
newsitems
Forthcoming CoE President, Greek Minister Varvitsiotis to EF: After Hardships, Strengthen CoE Voice
*Brussels/EU Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- During a Press Briefing on the Sidelines of EU's Heads of State/Government's Summit this December 2019 in Brussels, "Eurofora" asked the Competent Greek Minister, Miltiades Varvitsiotis, in charge of European Affairs, about his Plans for the CoE, the 47 Member States-strong PanEuropean Organisation (including Russia, etc) for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, that Greece will Chair Next Year.
The Young but Experienced Minister reacted mainly by expressing the wish to Help Strengthen CoE's Voice Now, after several Difficult Years, as he said, (probably meaning the UnPrecedented Division of the PanEuropean Organisation of Strasbourg, since the Ukranian Crisis, as far as Russia etc. is concerned, to which were added even more, growing Problems with Turkey recently).
------------------------------------
- "Eurofora" pointed at the Forthcoming Greek Presidency of the CoE, during 2020, and Asked Varvitsiotes, in Substance, how he evaluated the Potential Importance of CoE's main Competences for Key Topical Issues Nowadays.
- "We (Greece) take over on May" 2020, Replied, at first, with precision in a "matter of Fact" attitude, Miltiades Varvitsiotes, referring to the Rotating Chairmanship of CoE's Highest Political body, that of its Committee of Ministers, from May to November 2020, mostly included.
- "We know the Issues", and "have a good Experience in CoE's Parliamentary Assembly", pointed out Varvitsiotes, who had been Recently Elected, by CoE's Parliamentary Assembly, as a New vice-President of the Biggest Political Group of MEPs : that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, (Comp., f.ex., his Statements to "Eurofora" then, at: ..., etc) : I.e., by a Timely Coincidence, the Same as that of CoE's New Secetary General, Marija Pejčinović-Burić, former vice-Prime Minister of Croatia, in charge of Foreign and European policy, who has just Started her 2019-2024 Mandate last October 2019, (See, f.ex., her Reply to an "Eurofora" Quesstion when she was Brillantly Elected on June, at : ..., etc).
The currently New Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of European Issues, was, indeed, previously in charge of Migration and Refugee policy at the Main Opposition Party in Greece, "New Democracy", (currently in the Government), and entrusted with the duty to Prepare the 1st National Congress of "New Democracy" Party, which was organized by its new President, Kyriakos Mitsotakes, the New Prime Minister of Greece, (with the Moto : "Oxygen", for Freedom of Ideas, Democracy, Productivity, Creativity, etc), after having Served, earlier, also as former Minister of Maritime Transports (where, traditionaly, Greece holds a notoriously Key Role at a Global Level) and of Aegean Sea, as well as F. President of the Greek Parliament's Foreign Policy Committee. He has Studied Law in Greece (Athens University), Political Science and International Relations at Harvard University (Boston, USA), before being Elected Many Times in a Row as MP, from 2004 up to Nowadays, Regularly Accredited to - and Attending - CoE's Assembly in Strasbourg.
+ Moreover, "I Like, and Respect the Institution" of the CoE, added the Young, mainstream Politician, who is Son of former Long-Time vice-President of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party in Europe, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Justice, Education and Trade, as well as, more Recently, Top MEP in EU Parliament, Dr. John Varvitsiotes, (that "Eurofora" had the Chance to contact several times in Strasbourg), a close ally of Historic Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, exiled in Paris during the Colonels' regime (1967-1974), in a Family of mainstream Politicians who used to serve the modern Greek State since its creation almost from the Beginning of the 19th Century.
=> - So that "We (Greece) Aim at a (2020) Presidency that will Help Strengthen the Voice of the CoE !", Clearly Stressed Miltiades Varvitsiotes in the Main Core of his Reply to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s Question, (Comp. Supra). His Official Duties as Minister, Nowadays, concern EU Affairs (including EU Parliament), the PanEuropean CoE, relevant issues of Migration and Refugees, etc, where he represents Greece, whenever necessary together with Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, (a former JHA, Defense, and Development Minister, F. Collegue at CoE's Assembly in Strasbourg, where he was appointed several times as Rapporteur, Elected President of Migration and Refugees' Committee, etc).
- Considering, particularly, that it (the CoE) "has Suffered a lot during the Latest Years", regretted Varvitsiotis, probably speaking of the 2014-2019+ Division of the PanEuropean Space of the 47 Member States-Wide CoE, After the Ukranian Issue was Provoked, Affecting mainly Relations to Russia, but Also interrelated Financial, GeoPolitical, and Other Problems, Added to Turkey-related Developments, - f.ex. on clashes in Kurdish Villages since 2015, around the alleged Army "Coup" of 2016, Followed by many Tens of Thousands of Dismissed and/or Persecuted Journalists, Civil Servants, as Teachers a.o., even Judges, Policemen, Army Staff, etc, as well as the Military Invasions/Occupations of Syrian Kurdish Afrin (2018) and North-Eastern Regions (2019), along the Turkish Borders, etc.
