. Blood tests, etc).


    Earlier, EuroJudges had intervened, with Urgent Measures, mainly in order to ask for an appopriate Medical Care, which apparently was at least partly obtained, later-on, convincing Tymoshenko to stop a "Hunger Strike" that she had started, particularly after a German Doctor of her choice was allowed to follow her Health condition, and provide advise. But ECHR afterwards refused another Tymoshenko demand which included a wish to be transfered to an Independent Hospital abroad, in Germany.
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    Speaking to Journalists, including "EuroFora", at ECHR's premisses after the Hearing, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's Daughter, Eugenia, described her Mother's version on what had happened during that "Forced Tranfert" to a Hospital :


- "It was late at Night", when "3 Guards came to my Mother's cell. She was lying down in pain,  and they tortured (took ?) her together. They said "we'll move you to the Hospital". She said that it was against the Law to Move her by Force. They said  : -"We've been given orders, we have to move you". ...So they grasped her, they took a blanket over her, and then, one put the Cuffs on her (arms), inside, through the blankets, ...And even though she was in the Blankets, because they didn't want to leave bruises on her body, still she had many bruises, because the Power used by the Guards was very Strong, and afterwards, she couldn't resist, and she just Cried, and cried  for Help, but .. (nobody heard her). She was kept  in the Hospital for 2 Days, and afterwars she showed her bruises", to her Lawyer, (who claimed, speakig earlier to EuroJudges, that he had immediately asked to see his Client, but was refused access for more than 1,5 Day under various pretexts).


    + By a symbolic coincidence, this 1st ECHR Hearing mainly focused on former Ukranian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's conditions of Detention, since now a Year, Christian Pope Benedict's "Prayer Intention for August" 2012, was anounced to be, precisely, "that Prisoners may be treated with Justice and Respect for their Human Dignity", as Vatican's Press service informed also "EuroFora" since the end of July 2012.                                                                                                                                                             
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    After many Months of Detention, suddenly, the incidents which incited ECHR to decide taking Urgent Measures about detention conditions in the Tymoshenko case, intervened while the Ukranian Autghorities had just anounced to the Press, on March and April 2012, that they felt to possess sufficient Evidence in order to start prosecuting the former Prime Minister also for 2 other, Different cases, concerning alleged Tax-Evasion when she had been working as a Business Manager in the Past, and a suspicion to have paid the Killers who had murdered another former Prime Minister and his wife, back on 1996, who had held also a Business with opposite interests, before being brutally gunned down by Killers who had allegedly been paid by a controversial former politician currently serving a jail-sentence in the USA, with whom she had briefly cooperated 15 years ago.      


    But Tymoshenko's Lawyer strogly denounced during the ECHR Hearing what he called the "Partiality" of Courts in Ukraine, claiming that there "was No Justice" possible as long as the current President Victor Yanoukovich's team was exerting excessive  "Pressure" against his political opponents in order to exclude them from the Political game.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
    President Yanoukovich's allies, including the deputy Prosecutor, etc., on the contrary, have claimed that Tymoschenko tried to discredit the Ukranian Auhorities' efforts against Corruption and Crime,  allegedly abusing of the Media and Political relations.
---------------------    
    Meanwhile, at an earlier affair before ECHR, former JHA Minister Lutsenko, who was the 1st to be jailed among leading politicians of the opposition,  after being reportedly slandered by German Newspaper "Bild" about a supposed 2009 incident at the Frankfurt Airport, which was exploited by his foes, obliging him to quit, etc., before the Error was, finally, aknowledged by Bild, asking too late for excuses about the way they reported on what really happened at the nearby City, (whose Press-Reporters are known for gross Publicity in favor of Turkey, a GeoPolitical "Competitor" of Ukraine in EU Accession stakes)... 

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

While previously, many Ukranian Media had reported that Detention was imposed to Tymoschenko for her behavior in front of the Court, on the contrary, the Ukranian Government's representative said today to ECHR in Strasbourg that the real reasons were a risk that she "might abscon", and/or "obstruct the establishment of the Truth" by the on-going Investigations, to which she was accused not to cooperate enough, but abuse of eluding tactics, (although her lawyer replied that she had been present, on time, in all Court's hearings, with the sole exception of a small delay of 20 minutes once, as he said).

