newsitems

CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland from Norway (2009-2014), speaking to "EuroFora" after his landmark visit, the very day of the 9/11 Deadly Mass Terrorism's Anniversary, to Struthof NAZI Camp nearby Strasbourg, where was reportedy practiced the infamous "Night and Fog" policy on "Missing" People taken from all over Europe and submitted to atrocious Deadly "Tests" by some monstruously unscrupulous "Dr. Mengele" at a Hospital's Labo, in addition to hard exloitation at nearby Mines, stressed the importance to support such organizations as the European Centre for Deported Resistants, based there, in order to save the Memory of such Atrocities, as also a joint Franco-German Project scheduled to start from October 6, timely tries to contribute (See infra).

But, in practical terms, this also means, that it has become Urgent today to collect and safeguard key eye-Witnesses' precious but fragile Testimonies, as the case of a group of visiting Norwegians a.o. survivants indicated.

Such moves are particularly needed now that CoE's new task is less to "spread Liberal Democracy", as it did in the latest decades of Enlargements, but much more to "Deepen" the "Fight for Human Rights' respect" particularly among the 800 Millions of People throughout its 47 Member States, as Jagland added later-on, on the occasion of ECHR's 60 Years (See infra).

Significantly, Jagland's statements to "EuroFora" on the Struthof NAZI Camp were made while the International Red Cross Committee organizes this week at the CoE in Strasbourg  an emotional authentic Photo Exhibition on "Missing" People's tragedy also in more recent events, such as the bloody conflicts provoked in ex-Yugoslavia, where methods used to try to solve Victims' Families' drama were compared f.ex. with other, differend and less efficient methods imposed on the older issue of Cyprus, but also to relevant, much more proactive developments recently going on in Latin America, (f.ex. on ending total Impunity of those responsible for Kindapings/Torture/Murders, etc).

Choosing the Anniversary of the 9/11 Mass Terrrorist Attack which killed Thousands of innocent People at New York's World Trade Center, Airplanes, Pentagon etc, just before crucial CoE Committee of Ministers' meetings in Strasbourg on monitoring the execution of ECHR's judgements, including by Turkey on Thousands of "Missing" People and Hundreds of Thousands of Refugees/Displaced persons in Cyprus, CoE's Secretary General decided to really put into practice in 2010 a suggestion initially made by "EuroFora", back in 2009, just a Day before and a Day after he was elected, (See Jagland's replies to relevant "EuroFora"s Questions on his 1st Press Conference at the CoE, Autumn 2009 : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/jaglandagg1.html )

The case of a 91-92 Years old survivant of that NAZI Camp's former detainees, Norwegian Painter Rudolf Naess, who became famous mainly  by an eye-catching Historic Painting, picturing Struthof Concentration Camp's barracks among the Cloudy Mountain Tops, which was chosen by the European Centre of Deported Resistants to serve as a Cover for its Press files given to "EuroFora", before we hand it over to CoE's new Secretary General the day of his 2009 Election, illustrated well enough the risk to lose for ever key eye-Witnesses :

-  The Artist "Painter" Rudolf Naess "is (still) alive", but he is aged now "92 Years old", and, therefore, could not come to Strasbourg with the group of other Norwegians former detainees, and was obliged to stay in Norway, CoE's Secretary General revealed to "EuroFora"..

Therefore, one can easily imagine that the Time has come to Urgently try to take all possibly useful Testimonies by all those precious Eye-Witnesses who are still alive, but obviously without any guarantee that they will be able to speak for a long time anew in the future..

Jagland confirmed to "EuroFora" that he "spoke about the importance of "Witnesses", as a matter of general principle, applicable everywhere" exceptionaly grave Crimes have been committed : - ""Yes !", he positively answered.

- "We must remember", and "keep .. Memory alive", stressed on September 11, CoE's Secretary General, who is also President of Oslo Committe on Nobel Peace prize, recently attributed to USA's new President, Barack Obama, (See Jagland's relevant Statements to "EuroFora", published in 2009), during his visit to Struthof NAZI Camp, together with many Norwegian and others survivants, (including a former Prime Minister, as Jagland himself), where he highlighted the importance to save "Witnesses' .. Testimonies".

"EuroFora" was 1st to inform Jagland about that NAZI Concentration Camp's existence, as well as of the former Prisoner, Norwegian Painter's impressive Tableau, when we gave him personally, as well as to the Norwegian Ambassador, a hard copy, precisely of that NAZI Camp's Press File with a Cover picturing a Painting of Struthof by Rudolf Naess back on 2009, before raising later-on, at the 1st Press Conference of the new CoE's Secretary General in Strasbourg, early October 2009, also a Question on the atrocites allegedly committed there, by the "Nacht und Nebel" ("Night and Fog") infamous NAZI Decreet on "MISSING" People, added to a systematic "Collection" of various "Specimens" from all over Europe and beyond, (as the astonishing List of Struthof's former prisoners attests).
---------------------------
    - "It was an Important event. I've never been in Struthhof before !", a sincerely moved Jagland told "EuroFora" now, even long after the visit of the impressive High Mountainous, isolated ressort.

    - "It was because there was a huge Norwegian delegation" among "the survivors of Struthhof that visited the (NAZI) Camp, and I decided to accompagny them", CoE's Secretary General explained now to "EuroFora".

    By a Symbolic Coincidence, the Wind blew Struthof's Flag when Jagland visited, on the Anniversary Day of 9/11, in such a way that only the Letters which form the key-word .. "TRUTH" were visible !  (See the astonishing Photo, as provided to "EuroFora" by CoE's services)..