Last, but not least, "Eurofora" was Positively Surprized, Previously in Strasbourg, when we Witnessed the UnExpected Fact that even a Young Politician from the Establishment, as Miltiades, could be Original, Aware, and Conscious enough in order to Judge, f.ex., that, during a CoE Assembly's Plenary Session with Dozens of Matters for Debate and/or Vote, those which concern Crucial "Bio-Ethical" Issues, would be "the Most Important', and should be given a Priority... A very Useful Stance, Nowadays, when the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, i.e. the CoE, would have, inter alia, f.ex., also to Deal with Heritable Genetic Manipulations, Affecting even Future Generations, which may Challenge the Future of Humanity, (See, f.ex., : ... + ..., etc).
(../..)
("Draft-News")
-------------------------------------
Greek Government Spokesman, Minister Petsas to EF: General EU Interest v. illegal Turkey Libyan Flop
*Brussels/EU Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora" Question at a Press Briefing during the EU Summit in Brussels of December 2019, the New Greek Government's Spokesman and Minister of Communication Stelios Petsas, (a well trusted former Director of Office for the New Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis), confirmed that there is also an EU General Interest to slam the illegal and provocative Turkish M.U. with Shaky Libyan Government Officials, (who don't control not even 20% of that Divided Country), that the Libyan Assembly did Not endorse, about infringing on EU Member and Other States' EEZ in the Mediterranean Sea, as recently Growing Indications for Important off-shore Energy Oil/Gas Resources are Extending from Cyprus and Israel with Egypt, towards Greece, etc.
- "Eurofora" had asked Petsas whether he felt that there was a Crystal-clear Awareness and Conscience of EU's General Interest to Protect the Integrity and Safety of its Energy Sources and/or Direct Energy Supply Routes from New Findings at the South-Eastern Mediterranean Sea, including Creta Island' surroundings, particularly as the Northern Sea's Previous Findings have notoriously been Exhausted, and while Turkey's various Added Interference and/or Blackmail Attempts Obviously show that Europeans would Better Focus on their own and Friendly, Turstworthy Countries' Resources and Direct Transport Routes.
- Government Spokesman Petsas replied Positively, noting, in Substance, that New Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis' 3 main Keypoints of Criticism versus that Controversial Turkish provocative move, due to be Discussed by the EU Summit Later this Evening, i.e. the Fact that it's an Aggresive act against even EU Member Countries' Sovereignity, Contrary to International Law and withOut any Legal effect, which must be clearly Denounced and strongly Faced by the EU, already, indirectly but surely, helped certainly Advance towards the above-mentioned Direction among EU Member Countries, (Comp. Supra).
=> - At any case, moreover, "in each Contact, Multilateral or Bilateral, that we have in this regard, we Highlight these Points, (evoked by "Eurofora" : Comp. Supra), and we hope that they will emerge, in one way or another, also from the Conclusions of this Summit" (of the European Council), key Greek Minister Petsas confirmed in his Reply to our Question.
=> Indeed, Later this Evening, the relevant Conclusions of this December 2019 EU Summit in Brussels, "Recalled" and "reConfirmed" "its Previous Conclusions on Turkey, of ...March and ...June", as well as "...October" 2019, "concerning Turkish lllegal Drilling activities in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone", which strongly Slamed such moves and prepared concrete Sanctions, (See, f.ex.: ..., ..., etc).
- "The Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of Maritime Jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea infringes upon the Sovereign Rights of 3rd States, does Not Comply with the Law of the Sea, and canNot produce Any Legal Consequences for 3rd States", unanimously stressed EU's 28 Member States.
- Therefore, "the European Council unequivocally reAffirms its Solidarity with Greece and Cyprus, regarding these actions by Turkey", this BRX EU Summit underlined Firmly.
A shaky makeshift Government in besieged Tripoli claims to rule on huge Libya, whose territory is, however, held for around 80% by General Haftar's "National Libyan Army", as well as the Majority in the Country's Senate (Assembly of Nationalities).
Various Smugglers, Human Traffiquers (including Ransomers of Migrants, etc), and/or relevant shady NGOs are reportedly Headquarted around Tripoli, added to several Islamist Gangs, (an ISIS' Compound included), while such problems are reportedly absent at the Other parts of the Country. Desperate after another recent call of General Haftar to seize the Capital, Tripoli's Minority Rulers were offered a Military Intervention by Turkey, which has already been found in breach of Arms Embargo by the UN, according to the "Guardian".
(../..)
(NDLR : "Draft-News", as already Send to "Eurofora"s Subscribers, Earlier. A more Accurate, Full Final Version, might be Published asap).
---------------------------
EUParliament President Sassoli to EF on EU Future Conference 2020-2022: Need Strong Citizens Voices!

*Brussels/EU Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- In Exclusive Statemens to "Eurofora" on the sidelines of his Press Conference at EU Heads of State/Governments' Summit in Brussels, New EU Parliament's President David Sassoli from Italy, Urged for "Strong (EU) Citizens' Voices" !