    But similar claims have been already rejected by ECHR in a recent judgement on former JHA Minister Lutsenko, last July 2012, because Ukranian Courts had not replied properly to his arguments contesting the detention, while the Ukranian Authorities had motivated the deprivation of liberty by pointing to the big, National and International Press Interest for his case, alleged attempts to discredit the prosecution, while also contesting even his Right for Strong Critisicm against  excessive and/or groundless accusations. Added to rather "Selective" persecutions of mainly Opposition Politicians for alleged "Corruption", as ECHR found, Lutsenko's condemnation seems to have been made "Not only for suspicion to have committed an offense, but also for Other i.e. probably Political) reasons", EuroJudges concluded, condemning Kiev to pay more than 15.000 € to the jailed former Minister.
---------------
    EU Parliament has adopted a Resolution on Ukraine since June 2011, which expresses MEPs' "Concern  about the increase in Slective Prosecution of figures from the political Opposition in Ukraine, as well as the Disproportionality of measures applied, particularly in the cases of Ms Tymoshenko and Mr Lutsenko", particularly on "Custody", and "expressed its support for the Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner, Nina Karpachova, who has asked the Ukrainian Prosecutor General to consider the possibility of applying preventive measures that do Not involve Detention".


    At the same occasion, MEPs "stressed that ongoing investigations of prominent Ukrainian political Leaders should not preclude them from actively Participating in the political life of the country", as their Resolution said on the occasion of "Yulia Tymoshenko and other key political figures", obviously in view of the forthcoming, October 28, 2012, Parliamentary Elections.


    + In addition, the PanEuropean CoE's Parliamentary Assembly's Bureau, which meets in Paris at the beginning of September, is due to examine also the Monitoring of Ukranian October 28 Elections, while it cannot be excluded that developments on the Yulia Tymoshenko and other such cases of Political Opposition leaders threatened with jail, might be discussed  in Strasbourg both by EU Parliament's forthcoming Plenary Session in Strasbourg from 10 to 13 September 2012, as well as in PACE's October Session, 1 to 5 October.


    Meanwhile, CoE's Committee of Ministers, which holds its scheduled Meeting for the implementation of ECHR's Judgements towards the end of September 2012, might eventually start examining also ECHR's condemnation of the Ukranian Authorities, back on July 2012, in the parallel case of jailed former JHA Minister Lutsenko, which contains several Legal points apparently similar to certain aspects also of Yulia Tymoshenko's affair, (comp. Supra), as a matter of general principle on controversial imprisonment of acting political opposition leaders.


    Experienced observers don't exclude the risk, (particularly if nothing is done, meanwhile, to find a mutually satisfactory solution, or, at least, to alleviate useless or disproportionate restrictions of liberty and/or avoid more sufferings), that some Lobbies opposed to Ukraine's European Integration strategic aims, (most often because they are also, in fact Anti-European, and therefore against any European Cultural, Historic and Geographic Identity, and/or prefer Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid), might exploit any attitude by the Urkanian Government which might be perceived and/or presented as contrary to Kiev's Human Rights commitments vis a vis the CoE, in order to provoke even more Problems, Blockades, etc., in its unfolding relations with the EU.
-----------------------------------------
    On the contrary, "EuroFora", as a matter of principle, has always strongly supported Ukrania's EU aspirations, being among those who believe that such an "unquestionably European Country", which might strengthen EU's Cultural, Historic and even Geographic Coherence and Identity, while also having an important potential on Gas Transport, interesting Airplane Technology (Antonov, etc., which could be used f.ex. in cooperation wit EU's Airbus in order to find a much better, more performant and less expensive solution for EU's Military Air-Transport needs, instead of the controversial, old, Low-Tech. and too expensive "A400M" old coucou, notoriously pushed by a pro-Turkish lobby), Danube River's Delta for Energy a.o. Ship Transports via the Black Sea, interesting Raw Materialls and good Agricultural Land, etc., in addition to its well-known, exceptional potential to serve as a "Bridge" between the EU and Russia, (both in Energy transfert, and in Culture, Language, etc).