    - In fact, "it was important to pay tribute to the Norwegians who had strived to survive, and also to the Organization which is working in order to keep the Memory of the Holocaust alive, in Norway as well as in all Europe", Jagland stressed in conclusion.

      - "The International dimension of Struthof's "European Center for Resistants/Deportees", is currently growing in practice, and we aim to develop it further, said earlier  to "EuroFora" its Director, Mrs Valérie Drechsler,  after we visited  crossing a group of young students from Denmark.            

    In fact, Struthof's NAZI Camp was also part of a "Network" including various other Concentration Camps close to MInes where many Minerals were exploited by Forced Labor of Detainees in "appalling" conditions of Hygiene which reportedly "provoked several Epidemics", most of them being located inside nowadays Germany, such as the  Neckar Valley villages, near Mosbach, where the German Authorities currently prepare to build a Museum after the first Findings made since 1998.

    For this purpose, an "Agreement of Scientific Cooperation" was recently signed between the European Center of Deported Resistants and interesred French and German Universities' Researchers", and a Symbolic Ceremony wil take place Tomorrow, October 6, to deliver "Granit" Stones taken from Struthof to the Neckaretz NAZI Camp : These "links forged between those working in France and those working in Germany, consist in a message of Fidelity to History, paying Tribute in the Honor of the Victims, in Brotherhood", said a Statement issued by the European Center of Deported Resistants' Director, Valérie Dreschler.

    The European Convention on Human Rights opened a way for the creation of an Unprecedented Machinery for the protection of 800 Millions of People now at the CoE, which is unique in the World, and became much larger, (f.ex. including also other CoE's watchdogs against Torture, Intolerance/Discrimination, etc), observed Jagland  next day at the opening of an exhibition on ECHR's 60 Years.

    But, while CoE's priority task during the latest Decades was mainly to spread Liberal Democracy in an Enarging PanEuropean area, on the contrary, now that Enlargement has almost come to an end, CoE's new mission is mainly to "Deepen" Human Rights' respect throughout all its Member States :

    => That's why "the Fight for Human Rights" is not just a thing of the Past, but a very Topical issue Today, in order to make sure that the Democratic and Humanistic Values really go deep in everyday life, making it possible for People to live together on the basis of some key Human Rights' values, concluded CoE's Secretary General.

(Partly Updated).

Speaking to "EuroFora" in Strasbourg at the eve of a Germano - Chinese Summit with Chancelor Angie Merkel and Prime Minister Wan Jiabao at Meseberg,  the Foreign Mnister of Germany, Guido Westerwelle, agreed that Beijing might get in Future a special status in Strasbourg's PanEuropean organization of the CoE, (which already has as Full Member Russia, etc), eventually inspired from that previously given also to Washington DC, Montreal, Tokyo, etc., completing soon after 2010 an Historic trend triggered since 1995-1996...

- "We shall speak about that", Germany's Foreign Minister positively replied to "EuroFora"'s question on whether he found "useful" for China, who currently is "the only UN SC Permanent Member without any kind of status at the CoE", while, on the contrary, in addition to the USA, Canada and Japon, even Mexico has already got a Special CoE status, as we reminded, (while Russia is Full CoE Member), to get a special CoE link, in one way or another.

A similar suggestion, to tailor a special CoE status for structural relations with China, has already been done recently by the Head of France's Delegation at CoE's Assembly, the mainstream MEP of the Governing UMP Party, Jean-Claude Mignon, (See "EuroFora"'s earlier publication).  

Recently China approached CoE mainly through Sport (including Anti-Doping and Ethic Standards' issues) and Education matters, particularly on the occasion of the 2008 Beijing International Olympic Games, following, mutatis-mutandis, a similar path to that which had been previously followed by former Central-Eastern European Countries, including Russia,

- "But", this must be done "on the appropriate Time", Guido Westerewelle carefully added, on the Special CoE Status issue.

- And the right moment hasn't come yet, since it's "not now",  Westerwelle concluded for the time being, obviously keeping the issue Open for the foreseeable Future, according to relevant developments.

EU - China Deals might be eventually brokered also during the forthcoming G-8 and G-20 Chairmanship by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, after unanimous support expressed by the September 2010 EU Summit, and particularly extended talks and statements also by German Chancelor Angie Merkel (Comp. relevant "EuroFora"s publication).

 

Meanwhile, Germany's Economic Boom, stronger than expected, allied to France's solid, steady trend to Growth, also more than scheduled, together with Debt reduction and Investment for Innovation, added also to several other good results in various other €uroZone Countries, giving EU a stronger say in the forthcoming Bilateral and Global Talks with Major Economic Partners, such as USA, Russia, China, Japan, India, etc. Germany, with its strong Economic growth, is contributing to EU's  economic stabilisationas a whole, also because Germany isn't only EU's biggest exporter, but even the biggest Importer, and this affects positively many other exporting countries, the Foreign Minister observed.

However, as he earlier said for Russia, in reply to a MEP's question at CoE's Assembly, such Strategic Partnerships "are not only for Energy" a.o. Economic Issues, but extend well beyond that, allowing to deal with Democratic States "also on the resolution of various Conflicts" around EU and elsewhere in the World.