He had just presented to -and Discussed with- the Summit the Outcome of EU Parliament's Constitutional Committee's Votes on MEPs' Amendments, Earlier this Week in Brussels, to a Draft Resolution on how to Shape concretely the forthcoming Conference for Europe's Future.
- But "Eurofora" had noticed that the Initial Landmark References to EU Citizens' input had, apparently, paled away, almost vanished, or were, comparatively, marginalized in the Latest relevant Official Documents...
+Therefore, we also asked French President Emmauel Macron's Counselor on European affairs, Clement Beaune, whether Macron really persisted in his Original Ambitious Vision, (Highlighted initialy at his landmark Speech at Acropolis' Historic Pnyx Rock, back on September 2017), or had, eventually, marked any relevant Last-Minute Change, perhaps towards relativizing it, in one way or another.
Beaune's immediate reaction to "Eurofora"s query was to Stress that Macron maintained his Original Vision and proposals, without any doubt.
=> Therefore, President Sassoli's Reply to our above-mentioned Question, by ricochet, gets another, even more Topical Meaning :
- "We (EU) Need Strong Citizens' Voices, in order to Hear what they have to Say !", told "Eurofora" the President of EU Parliament, (who has worked also as a Journalist himself, for a Long Time), Smiling...
>>> In other words, it's up to EU Citizens to Strive to really Earn and deserve their place inside the EU Decision-Making process for the foreseable Future !...:

In EU Summit's Conclusions, published later today, EU Heads of States/Governments, after having discussed this issue with EU Parliament's President Sassoli from the Beginning of their Brussels' meeting of this December 2019, decided to "Define a Council Position", not only "on the Content" and "Scope", but also on the "Composition and Functioning" of "a Conference on the Future of Europe", which "should contribute to the Development of our (EU) Policies in the Medium and Long Term, so that we can Better Tackle current and future Challenges".
- It "should Build on the succesful holding on Citizens' Dialogue, over the Past 2 Years (2018+ See, f.ex., inter alia, also "Eurofora"s NewsReports from the Inauguration of EU Citizens' Consultations by Frech President Macron at nearby Vosges Mountains, etc., at : ..., ..., etc), "and Foresee Broad Consultation of Citizens, in the course of the Process", for which there is a wider "Need to be Inclusive", this Brussels' EU Summit officially "underlined" further on.
(../..)
("DraftNews")
------------------------------------------
Web-Journalist Daphne Murder: Risk for main Suspects to Divert Enquiry Away from Political Crimes ?
*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Surprizingly, After the Recent Press Interviews by "Eurofora" with Mathew Caruana Galizia, Daphne's Son and Journalist himself, and European "ARTE" TV Film-Maker on Daphne's Murder, (New Film due to be Finalized and Published on 2/2020), German Journalist Tim Röhn, at the Beginning of November (4 and 8) on the occasion of CoE's Annual 2019 "World Forum for Democracy", (See : ... + ..., etc), subsequent Developments concerning Daphne's Murder Investigation suddenly appeared to, at last, Start Evolving in the Direction that we had Discussed then :
- "Eurofora" had raised a Question, to Both, on Why there was, until Then, a so Blatantly big Difference between Investigations on Web Journalists' Murders first in Malta, (where Not any Instigator had yet been found at all, and Nobody Bothered among several Suspect Politicians), compared to Slovakia, later-on, (where Instigators were cought and various Top Politicians a.o. had been Seriously Affected) ?
That Key Question, in Fact, (even if Not Explicitly Raised yet), had Already Occupied EU Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs and Liberties, at the Eve of May 2019 EU Elections, when Dutch Liberal MEP Sophie in't Veld was Preparing her relevant Report on that exceptional serial of Journalists' Murders on 2017, withOut recent precedent in Europe.
- Even if they Replied at Different Moments, (Despite having Initially Heard our Question at the Same Moment and in the Same Circumstances), Both Andrew and Tim proved to be quasi-Unanimous on the Main Diagnosis :
>>> It's Because in Slovakia, corrupted and/or inefficient Politicians and/or their Cronies had been Obliged (by popular Protests, Public Pressure, and/or Factual Revelations) to Resign, while, on the Contrary, in Malta, something Similar had Not Happened yet, at least until that moment, they Both Replied in substance, Mathiew at First.
+ Tim advanced a Step Further, Adding, Later-on, also that, in Slovakia's case, (that he Knew well, since the Victim had been, in fact, Working for the Same Big German Media Company as himself), it's Even those in charge of the Investigation (such as Justice Minister, Attorney General, Police Director, etc) who had been Affected too, and, in most cases, Changed and Replaced by Other Persons, more Willing to Act accordingly.