    Therefore, (and while acknowledging the fact that "EuroFora" is not yet familiar enough with the rather complicated Internal Politics inside Ukraine), it seems wiser to try to find an adequate Solution able to ensure at least basic respect for Human Rights and Democracy, as well as the Stability of Ukraine, in a way which can be helpful to the Country's legitimate EU prospects.
    
    Attempts to accuse various Political Opponents, for differend Economic or other affairs, seem frequent, on Both sides of the Political divide in Ukraine's recent History : Even the current President, Victor Yanukovich, had been reportedly threatened himself by such methods in the Past.. But now that a basic Agreement appeared among various Political Parties on the need to both advance towards European Integration via the EU, (regardless of the Separate controversy of NATO, since many EU Members are not at all inside NATO, including the current EU rotating Presidency held by Cyprus, etc), while at the same time, now both main political sides also agree on the need to have good relations and links to Russia, the Time might have come f.ex., for President Yanukovich and/or his friends to take some initiatives whixh could honour Ukraine's well deserved place as an Historically, Culturally, Geographically and Economically integral part of a Political, Democratic Europe with a Popular identity, respecting its Citizens' basic Human Rights...


    He had already hinted himself, that he might be enclined to eventually consider taking such an initiative, that his Presidential capacity legally allows, (f.ex. decide a total or partial pardon, etc).
    

(.../...)

***

(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send earlier to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version is due asap.)

***

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People in Europe and the World expect from CoE to make a succes of its "Monitoring" for Human Rights and Democracy, despite difficulties, said Finland's President Tarja Halonen to "EuroFora" at a crucial moment for the mecanism built 15 years ago by the paneuropean organization which celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2009.

Halonen, known as "Mother" of CoE's "Monitoring" mecanism, a long-time MEP and former Foreign Minister before becoming Finland's President, holds a long experience in the mattter, after also serving twice as CoE and EU Chairwoman in the past. That's why she is well placed to judge how CoE's "monitoring" should deal today with some crucial issues of importance both to CoE and to the EU.

The move came just a Month before a crucial, last visit to Turkey, scheduled for June, by the President of CoE''s "Monitoring" Committee, Ukranian MEP Serge Holovaty, to finalize his Report on Ankara, the CoE Member State with the longest Monitoring procedure. From its results depends its overall credibility.

This is a Test-case, because, in fact, it's in order to avoid Sanctions threatened against Turkey by a CoE's Assembly's April 1995 Resolution for grave Human Rights violations, Democracy gaps, the continuing Military Occupation in Cyprus, the unresolved Kurdish problem, Aegean differend with Greece, etc., that MEPs decided to create, for the 1st time on April 1996, a "Monitoring" proces, allegedly destinated to check, without excluding Countries who did not fulfill all CoE's standards.

In the Past, the obliged withdrawal of Greece's Military regime and of its "Civil" cover-up out of the CoE had helped bring back Democracy in 1974. But, on the contrary, since April 1996, the idea was to "monitor" Human Rights' respect while keeping most concerned Countries inside the CoE. After Turkey's oldest example, this was extended also to several former "Eastern" European Countries, even if CoE's Assembly has imposed to some of them (fex. Ukraine, Russia, etc., after Belarus, Serbia, etc) various "Sanctions", that Ankara always avoided. Curiously more succesful even than .. USA itself, (a CoE "Observer" since 1995), which has been at least threatened with sanctions some years ago..

EU-effects of CoE's Monitoring process became obvious between 2001-2008, since the "closure" of this procedure, when CoE felt that a Country had met most of its Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law obligations, (i.e. the "Copenhagen Criteria" for the EU), helped trigger Negotiations with the EU for "Accession" or other closer relations : This occured already before the 2004 and 2007 EU Enlargements to former "Eastern" European Countries, as well as for the commencement of "accession" negotiations with Croatia, and of "open-ended" negotiations with Turkey in 2005.