Westerwelle also invited "EuroFora" to "look first at my (official) Speech" at CoE's Assembly, where it is underlined that "Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law" are "at the base of Germany's Foreign Policy" and "not contrary to Economic Interests" but parallel, as he stressed in Strasbourg before speaking later-on with CoE's SG Thorbbjorn Jagland about Turkey, that ECHR recently condemned for the Murder of Armenian Journalist Hrant Dink, revealing that Turkish Authorities knew the Murder Plan, but did nothing to prevent it, (on the contrary, even colliding with the Group of Extremists planning to Murder the Dissident Journalist into harassing and persecuting him at the Courts, threatening his Press Freedom), while also still covering up with scandalous Impunity until now, 2010, several Turkish State Agents involved, (See other NewsDraft, already sent to "EuroFora"s Subsrcibers/Donors, and "EuroFora"s 14/9/2010 Publication on ECHR's landmark judgement).

€uroZone's and all EU's 500 Million Citizens' strong Economic, Scientifico-Technologic and progressively, potentially Political Development, giving a stronger say in Global issues,  would have been impossible without the "ReUnification of Europe" which was the real Historic meaning of "Germany's ReUnification", as repeatedly stressed Westerwelle, confirming "Germany's commitment for Europe", both at the CoE, (speaking in its Parliamentary Assembly, after inaugurating an impressive High-Tech. Digital Exhibition  on the Fall of Berlin's Wall and German ReUnification), as well as at a well attended, large Reception in Strasbourg's Historic University, (the same one which had, in its glorious History, attracted even, whose statue is still standing in front of it), amidst a series of events for the "1st German Days in Strasbourg" organized by the Franco-German Foundation, headed by experienced former Ministers Andre Bord and Lothar Spaeth.

(NDLR : For various other statements by Westerwelle on topical issues to Journalists at the CoE, including "EuroFora", see DraftNews already sent to "EuroFora"'s Subscribers/Donors, and, for his Speech at CoE Assembly's Plenary, see full Copy available at the Internet in CoE's website. As it is well known, as a matter of Principle, always practiced during more than 17 Years of work in the European and PanEuropean Press, "EuroFora" focuses mainly on Original, first-hand News, and never pastes late Copies of texts already published in full at the Internet and/or given in reply to other journalists' questions and available to anybody worldwide).

***

UNO's Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, is due to visit, for the 1st time, Strasbourg, on the occasion of ECHR's 60th Anniversary, later this Month, at the same time that EU Parliament will be debating on the External European Action Service and on the Global G-20 Summit, "EuroFora" learned from CoE's official sources.

The exceptional event is scheduled to evolve further into an open Debate on ECHR's Future, after Speeches by CoE's Secretary General Thornbjorn Jagland and ECHR's President Jean-Paul Costa, with the participation of all Heads of various CoE's Monitoring bodies, competent to check if Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law are really respected in Practice, (f.ex. Ministerial Committee entrusted with the control of ECHR Judgements' execution by CoE Member States, PanEuropean Committee to prevent Torture, Human Rights' Commissioner, CoE's watchdogs on Minorities' protection, against Discrimination and Intolerance, etc).

UNO itself has started to advance towards a progressively greater importance on Human Rights issues than in the Past, particularly since its 2005 Summit at New York, on the International Organization's 60th Anniversary (1945 - 2005), when it created a Human Rights' Council at nearby Geneva, (comp. "EuroFora"'s co-founder's News-Reports, exceptionally from New York then).

At the same moment, ECHR is also involved in an on-going internal review and quest for ways to forge adequate mechanisms for a satisfactory monitoring of the way its recent Reforms work in real practice (after Interlaken's Ministerial Conference : See "EuroFora"'s NewsReports from the Swiss city on February 2010, and 14th Protocol's entry into force), as ECHR's President, professor Jean-Paul Costa recently revealed to "EuroFora", (See September 2009 DraftNews already sent to "EuroFora"'s Subscribers/Donors).

Among various crucial issues, October 2010 ECHR Strasbourg visit will timely come for Ban Ki Moon shortly before his reportedly important November 2010 Report on the 2009-2010 efforts to solve the Cyprus' issue through direct talks between Cyprus' President, Demitres Christofias, and the Leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community (in the territories of Cyprus' still Occupied by Ankara's 1974 invasion Army : initially Mehmet Ali Talat, and recently Dervis Eroglu, reportedly more "hardliner"), whose hardest points include mainly Human Rights' issues, such as that of Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced Persons' right to Return at their Family Homes and Ancestral Land, as well as to Restitution of their Houses and private properties, or, if this is really impossible, at least an adequate Financial Compensation, according to ECHR's  1996-2010 long case-law

In fact, a great part of ECHR's credibility, and more generally, of the European System of Human Rights' protection, (i.e. CoE's Committee of Ministers monitoring  of the implementation of ECHR's judgements included), is at stake in these Cyprus - Turkey ECHR Judgements on Refugees, "Missing" Persons, Enclaved People, etc., because they have become, meanwhile, not only a well established case-law for CoE's 47 Membe, r States, but also World-wide Standards, from which have been inspired some of UNO's most important advances on Human Rights' issues, (such as, f.ex. UNO Rapporteur, Professor Paolo Sergio Pinheiro's (from Brazil) famous "Principles" on Refugees/Displaced Persons' rights, which have been edited in a UNO Handbook at nearby Geneva, officially signed by UNO's SG, and UN High Commissioners on Human Rights and on Refugees, etc. : See Pinheiro's statements to "EuroFora""s co-Founder, published elsewhere on 9/2007).