- As for "Journalists' Safety", at least as things stand until Today, "you can Ask ME !...", Bitterly smiling told "Eurofora" Daphne's 2nd Son, Mathew, a Journalist himself, speaking right in Front of CoE's "Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism" Stand inside the PanEuropean Organisation's HQ Building, on the occasion of its Annual "World Forum for Democracy 2019"....
=> Nowadays Latest Developments on Daphne's Murder in Malta, clearly appear to unfold, precisely, According to that Pattern :
- At First, probably Because of a Time Deadline fixed by the CoE, 2 Years After the 2017 Car Bomb Explosion, added to an "InterPol" Involvement from Nearby Lyon HQ, as well as an Exceptionally Joint, strong Statement by UNO's, OSCE's and CoE's Top Watchdogs for Press Freedom, (who clearly Pleaded for Daphne's "Public Interest" Service, as they Named it, Web Journalism : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeosceunondaphnemurder.html), etc, notoriously, some Interesting "New Facts" were Revealed, More key Arrests made, and at least 2 Politicians Resigned, (including the Head of Prime Minister's Office), Opening Hopes that, at last, All the Truth would be Found, and all Instigators UnMasked and Punished for that Brutal Murder.
That was, roughly, the Situation, just 1 or 2 Weeks After "Eurofora"s above-Mentioned INTWs with Mathew Caruana Galizia and Tim Röhn in Strasbourg, (Comp. Supra), i.e. around the 19th of November 2019.
* But, Since then, all out of a Sudden, a kind of Negative "U-Turn" seems to have, More Recently, Bursted out, Threatening to Block, in fact, the still on-going and UnFinished Investigation, or, rather, to Oblige it to Deviate, Pushing it Away from any Top Political Instigators, by Risking to Restrict it Only in a Few Intermediaries, isolated Individuals from the Private Sector, in a way practically Anodynous for any Corrupted Establishment !
Even More than this Trend in itself, it's the Facts about the apparently very Arbitrary Decisions and other Measures Taken, which looks really Revolting... Among many and various others, at least :
- The above-mentioned Head of the Maltese Prime Minister's Office, Mr. Schembri, was Only Briefly Heard by the Police, and Immediately Released, 100% Free.
- An arrested Intermediary, a Private Businessman, Jorgen Fenech, who had Offered to give Testimony on Who was the Instigator for Daphne's Murder, in exchange of Amnesty for himself, reportedly Targetting Schembri and some Ministers around Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, was Refused Amnesty, after 6 Hours of Deliberation by the Government, headed by Muscat. Vainly, Fenech's Lawyers had Warned the Judges that Muscat should Not Influence that Decision, because he had an interest to Refuse.
- Prime Minister Muscat, who had initially said that he would Resign too, Now announced that he Wants to Stay in Office until Mid-January 2020, to supervise the Investigation...
- Moreover, PM. Muscat even Closes the Parliament until the End of January 2020, (i.e. does as ...Cromwell in Great Britain, and even Better than current Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who Tried, but Couldn't Close Down an Hostile Parliament, not even for some Days !).
- Fenech's Lawyers, who had Warned the Judges that the current Head of the Investigations' team should be Changed, Because he was too much Influenced by Schembri and/or PM. Muscat, are Ignored.
- On the Contrary, Muscat's Government gives an Amnesty to anOther Intermediary : Taxi-Driver Melvyn Theuma, who, Initially had Designated as Instigators Both Schembri and Fenech, but, Later-on Focuses Exclusively against Businessman Fenech alone !
- However, Daphne's WebNews Site practically ...Ignores Businessman Yorgen Fenech, that she does Not Cite But Only One (1) sole Time, inside a very Short Article, just 2 Days Before her Death... (On the Contrary, during Many Years, she strongly Criticizes and Denounces Prime Minister Muscat and several among his Ministers, - particularly Konrad Mizzi, initially in charge of Health, afterwards Energy, and Now Tourism, who Resigned-, and, particularly, the Head of Prime Minister's Office, Schembri, that she calls a "Crook", and pictures even at the Last Publication of her Life, just Before she's Brutaly Murdered : The Famous Article with the Mention : - "There are Crooks Everywhere you look now. The situation is Desperate.")...
- So that, Since Prime Minister Muscat seems to Deal Personally with the Investigation (Comp. Supra), almost Any Top Political Lead has been practically Droped. On the Contrary, it's a Low-Level, Not Politically Motivated Hypothesis, which is exclusively Privileged, Limited into a shady, obscure Private Businessman alone, (that Daphne Ignored, most of the time : Comp. Supra) !