    But a stricking new development are Holovaty's recent findings that on core Human Rights issues as Torture and Freedom of Expression, Turkey, even "5 Years after" CoE closed its "Monitoring", back in 2004, inciting EU to start accession Negotiations in 2005, still presents grave problems.

    His findings are of crucial importance after a 2008 CoE Resolution called, "if need be", to "seriously consider the possibility of Re-Opening the Monitoring procedure for Turkey" : A move which might affect Ankara's controversial EU bid, since EU Accession Negotiations are based on the Hypothesis that the Candidate fullfils the "Copenhagen Criteria" (See above)..
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    Holovaty expressed his will to check  "Matters still Outstanding" and  those that he "didn't have an opportunity to discuss" at an earlier visit this year, "in order to discuss the more complex issues in greater depth", at his forthcoming New Visit to Ankara, before the December 2009 EU Summit.  This is all based on the 2004 CoE Resolution which stresses that, CoE "will continue.. post-monitoring Dialogue with the Turkish authorities,...in addition to a 12-points list,..and on any Other Matter that might arise in connection with Turkey’s Obligations as a CoE member state".

    CoE's Resolution also asks  from Turkey "to secure the proper Implementation of Judgements, particularly in the Cyprus v. Turkey InterState case", of 2001, which concerns also the plight of many Hundreds of MISSING People. It adds Turkey's obligations to "execute" ECHR's Judgements in the Loizidou case,..and in particular adopt General Measures to avoid repetition or continuation of Violations found by the Court" to the detriment of Refugees.

    Nevertheless, Holovaty said to "EuroFora" that "MISSING" persons,"might be included" and cannot be excluded, but he has yet to examine the situation "to find out  which issues will be raised" to the Turkish Government.

    Therefore, "EuroFora" asked Halonen, as the Historic "Mother" of CoE's Monitoring mecanism, if she thought that, "whenever there are grave Human Rights Violations, as fex. "MISSING" persons, attested even by ECHR's judgements, they should be always checked by a Monitoring process. Or could they be forgotten ?"
    
     - "We (CoE) must be, at the same time, Fair, Realistic, but not in the mind that "now we have Forgotten", etc., replied to "EuroFora"'s question Halonen, speaking as a matter of general principle.

    - "When we think of those People that are suffering from the lack of Democracy, of Human Rights, and of the Rule of Law", "we should find a base on how to deal with the (Monitoring) system more rapidly"', she stressed.

    - "Sometimes it's very difficult to combine Transparency and Effectivenes together, particularly in this specific case", she went on to say. But, "I have not found a (CoE Member) Country who could be insensitive in this sens", Halonen answered concerning grave Human Rights violations attested by the ECHR.

    - "I have no ready-made answer. I have the expectations that you, in the CoE, will, step by step, find the different types of the monitoring systems."

    Also "because this is a part of the UN's Post-Conflict system, (fex. when it comes to Cyprus' MISSING persons), and it's a more Global system". So that, "If we make a succes in Europe, the others will follow", throughout the World.  "But they expect that we (Europe) are this opportunity, this Opportunity to make a Succes", Halonen concluded.

    In addition, she advised to extend CoE's Monitoring to all its 47 Member States, "because, as long as we hear that, all these monitoring systems are "OK for the neighbor, but not for me", "it's very difficult" to understand. Something which could make easier to Compare...

    Finnish MEP Jaako Laakso, former CoE Rapporteur on the Occupied Territories of Cyprus and one of the 5 Signatories of the Historic CoE's call to create the "MONITORING" mecanism since 1996, was more specific :  - "We (CoE Assembly) have to find a way for the issue of Cyprus' MISSING People to be better followed", he stressed, anouncing his intention to "speak to Mr. Holovaty" about that. "There might be also other ways", added Laakso.

    - The 2008 "Year had been a very Bad one for Turkey with regard to Human Rights in general, and Freedom of Expression in particular", denounced, meanwhile, Holovaty's preliminary Post-Monitoringh Draft Report by Holovaty, published by the CoE on April 2009.