But, some controversial recent rulings by ECHR's Chambers, and/or their interpretation by some inside CoE's Committee of Ministers, by apparently departing from earlier ECHR's case-law, have notoriously raised several Question-marks, particularly in  order to know ifEurope will continue to have Better Human Rights' Legal Standards than other Regions in the World, or whether it will be out-paced, for the 1st time in History, by other, Foreign bodies in other areas of the World, which seem thus to claim now  comparatively stronger Human Rights' principles :

- F.ex., while the Experienced UNO's f. President of "Enforced Disappearances" Committee at nearby Geneva, Professor Corcuera, had clearly stressed to "EuroFora"'s co-founder that, in case of "Missing" persons' dramas, "the Violations of Human Rights are of a "CONTINUING" character, (i.e. can be invoked in front of an International Court by Victims' Families) as long as it has not yet been found what really happened to the "Missing" Persons, and those Responsible for their enforced disappearance have not been found and punished", (precisely as ECHR's traditional case-law also underlined), on the contrary, a 2009 prejudicial ruling by an ECHR chamber decided an unprecedented rejection of Greek Cypriot "Missing" People's Families' applications to Strasbourg versus Turkey's persisting refusal to give any information on these crucial points, on the pretext that, on the contrary, a certain period of Time had elapsed, meanwhile, (curiously throwing the Responsibility for the scandalously prolonged Uncertainty to the Victims, and not on the Turkish State's persisting refusal to even discuss these points)..

At the same moment, unearthings and re-burrials reportedly accelerate on Cyprus' "Missing" people, without doing any Forensic Examination in order to find what really happened to the Victims and who might be Responsible for their fate, contrary to ECHR's well established case-law and opposite even to what is currently happening in Latin America (f.ex. Argentina) where former Officials are arrested for Torture - Inhuman/Degrading Treatments of People Murdered back in the 1970ies, and even (what is the most important)  threatening to destroy Evidence of Crimes, as experienced Officials of the CoE, and/or Amnesty International, a.o. already warned "EuroFora" in reply to our relevant questions.

However, it's obvious (also by South Africa, ex-Yugoslavia, Latin America, post-NAZI Europe, and other concrete examples all over the world, that an adequate way to get the Truth out on what happened to "Missing" Persons, find and punish at least some among those Responsible for eventually Grave Human Rights Violations, at least symbolically, is a necessary condition for success to any sincere effort to establish Stable Peace and long-lasting Reconciliation between People who suffered from such tragedies, by giving a kind of Guarantee that such horrible Crimes will never happen again in Future.

+ Moreover, on Refugees' Human Rights to restitution, or, at least compensation for their usurpated Homes and private properties, as well as their Internationaly recognized Right to return back to their Family Homes and Ancestral Lands, (a principle for the application of which, the famous former UNO's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio de Mehlo, had notoriously worked for Decades throughout the World, from Africa up to Eastern Timor, etc., until he was astonishingly killed at Iraq, shortly after reportedly preparing a massive return of Kutdish Refugees at Northern Iraq area, often revendicated also by Turkey because of its Oil/Gas deposits), another recent ECHR's decision on Cyprus and Turkey astonishingly seems to downplay and largely restrict most of ECHR's traditionaly established principles, (See relevant Critical Analysis made by "EuroFora"'s publication on concrete points).

So that UNO's famous Handbook (and adopted Report) on the well-known "Pinheiro's Principles", obviously inspired by ECHR's traditional case-law, obviously risks now to become, on the contrary, much more advanced than what some want to allow vis a vis Turkey's obligations inside the CoE, which threatens to become dramatically ess..
----------------
This context appears even more important, given the fact that, as Ban Ki Moon, also previous UNO SGs  visited officially Strasbourg always on exceptional moments :

-  Boutros Ghali did so, back in 1995, on the occasion of a landmark EU Parliament's debate on the "State of the Union" and EU's foreseeable Future, and returned later-on as a former UN SG, strong of his experience, (See Boutros-Ghali statements to "EuroFora"'s cofounder then).

- Koffi Annan visited both CoE and EU Parliament on october 2000, i.e. just after Turkey had been given a controversial "Candidate" status at December 1999 Helsinki Summit, while UNO's Secretariat was pushed by some Governments to launch attempts to put practically aside the Cyprus' issue, so that Turkey's impopular EU bid has no problems. (Comp. Koffi Annan's long reply to "EuroFora" co-Founder's question in his Press Conference at EU Parliament, attended by many Journalists from allover Europe).

- But, since the election of UNO's New SG, Ban Ki Moon, it will be now (on October 2010) his 1st venue in Strasbourg, which was visited, until now, only by his Deputy SG, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, who participated in EU Parliament's activities, (See UNO deputy SG Migiro 's statements to "EuroFora"'s co-founder, given on that occasion).
Meanwhile, "EuroFora" got Ban Ki Moon Spokepersons' replies to our questions, both from his initial Spokesperson, Michele Montas, (f.ex. at 2007 G8 Summit in Heiligendam, Germany, and on 2008, on the sidelines of the "Union for the Mediterranean" Summit in Paris), and from his New Spokesman, Martin Nesirky (experienced former OSCE's Spokesman, f.ex. after Berlin's November 2009 Summit for the 20 Years since the fall of the Dividing Wall, in view of OSCE-related, possible developments, and on December 2009, at the immediate aftermath of the Copenhagen UNO Climate Change Summit : the biggest in UNO's History, as Ban Ki Moon himself observed).

Many other Statements/Replies to our Questions by previous UNO's Secretary Generals and/or other Top UNO's Officials were given to "EuroFora"'s co-founder on relevant issues on several other occasions, at various other locations and/or opportunities, such as, f.ex., Koffi Annan's replies he gave us at Baden Baden (Germany) on 2004, and in Paris (France) on 2006 ; UNO's former Director for Political affairs, Ibrahim Gambari (New York, 2005) ; UNO's High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres (Strasbourg/CoE 2008), UNO's new SG on Peace-Keeping operation, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Alain Le Roy (Paris 2008), etc.