Suddenly, you don't hear anything not even about Minister Konrad Mizzi, (resigned), who was a notorious target of Daphne's Criticism, very Close to PM. Muscat and Schembri, while People start to Forget (as the Establishment's Medias curiously Ommit to Mention now), that, initially, he was Minister of Health, before taking over Energy and afterwards Tourism, in charge of a Huge Project to give 3 Public Hospitals of Malta to a Foreign Private Company, whose Owners still Remain "UnKnown", as the Murdered Journalist's Youngest Son, Paul, told recently "Eurofora", but apparently Linked at least to an USA Researcher Focused on Genetic Manipulations, who has recently Reached a Phase for "Tests" on his Controversial and UnCertain Methods, and, Perhaps, even related to the Scandal of "Medical Visas", to which was notoriously linked Muscat's Office former long-time Agent, Neville Gafa, who recently (2018-2019) surfaced anew in the "News" for some Strange, UnExplained Visits and even Political Meetings in Libya, (at the Small Area still controlled by a Shaky Government limited around Tripoli), among Press Speculations in Various Kinds of "Smuggling", from Medical Visas to Irregular Migrants, Fuel, even Brutal Islamist Armed Gangs' Chiefs, etc., and, is, Nowadays, Often Visiting Schembri in his private House, for UnKnown reasons, as CoE's Rapporteur on Daphne's Murder, Dutch MEP Peter Omtzigt just observed, (etc)...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> However, many Concrete Facts, including Recent Revelations, clearly Point towards several UnDeniable, even Direct Links between Daphne's Murderers or Intermediaries and Prime Minister Muscat's Office !
Among various others, See, f.ex., also the following :
- Earlier, even that Intermediary Taxi Driver, Melvyn Theuma, related to the Killers, (Comp. Supra), had Noted on Paper that the Instigators of Daphne's Murder were not only Fenech, but Also Prime Minister Muscat's Office Director, Schembri.
- Theuma (who was given Amnesty for his Testimonies : Comp. Supra) had even been Invited to Personaly Visit the Prime Minister's Office, soon After the Latest, 2017 Elections, (i.e. Near the Date of Daphne's Murder), and he did visit that, then.
- On this occasion, he reportedly even Met Personaly Schembri, took a "Selfie" Photo Together with him, and was Shown Prime Minister Muscat's own Bureau, (etc).
- Moreover, the Intermediary Theuma was also Told, then, that he had just been Enrolled as Agent in a Public Service, and even Started to be Paid the First Months' Salaries, (withOut Yet Knowing Where he was Supposed to be Working)...
- In Addition, a Public Security Agent, (Later Identified as Keneth Camilleri, a Long-Time Security Guard at Prime Minister Muscat's Office, even Following him in several Official Visits, Abroad, but also Neville Gafa in Libya, later-on), as well as a certain "Johann", have reportedly promised Theuma that the Killers would be, Later, "granted Bail, and receive €1 Million each", as many Medias and CoE's Rapporteur noted.
+ Meanwhile, in Parallel, even the Other Intermediary, Businessman Fenech, "has since Testified that Schembri (Prime Minister Office's Director) had kept him Constantly Informed about the Investigation", and "Telephone Data is said to show Frequent Contacts between Fenech and Schembri prior to Fenech’s Arrest". Moreover, Schembri "Warned him that his Phone was Tapped, Conspired with him to Evade Arrest, and passed Secret Messages to him (even) After his Arrest, Telling him What to Say to the Police", observed CoE's Rapporteur on Daphne's Murder, Dutch MEP Peter Omtzigt, in his Latest Written Note, Dated 6 December 2019, and released from Strasbourg.
++ Even Prime Minister Muscat himself, "Admitted that he continued to exchange text Messages with Fenech, after he became Prime Minister", and "Continued" also After Fenech "became an Suspect. Apparently, this was done with the Knowledge of the Malta Security Service (MSS)", Despite the fact that "Muscat had Previously Denied any Contact with Fenech for a ‘Year or two’ before his arrest", CoE's above-mentioned Text adds.
+++ Just this Sunday, 8 Dec. 2019, PM. Muscat's Office former Chief of Staff, Schembri, was reportedly Taken again by Police for anOther Questioning about Documents, (including a Official ID Pass, "Selfie" Photo, and HandWritten Note, etc), around Middleman Theuma's Facticious "Job" to a Public Sector entity, depending from the "Family Ministry", which was, then, Managed by Michael Farrugia, the Current Minister in charge of the Police !...
++++ And Fenech's Lawyers have Already Denounced that Chief Investigator, Inspector Keith Arnoud, was regularly Informing Schembri about the Progres of the Enquiry on Daphne's Murder, asking to Replace him : The Issue has just Started to be Examined by the Courts, which Postponed for After Mid-December...
+++++ But, don't Worry : In Addition, P.M. Muscat's and Schembri's own Lawyer's Daughter-in-Law, Nadine Lia, is reportedly the Magistrate overseing the Enquiry on that Middleman Theuma's Fake Government Job gift, (as the Murdered WebJournalist's Family just Denounced : UPDATED) !!!...
=> Thus, in Malta's "Labour" Party, Nowadays, it seems that all its "Best" Elements and Pals, are, by a Coincidence, taking due "Care of the Investigation" on Daphne's Brutal Murder...
So that the currently Growing Popular Demonstrations, Activists' Protests, (including at controversial Prime Minister Muscat's Office), etc., seem Natural and Inevitable, as things stand.