    "Amnesty International believes that freedom of expression is not guaranteed given the various articles of the Criminal Code that restrict it. .. "For example, 1,300 Websites are said to have been closed down by the (Turkish) authorities in 2008" ! While "the new Turkish Criminal Code was used to bring a total of 1,072 proceedings between June 2005 and April 2008, and led to the conviction of 192 people", for expressing views. "Representatives of the Özgür Gündem newspaper, which specialises in Kurdish affairs, ..complained about Numerous Attacks on their Freedom of Expression ...as was everyone who advocated a settlement to the question by means other than the intervention of the army" "According to their figures, 19 Newspapers had been suspended 43 times between 4 August 2006 and 4 November 2008" !...

    Moreover, on 2008,  CoE's "Ministers adopted its 4rth Resolution on the execution of the judgments of the ECHR, ...and outstanding issues regarding 175 Judgements and decisions relating to Turkey delivered between 1996 and 2008...  concerning Deaths resulting from the excessive use of force by members of the Security forces, the failure to protect the right to life, the DIisappearance and/or death of individuals, Ill-Treatment and the Destruction of property". CoE's " Ministers urged the Turkish authorities ...to ensure that members of Security forces of all ranks can be prosecuted without administrative
authorisation" for "serious crimes". Holovaty reminded.

"Nonetheless", Holovaty heard anew of "Several cases of Violence committed last year (2008) by the (Turkish) security forces". Amnesty International speaks of Many Cases of ill-treatment and Torture in the prisons and by the police". "Including, fex."'the death of Engin Ceber, a young man of 29 who died on October 2008 as a result of the TORTURE allegedly inflicted on him by police officers, prison staff and members of the gendarmerie. He was part of a group of people arrested on September 2008 during a demonstration and Press Conference in Istanbul'. Proceedings against suspects are "on-going" in this case.

- " I therefore noted an Obvious Contradiction between the Government’s stated “zero tolerance” policy.... of Torture and other forms of ill-treatment, and the different testimonies given", denounced CoE's Rapporteur.  Turkish "authorities must make considerable efforts to guarantee that proper investigations are carried out into allegations of abuses by members of the security forces and that perpetrators are effectively punished" "In this respect, I have requested detailed Statistics on the number of Investigations, acquittals and convictions in cases involving allegations of abuse in order to show the positive impact of the measures taken to date", Holovaty said, repeating a permanently unsatisfied CoE's demand to Turkey since a Decade...

    - "The Political Crisis that shook the country in the spring of 2008 highlighted the Weaknesses of the (Turkish) Constitution", which comes from the Military regime of 1982, "and the Urgent Need of Reforms", stressed from the outset CoE's Rapporteur in 2009. In particular, "the ...Democratic functioning of state institutions, including the independence of the judicial system, are crucial", he observes.

    But, "the Electoral  system and the ways in which it is circumvented do not appear to give those elected complete Legitimacy, and tend to pervert the course of direct universal suffrage", denounces Holovaty, observing that, even 5 Years later, Turkey did not yet change the 10% nationwide Threshold for a party to take any seat, which is "far higher" than the "3%" maximum in Europe and already condemned as contrary to European Standards by the CoE.

    + Moreover, EU Parliament's 2009 Report on Turkey, drafted by Dutch MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijten and adopted in Strasbourg on March, expresses "Concern over the Failure of the (Turkish) Judiciary to prosecute cases of Torture and Ill-treatment, the Number of which is Growing". EU also "is concerned about continuing Hostility and Violence against Minorities" in Turkey. It also "calls on the Turkish Government to launch, as a matter of Priority, a Political Initiatve favouring a lasting Settlement of the Kurdish issue, (while "condemning violence.. and terrorist groups"). EU "regrets that No progress has been made on establishing full, systematic Civilian suprevisory functions over the (Turkish) Military".

    The final results of Holovaty's 2nd and last visit to Turkley will be known later this year, and, at any case, before EU's December 2009 Summit.

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