Ban Ki Moon's exceptional venue at the CoE in Strasbourg on the occasion of ECHR's 60th Anniversary is an obvious and timely Symbol of the fact that both the PanEuropean mechanism for the protection of Human Rights and UNO's own credibility and efficiency approach a kind of Historic cross-roads and a moment of Truth, tested in real practice, needing to find new ways to avoid Errors of the Past (f.ex. 2002-2004 attempts to practically white-wash Turkey on Cyprus' military invasion and persisting occupation, particularly by a former rather unbalanced UN Official, even speaking Turkish but not Greek, and apparently involved in some dubious interest networks, who was dismissed by Koffi Annan during Summer 2005, and/or a former EU Commissioner on Enlargement, accused to disregard EU Principles, who has just been hired by Turkey's Export Trade board, etc), which had notoriously resulted, inter alia, also in an unprecedented Blockade of EU's institutional development (f.ex. Majority Abstentions in 1999-2004 EU Elections, 3 "NO" to EuroReferenda since May 2005, etc).

In order to have a better chance in Future, it's obvious that both UNO and EU/CoE need on such crucial issues involving core principles of Human Rights and International Organisations' independence, objectivity and credibility, a much more "clean", honest, creative and innovative approach, able to provide well-balanced results, safeguard at least the essential among key principles, as well as to look further at the Horizon towards less makeshift, shaky recipes risking to stir soon even worse contradictions and conflicts, but, on the contrary, for real reconciliation, reunification, and stable Peace.

Digital Horizon won't be blocked by few anti-deontologic Oligarchs of the Past, but, on the contrary, is wide open for innovative and quality On-Line Media projects respecting Press Ethics and able to bring interesting input usefully contributing to generate new dynamics in the huge potential of the Digital Revolution, replied in substance, Minister of Culture and Communication, Frederic Mitterand, and Head of France-Televisions, Remy Pflimlin, to 2 succesively raised "EuroFora"'s questions, at various occasions this week-end in Strasbourg.
-----------------------
"EuroFora" reminded to Mitterrand that last year, on November 2009, he had been hindered to visit CoE in Strasbourg for the 1st Annual Journalists' Assizes, by a gross slandering that some manipulators launched at  that precise moment, "remembering" a sentence lost inside a book written ... many Years previously in the Past, repercuting such slandering at their 1st Web-page, etc, so that the Minister had to use a .. High Tech Video transmission at  the last minute then, in order to worn that "On Line Editors should prepare themselves from the beginning of Next Year (2010). However, in fact, things went too fast, with more provoked incidents, and without concrete and well visible Public warnings, so that a few Oligarchs, (f.ex. the same who had notoriously provoked the decline of a previously quality Newspaper as "Le Monde"), practically got in their pockets Hundrends of Thousands € from Taxpayers' money, and the control of the procedure, obviously imposing some "pals", even caricatural, (f.ex. a Local Blog limited for Months into merely copying Press Releases issued by his local Mayor "Socialist" MP !)...

Therefore, "EuroFora" asked Mitterand now : - "Do you think that you have still enough means to ensure that the mecanism due to support (morally and/or financialy) new On-line Media, will not be definitively usurpated by a few old Oligarchs, (as those who, comming from a declining Traditional Press,  got most of the Money earmarked for innovative On-line Media and fagocytated the Decision-making process, sometimes abusing even in a Non-Ethical, Anti-Deontologic way, f.ex. limiting themselves merely into multiplying personal attacks with a series of unverified claims, bellied one after the other, etc) ? Can you ensure that all really Innovative On-line Media Projects, striving to bring Original Content, and respecting elementary Press Ethics and Deontology will have a Chance in a Pluralistic New Digital Society ?"

- "Naturally. We are working on that", the competent Minister of Culture and Communication, positivelly but carefully replied to "EuroFora"'s question.

- In particular, "that's precisely the main Meaning of the Work we are (currently) doing to create a Link (between On-line Editors and) to the Great Loan", Frederic Mitterand ambitiously underlined to "EuroFora".

- For concrete details, "you can see my last Press Conference, yesterday, where you shall find some replies to these problems", as he advised us.

The key French Minister was similarly, positively upbeat, also for another, adjacent "EuroFora"'s question on New Technologies' potential working towards a kind of "Fusion" bringing together various News Media (Text, Audio, Video, Interactive Communications/Conferences, etc), as well as Culture at large, Art, etc), which was much more developed by the new President of "France-Televisions", Remy Pflimlin (See infra).

But, apparently, Mitterand didn't have the occasion to fully realize that "EuroFora"'s main point wasn't on Funds, but on the real Transparency, Flexibility and Pluralism of the Procedure by which could be realized, in real practice, the "aim to encourage the Recognition of those News Websites which really do a good job, of an interesting quality", as State Secretary on Digital Economy, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, had told "Eurofora" earlier in Strasbourg, (See relevant "EuroFora"s Publication).

- Indeed, a "National Fund for the Digital Society",  which "is at the Heart of Investments for the Future...aiming to strengthen and stimulate Growth Potential", was set up on September 2010, with some 4,5 Billions € dedicated to the Digital Economy,  among which, 2,5 Billions € will be dedicated to New Utilisations",  while "750 Millions € were earmarked for the Digitalisation of Cultural, Scientific and Educational Contents, out of the  35 Billion-strong "Great Loan", which includes also Universities, Scientific Research, Industrial Innovation, Climat-Environment, etc., as initially anounced and promised by President Sarkozy, December 2009 in Strasbourg, (See relevant "EuroFora"'s Publication from the event), a joint Press Conference by Mitterand and  State Secretary for Digital Economy's prospects and development, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, has just confirmed.