-----------------------------------------------------------
>>> In such Circumstances, it's Obviously Easy to understand why EU Parliament's Delegation of MEPs which has just Visited Malta, Returned back with a Message Warning about an imminent "Risk" against "the Integrity of the Investigation", particularly, as long as "Prime Minister Muscat is (still) in place" !
=> That's why, also CoE's Rapporter on Daphne's Murder, Peter Omtzigt, "strongly reiterate(d) (his) Call for Prime Minister Muscat to Resign with Immediate effect. There must be a Prompt and Effective Investigation of the allegations that members of his Office were Implicated in the Murder and its Cover-up. By clinging to office, Muscat Risks Undermining the Investigation and doing yet further Damage to Malta’s national institutions and international Reputation", he Warned in a Written Statement published in Strasbourg on 6/12/2019, (and, meanwhile, even "New Facts" surfaced, during this Week-End, to Further Justify that : Comp. Supra).
Developments clearly show that the 2nd Point made by ARTE's Film-Maker on Daphne's Murder, just after Meeting also his Son Mathew, Earlier in Strasbourg, in the Replies that they both gave to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s Question about the Causes of that Astonishig Differene between Malta and Slovakia on Web-Journalists' successive Murders since 2017, (Comp. Supra), is, in Fact, the Most Decisive Issue on 2019 : I.e. Urgently Change those who Monitor the Investigation !
Indeed, "the next 40 Days will be Crucial" for Daphne's Murder Enquiry, Warned EU Parliament's competent Delegation of MEPs, as also CoE's Rapporteur reminded this Week-End.
(../..)
("Draft-News")
---------------------------
As Impunity Risk in Cyprus' Missing People Murders grows, CoE stresses Turkey's duty to Investigate+
*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Among the Worst Violations of Human Rights in the World are those which may Target "Missing" Persons: Murders, Torture/Inhuman-Degrading Treatments, (in Isolation, at the Dark), Muzzling and/or Family Rights trampled underfoot, etc., while many Victims' Families face Tragedies, condemned to Wait for many Years/Decades an UnCertain "Return" of a beloved one, withOut even knowing if he/she is still alive...
Europe had, unfortunately, the "privilege" to Test, there, its Human Rights' Protection Mechanisms the 1st, in this Post-World War Era, Starting with many ECHR's Cases since the 1974 Turkey's Military Invasion and Occupation of Cypus' Northern Terriories, But Latin-American Institutions and/or Politics managed to soon Catch-up, and even sometimes Bypass Europeans, particularly in the Fight against Impunity of Horrible Crimes, (Comp., already, also from an EU point of view, as early as since 2012, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/redingonvictimscyprusmissing911.html, etc).
Nowadays, the "Old" and "Classic" Issue of ECHR's case-law on Cyprus' "Missing" Persons, has Reached a Crucial Stage in Strasbourg :
During the Last 10 to 15 Years, from 1.510 "Missing" Greek Cypriots, the Remains of 695 Persons have been Identified, and Turkish Authorities Claim to Investigate 306 Cases, CoE noted. This includes POWs, even Women, Children, Elder Civilians, etc, almost certainly Captured Alive, withOut knowing what happened to them afterwards, and who was responsible.
But the Content and Conclusions of such "Investigations" have Not yet been Disclosed, save in Only Four (4) Cases ! Even Worse : Not even a Single Case has led to Any Prosecution proceedings against any Suspect, until Now (12/2019), Denounced the Cyprus' Government...
On the Contrary, in 3 cases on which Turkey gave some "Clarifications", including an important one, earlier Singled out by the COE, (that of Savvas Hadjipanteli, in Varnavas affair, a Bank Employee, reportedly "Taken for Questioning by Turkish Soldiers, and "Recorded" by "Representatives of the International Red Cross", before a Gang of T/C Emptied a Safe at his Bank, with a Key that he always carried with him, Finding Afterwards his Body in a Mass Grave, with a Bullet shot in his Skull), the Turkish Authorities "found ... that the available Evidence was Not Sufficient to initiate a Prosecution, and that until further evidence is available, the Investigations should be considered Closed" !
"Military Zones" (60% of the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, controlled by the Turkish Army) ; "Complicated" and "Time Consuming" "Procedures for gaining Access" ; Refusals to Excavate even in Civllian Areas, on pretext that an Owner and/or Occupant did No give his/her Consent ; Information on Mass Burial Locations WithHeld f.ex. in Turkish Military Archives, by "military or auxiliary Personnel who participated in the military Invasion of Cyprus by Turkey in 1974" ; Many Disturbances of Burial Sites and ReLocations of Human Remains, (etc); are among a Long List of Obstacles which Threaten to "Conceil Evidence of Crimes", Cyprus' Government Denounced.
=> In Consequence, CoE's Committee of Ministers, in a Decision adopted Today in Strasboug, stressed from the outset that, "due to the passage of time", it is "Urgent for the Turkish Authorities to advance", with a "Proactive approach" to provide" the "Committee on Missing Persons", with "all Necessary Assistabce to Achieve Tangible Results".