- "Press" Media are included among a wide choice of "Cultural Contents", such as "Music, Cinema, AV, Photo, Viceo, Artistic Creations, etc", which attracted the interest of Professionals and Economic Actors who participated in a Public Concertation on the possible "Utilisations of Digital" Technologies, which had been launched, early June 2010.  Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet had already positively replied to an "EuroFora"s question on "E-Democracy" projects as possible "New Content" for the "Digital Economy" (See "EuroFora"'s September 2009 NewsReports from a relevant Conference in Paris).

Focusing mainly on the "Legal offer" of "Innovative services", and the "promotion of New ways to valorize the (Press) Editorial contents", as well as "Cultural and Artictic Heritage", etc., the adopted Strategy already pinpointed at some "particularly Exemplary Projects", as, f.ex. "the creation of a Digital Press Gateway".

- "Digital U-turn stands right in front of or eyes", stressed at this occasion Mitterand, expressing his belief that "it's an incredible Chance", and that, facing a galoping Globalization, French and European Culture "will be Digital, or won't be"...

- "Cultural Contents are at the Heart of this Political Ambition", because,  "Digital Ambition" is much larger, and "mustn't be confused with  a mere "Technological Illusion",  neither "Tubes shouldn't be confused with Creation" : "The Success of a Digital Revolution depends from  Services, Uses, Rich and Stimulating Contents, able to project Creators and Cultural Industries to a Worldwide Horizon, in Modern Economy and Tomorrow's Markets".  he observed, launching a call to advance well beyond simply "facing" chances, by starting to "Anticipate" them, and "take  Initiatives".- "Future belongs to those who know how to anticipate : That's what is at stake in the Investments for the Future launched today, despite the context of Financial Difficulties", because a "Good Government must be a Manager, but also a Visionary : Our Task, ...is to preserve and valorize our Heritage, Artistic Creation, as well as our Medias, but also to give Life to those who will be the Cultural assets and Industry, the Medias in 20 - 30 Years" :

 That's why, we should "become a Lever, an Incubator of Ideas and Projects, f.ex. via a "Warned Investors" process, etc<;, "hoping to see you anew in some Months' Time (2011), in order to present also other Ambitious and Innovative Projects", Mitterrand invited. - "We .. must be ready to escort and anticipate these New Practices", favorably "highlighted by various Digital Actors, from Big Groups, Small-Medium or even Very-Small Businesses, Associations, Public Administrations, Individuals, etc"., who "revealed Innovative Projects and recent Initiatives responding to New Needs and Utilisations", he said.

- But "this implies also more Awareness and Vigilance in Ethical terms, as well as in order to protect Creations", by "Checks and Guarantees", he added, pointing precisely at the direction indicated by "EuroFora", when we raised the issue of the need to avoid a pluralist and democratic decision-making process to be, in fact, usurpated only by a few Oligarchs and their cronies (See supra).

 - During the "Next Weeks", "R&D Projects" will be called for a "selection before the end" of 2010, followed by "other Projects", using the "warned Investor" communication, so that "the first funds can start from 2011's first three Months, while Time will be given also for "Projects which wouldn't be entirely ready before the end of 2010, with other calls and declarations of interest, due to be launched "during 2011".

- Meanwhile, the process shall be launched in parallel for more than 3.000 Quality Cinema Films from 1929 onwards to be Digitalized, as well as some 400.000 Books of the 20th Century, ("a Unique project in Europe", as he said), as a first response to USA "Google's Digital Strategy", to  including "a Gateway listing all legal AV and Cinema contents", to which should be added also "new, extended e-Books", which "link f.ex. commentaries, related AV documents, etc. to a classical Text, (etc), while also "Music, Photographs, Art, etc, are also parts of our Heritage awaiting to be Digitalized too.

- In particular, the "Digital multi-platform and inter-operable Gateway", which will "commercialize Digital Contents of many (+On-line) Press Editors", should start operating from 2011, the 2 Ministers confirmed, advancing further in a line of thought certainly useful for On-line Media, but rather discrete on the main point, which is not so much Money, but rather a need to ensure Reconnaissance and Freedom of Press for Quality and Ethical On-line Media, as the State Secretary responsible for Digital Economy recently told "EuroFora" in Strasbourg, (See : ...... ).

Faced more directly with real Facts and Challenges in the emerging On-line Media landscape, the new President of France-Televisions' conglomerate, Rémy Pflimlin, appeared with more concrete, critical Fighting Spirit, when he replied to "EuroFora"s and other Journalists' Questions at two succesive occasions in Strasbourg :

    - "For me, the most Important Message is Innovation and Respect for Citizens", Remy Pflimlin stressed from the outset to "EuroFora". - "I.e. to find a way to make a Public Service TV which attracts the larger Number possible of People, and, (at the same time) is Modern, that's it !", he concluded.

Concerning eventual, selective "Cooperations with "Media on-line", when they are  really innovative and respectful of Press Deontology, f.ex. for creation/promotion of joint events, exchange of News, etc., Remy Pflimlin looked upbeat :  - "Oh yes, certainly : This is (included in) our Vocation, completely", he positively replied to "EuroFora".

Remy Pflimlin has a solid Experience at the Head of Newspapers and other Media, as well as long-time President of the International Modern Music Festival "Musica" in Strasbourg, whose former Mayor, the famous Pierre Pflimlin, his Uncle, served also as f. Prime Minister and President of CoE's Assembly and EU Parliament.

 + For the rest, "I'd Willingly tell you the same things",  recently stressed at an earlier INTW  that "EuroFora" reminded him, Remy Pflimlin added with a smile :

- "I'd like Today, that the Spirit of Innovation and New Territories' Conquest, of the eminently innovative and Ambitious Pioneers of the beginning of TV's History, becomes ours, in front of New Technologies" as "Internet", etc; so that we can be Present at the New Media, and allow those who use f.ex. I-pod, i-phone, etc., to have Access to our quality programs", he had said on the point reminded by "EuroFora".  By doing so, it's precisely "our Public Service mission to be present in all Territories (Geographical and/or Digital, as Internet, etc), and "to be interrelated to our Citizens,  that is going to give us the Best Tools to speak to them", Pflimlin intelligently observed, (apparently advancing in a similar logic including "EuroFora"'s project on Citizens-Politicians Digital a.o. Debates on main EU/CoE Decision-making process).

Ambition and Ethics inevitably brought Pflimlin at a colliding course with some Oligarchs who tried to escape their declining Traditional Newspaper by accaparating Public Funds, procedures, etc. earmarked for New, On-line Media, where they notoriously imported and even aggravated their previous negative stance made out of systematic personal attacks based on unverified claims or rumours, practically without any General Interest Ideas, News or Issues to report : 

 - "That's typically, what I wish to avoid", .. i.e. that kind of Internet's Manipulator "Big Brother going adrift", Pflimlin denounced.

The criticized Oligarch replied  with ...gross Insults (f.ex. calling Pflimlin ..."Donkey", "Idiot", etc.), threats, etc., but few, if any, arguments, and pushed the secretariat of his trade union to claim that a local ..Court would have acquitted him as if he would have done nothing wrong...

Even this week of late September, his State-funded website's 1st page headlines, astonishingly, have no other news whataever but only to persist repeating since .. July (i.e. 3 Months-long !!!), a series of various controversial claims against the private and Family Life of the Minister of Labour, and that of the daughter/wife of the founder/manager of France's International cosmetics company "L'Oreal" (which co-organizes with UNESCO the "Women in Science" awards Worldwide)...

"EuroFora"'s team resolutely stands together with all those who find simply Scandalous, Unacceptable (and an obviously damaging  Unfair Competition against the emergence of really New Web Media respecting Press Deontology and eager to publish original News of General Interest for the Society), to ....waste Taxpayers' Money (i.e. paid even by Poor People via VAT+) in order to Fund with Hundred Thousands €  a few old Oligarchs, who, after notoriously destroying, and pushing to Bankruptcy (from which it escaped only by losing Journalists' Independence : i.e. by being sold to  a .. Millionaire funding a failed "Socialist" politician) a Newspaper which was a Reference for Seriousness and Quality in the past  : "Le Monde", by attempting to change it into a partisan Mouthpiece launching makeshift, dubious Personal Aggressions against Political adversaries that it's unable to face in a Democratic Debate on Ideas, Political and SocioEconomic issues, (F.ex. the infamous, fake "Baudis" so-called "affair", which proved to be false, after provoking years of damages to the victims, including the 2009 Elected MEP, etc. ) "Le Monde'"s drift was well-documented and brillantly criticized by independent investigative Journalist Pierre Pean's book "the other side of the "Monde"", published in 2003, after which, a Massive Readers' departure was spectacularly marked. "Le Monde"'s Journalists reacted (too late) by ousting their former CEOs, who fled to the Web, apparently ready  to ... re-start doing the Same thing again, committing similar, and even more grave Abuses, with much more systematic Harassment and Personal Aggressions against Individual persons, Politicians, etc.

"EuroFora" Project's team,(who've met Péan in Strasbourg earlier), friends and readers stand for a Honest, Creative, Safe and Free Internet for all Democratic People sincerely open to Public Debates on Topical News and Ideas of General Interest for the Society, and strongly oppose systematic personal aggressions based on shaky indications, most of which prove to be false or exagerated.

- Meanwhile, "Sensitive to the Choice of the Moment : f.ex. when the Sunlight is at its best" , as he said in the Afternoon, before Sunset, at Strasbourg's Historic Rohan Palace Museum, (one of the few to host unique items all the way from Constantin the Great, founder of Byzantine Empire and Liberator of Christians and Slaves, who saw Strasbourg's crossroads on his way from Scotland, where his Father was exiled by the declining Roman Empire, towards Rome, where he won the famous battle with the Cross, up to the great Napoleon Bonaparte's astonishingly functional chamber, ready to serve for his  grandiose Battle plans), after witnessing the "superb Architecture" of Strasbourg's MAMCS (Modern/Contemporary Art), and before being "impressed" by the European Resistant-Deportee Center, at the former NAZI Camp of Struthof, and the Alsace-Lorraine "Memorial", followed by a fast-track visit to the Highest Cathedral in Europe, where he was surprised to find how close the Historic, grandiose Building had been with People's lives, (sometimes even noted at  its external walls), throughout Centuries, Mitterand promissed to return soon to Strasbourg, but, this time at the CoE+  :

Fréderic Mitterand said to "Eurofora" that he "will be visiting" Strasbourg anew and spontaneously saluted us by a "See you soon ("à bientôt") word, clearly indicating that he might back for an official visit soon, probably for the Annual Journalism's Assizes on mid November at the CoE (See supra), and, after being momentaneously surprised, at the end, without saying anything, he returned a big Smile to "EuroFora"'s critical remark that People "hope" to see that "there is Life even ..after Mediapart" (as is named one of the former "Le Monde's CEO's, State-funded Website)...