>>> For that purpose, CoE asked Turkey to provide "UnHindered Access to All Areas which could contain the Remains of Missing persons". Given also the Fact that, with the passage of Time, Witness testimony becomes Scarcer", in consequence, "Documentary Evidence is Urgently Needed", in order "to Identify possible Burial Sites". Therefore, CoE Calls Turkey to "provide ...withOut Delay, ... All Information at their disposal relating to Burial Sites and Any Other Places where Remains might be Found, including ... Military Archives".
- Most Important, CoE expressed its "Interest" about "Information, ... on the ...Investigations", (Comp. Sypra). and Confirmed a "Call on the Turkish Authorities to Ensure the Effectiveness of the Investigations, as well as their Rapid Finalisation".
=> That's why CoE asked Turkey to "Transmit to the Committee of Ministers information on the progress of the Investigations and their Outcome".
This goes, "in particular, in the Case of Savvas Apostolides", (a Young Conscrit/POW who had been reportedly Seen, by one of his Friends, Captured Alive, inside the Adana Prison at Mainland Turkey), as CoE's Official Decision points out.
+ Meanwhile, CoE, also, "Insisted again firmly on the Unconditional Obligation of Turkey to pay the Just Satisfaction awarded by the European Court in the Judgment "Cyprus v. Turkey" of 12 May 2014, withOut Further Delay".
This concerns 30 Millions € that ECHR's Grand Chamber has awarded, for Moral Damage, to the Families of "Missing" Persons, already 5,5 Years Earlier, but to whom, Turkey has Not yet paid not even a dime...
On the Contrary, Ankara is reportedly Abusing of its own Obligations in order to ...Blackmail its Victims even on Other massive Human Rights Violations, as, f.ex., the Big Issue of Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced Persons (about 21% of the Total Island's Population, of whom Only a Few still struggle to survive in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, invaded and controlled by Turkey's Military)...
CoE, except from Repeating the above-mentioned, Correct, but obviously Toothless Verbal Formula, several times, has Not Yet undertaken any known effort to impose the slightest Sanction to Turkey for its blatantly shameless and provocative behavior vis a vis elementary Human Rights, until now.
Those 2 Issues are due to partly criss-cross eachother, inside CoE's Committee of Ministers' session for the Execution of ECHR's Judgements scheduled on June 2020.
But, will it be in order to really Strengthen Human Rights, or, in order to Yield to just another Turkish Blackmail, among notoriously too many, nowadays, (at CoE, EU, NATO, UN levels) ?
(../..)
("Draft-News")
-----------------------------------------------
- Tomi Ungerer Starts his 1st Year in Eternity : a Franco-German European to revisit USA on 2020 ?!
- Terror hits London, Mali/Burkina Faso, Hague/New Orleans +? Eve of NATO Summit on Turkey-Syria/Libya
- EU Parliament Rectifies Climate Change Call, after MEPs' Criticism, for COP25 Hastily moved to Spain
- New EU + CoE Leaders for Citizens participation in Public Decision-Making (as Eurofora Project)
Main Menu
Home Press Deontology/Ethics 2009 Innovation Year EU endorses EuroFora's idea Multi-Lingual FORUM Subscribers/Donors FAQs Advanced search EuroFora supports Seabird newsitems In Brief European Headquarters' MAPs CoE Journalists Protection PlatformBRIEF NEWS
- 00:00 - 02.06.2021
- 00:00 - 18.10.2020
- 00:00 - 19.06.2020
- 00:00 - 18.05.2020
- 00:00 - 20.04.2020
- 00:00 - 02.02.2020
- 00:00 - 09.12.2019
- 00:00 - 27.11.2019
- 00:00 - 16.11.2019
Popular
- Yes, we could have prevented Ferguson riots says World Democracy Forum's Young American NGO to ERFRA
- Spanish People Elect CenterRIGHT Majority with 1st Party and Total of 178 MPs (6 More than the Left)
- Pflimlin's vision
- The European Athletic "Dream Team", after Barcelona 2010 Sport Championship Results
- Source Conseil d'Europe à ERFRA: Debatre Liberté d'Opposants à Loi livrant Mariage+Enfants à Homos ?
- Head of BioEthics InterGroup, MEP Peter Liese : "Embryonic stem cell research reaching its END" !?
- Spain: Jailed Turkish Terror suspect with Explosive,Drones,Chechen accomplices stirs Merah+ Burgas ?
- UN Head Ban Ki Moon at CoE World Democracy Forum : - "Listen to the People !"
Latest News
- Test Photos (f.ex.+ Invit to EU + Korea Peace meeting)
- EUOmbudsmen Conference 2022: Digital Gaps affect People's Trust threaten EF Project on EU Future ?