 Mitterand had briefly worked himself as a Journalist (for Art/Cinema issues) at a pioneer attempt to create a serious, quality Media (Newspaper "J'informe") able to compete against some trends visible after a controversial U-turn, importing aggressions and partiality  in the formerlly serious and objective Newspaper "Le Monde",  launched by an atypical, original visionary politician :  Jean Fontanet, who was murdered in 1980, without ever finding who and why killed him.

- "Europe must be a Great Plan, expressed via a certain idea for International relations, a certain idea for Democracy, a certain idea for Social progres and Economic development", he said. "For the European unity to become anew an idea for the  Future, we must (now) drop the too partial and too specialized approaches of the previous decades", (1960-1970). Pointing at "the potentialiities enriching the European concept", he launched a call not to drop, "by lack of Imagination and Creative Initiatives, a Big Chance that History gave to our continent",(Editorial "J'informe", 23 octobre 1977).

Even if Fontanet's Newspaper astonishingly "disappeared" too fast, before 1978, on the contrary, many of the People he had chosen to hire as Journalists then, (most of them, for the 1st time), are still Today, on 2010, at various key Jobs as International NGOs' founders, Ministers, Presidential Counselors , Editors, etc.

As a recent French National Assembly's Report on New Media and attempts to create New Newspapers (including by Fontanet), reminds, classic British Philosopher John Milton's, 1644 London moto, would fit perfectly well "EuroFora"'s 1997-2007' born project : - "Above all liberties", "Give me the Liberty to Know, to Utter, and to Argue (debate) freely, according to Conscience".

 Minister Mitterand joined at Rhine Opera Rémy Pflimlin , also Chairman of International Music Festiaval "Musica", focusing in 2010 on Xenakis,  (who died in 2001, shortly after Pierre Pflimlin : 1999, but long after creating in Strasbourg  "Idmen" for the "Europa Cantat" festival back in 1985, following the unforgettable "Persephasa", with "Strasbourg's Percussions", as early as since 1969). As the Franco-Greek Modern Music  composer and thinker Yannis Xenakis had stressed (speaking of Music, as others do for Internet) : - "Music is .. Energy. The question .. is how to use that Energy".. 

The 1st Newspaper to go fully on-line, USA's traditional quality paper the famous "Christian Science Monitor", had resumed its Web Vision at that October 28, 2008 crucial date when his Editor Yamma stressed that : - "Internet is its own Medium - it's about User Response - a New way for telling stories in Internet that we have to find out", (without falling f.ex. to the old trap of those who had started to use TV as a Radio in a remote Past of similar New Media transformation). CSM's Director anounced that his Pioneer team was "going to Embark in a kind of a fairly grand Journalistic Expedition now" at the World wide web, "so that Journalists can go on doing this Global, Analytical Press coverage that we call "the Human Dimension behind the International events", even with a "Non-Profit" Entity, based not only on subsidies and/or endowments, etc., but also , more and more, f.ex. on "Web advertising (which) is already bigger than Print advertising",  as he observed already in 2008, (largely confirmed  by recent Statistics throughout all US Media), using also "E-mail" distribution, as well as "Syndication" and other "Ideas on (how to develop) an Internet News Website".

- "Truth" not only respects Human Dignity and Freedom by addressing itself to a reasoning and independent Person's judgement, so that "fidelity to  Truth, ..is (a) guarantee of Freedom ..and of ...Human Development", but it also "creates Dia-Logos (i.e. democratic Debate), and hence Communication" between  People, and "is the Light (of Reason and/or Faith) "that gives Meaning", which "can be understood..., shared and communicated", stressed Pope Benedict in his landmark 2006 Regensburg University speech and 2009 "Caritas in Veritate" Encyclical, on which "EuroFora" briefly spoke with Strasbourg Cathedral's representatives while waiting for Mitterrand's visit, regretting that we here hindered to attend an important Conference recently organized by COMECE at EU Parliament's building in Brussels, the same Day that, among other exceptional events, ECHR was publishing in Strasbourg a landmark Judgement on the cold-blood Murder of Armenian Journalist Hrant Dink in Turkey, (See "EuroFora"s relevant Publication, dated September 14).  Moreover, the "convergence" of "Greek Logos" and "Biblical (i.e. Judeo-Christian) Faith"added" to "the Roman Heritage", culturally "created Europe", and ("even Today") "remains the Foundation of what can rightly be called Europe", he stressed already at the 1st of these two occasions.

By a coincidence, these same days, World-wide Open Source movement Pioneers at "Mozilla" Labs' website exceptionally published a Breakthrough Invention for a New Mobile Phone able to use Light in astonishing ways, such as, f.ex. to easily monitor 3D Images, use Immaterial I.R. Keypad anywhere, project Video-Films  on any Wall, etc., which could help bring closer a long-expected "Fusion" between all Media : Text, Audio, Video, interactive Com., etc., via Internet.  "SeaBird"'s (as is called that innovative Mobile Phone Project) Mozilla eye-catching presentation topically uses a sympathetic, fresh Young Musical Rock Group "Submarines"' song, precisely called "Modern Invention", astonishingly close to ...On-line Media Press Deontology :

- "..Didn't I make you feel to have the Mind to reconcile the TRUTH, in this Troubled Times ?", critically asks their song - But, "Good Machines don't lie !", they stress.  And all Conclusions result from  that, crucial fact : - "From here, we roll on. From here, we roll on"..., the young group's "Modern Invention" song stresses in conclusion.

Nice, instructive and timely readings for Hundreds of Thousands € - rich, old Dinosauric Oligarchs' fans (See supra)...