- French Election : Black Out on Virus, but Obligation for Fake 'Vaccines" Challenged
- Both French Presidential Candidates point at "Humanism" in crucial times...
- France : Zemmour = Outsider may become Game Changer in Presidential + Parliamentary Elections 2022
Statistics
Visitors: 60258299Archive
Login Form
Other Menu
Benedict's "Source" to revitalize Europe : - "The World needs Hope", Pope says, calling to relaunch E.U. via Human Rights !
Paris - Lourdes - Strasbourg : 12 - 17 September 2008.
The vital need to re-launch Europe can be succesfully met by defending fundamental Human Rights of the People, said Pope Benedict XVI in his 1st speech in France, at his meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy, who currently chairs the EU.
Sarkozy replied by welcoming Christian and other religions' contribution to indispensable Public Debates on crucial issues which affect Human Dignity, Europe, even Humankind, as BioGenetics.
- "When Europeans will see and personally experience that the inalienable Rights of the Human Person .., those of their free Education, their Family life, their Work, ..their Religious Rights, ..are respected and promoted, then, these Europeans will fully understand the greatness of the European construction and will be actively involved in it", Benedict XVI stressed.
- "It's important that during France's EU Presidency, there is, indeed, a desire for the Church to contribute to protect Human Person's integrity, and I think that there is also a growing Conscience, beyond any polemics, to defend Human Rights, and, thus, contribute to ensure respect for Human Dignity", added to "EuroFora" the Pope's Spokesman, Vatican's Press Director Federico Lombardi.
- "Nobody really told us here that Lisbon Treaty was good for this or that reason to the People. They only told us that we "had" to ratify it, and tried to scare us, but failed", said 2 Irish pilgrims to "EuroFora", after 2 Majority Abstentions in 1999 and 2004 EU Elections and 3 "NO" to Referenda in France and the Netherlands in 2005, followed by the Irish "No" in 2008, during a Decade of EU Crisis since the controversial Turkey EU- bid (1999-2008).
More than .."224 cases of Murders, Torture, "Disappearancies" or Destructions" by "agents of Turkish Security forces", where all those responsible for so heavy Crimes still remain scandalously unpunished, despite regular condemnations of Ankara by Strasbourg''s European Court of Human Rights from 1996 to 2008, were examined the same week by CoE's Ministers, who decided to launch a fresh call "urging" the Turkish Authorities to end this dangerous "virtual Impunity" of criminals, without comparison to European countries.
- "Why not Ukraine, instead of Turkey ?", asked EuroFora a Journalist from "Kiev : the city where it's enough to cross the streets in order to realize that it's a European town", as Sarkozy recently said, before solemnly declaring this week, together with Ukranian President Jushenko and EU Commission's chair Baroso, EU's "recognition that Ukraine is a fully European Country, linked to Europe by culture and History".

Europe's "Christian roots" and Values, with "openess and mutual respect" to other cultures and beliefs, were highlighted by Sarkozy in harmony with Benedict XVI.
The Human person should be protected "from his inception until his natural death", added the Pope, faithful to BioEthic principles defended by his predecessor and collaborator, John Paul II, of topical importance in France, Europe and the World today, as Sarkozy announced :
- "Fast and important progres in Genetic Science and procreation raise delicate BioEthical Questions to our Democracies", which "involve our view of Humans and Life, and can lead to Social Mutations. That's why they cannot remain only a business of experts", hestressed.
- "It's Politician's responsibility to set a proper framework for such Public Debates", as "France will do on BioEthics in 2009". "Religious and Philosophic traditions must take part, with their ideas and centuries' long experience : A positive Laicity is an open invitation to Dialogue", he said.
- "France engaged in Europe at another Debate on how to make Financial Capitalism more moral", and the "Social doctrine of the Church fits well what is at stake in modern Globalized Economy"
- "But, a "Real Dialogue is not for an elite of a Globalized world : It penetrates deep into the People : That's why Churches should actively participate : .. It's bringing New Oxygen to Public Debates", stressed Sarkozy.
- "Democracy must not be cut off Reason", which is "compatible with Faith", thanks to "the meeting between Christianism and Greek philosophy ", he added, referring to Pope's views. "It means to advance with logic arguments, search what's best and respect common principles of thinking :... It's an everyday need for Public Administration and the Political Debate", he added.
----------------------------
Pope Benedict's 1st visit to France looked like the start of a brillant, manifold demonstration that this was well-founded and could become true in the lives of the People : After its Theoretical foundations unfolded at a "speech to the world of Culture", inaugurating Bernadins' cultural centre, and its dogmatic instrument shaped at an address to the Clergy in the Historic Notre Dame' Cathedral, he started to resolutely reach out to the People :

The move went upwards like Bach's music : Begining with a call to more than fifteen thousand enthousiastic Youngsters gathered at Notre Dame's parvis with overnight celebrations, it gained strength in an impressive open-air Mass at Paris'central Invalides'area facing Alexander III's bridge, attended by more than 150.000 people, French Prime Minister Fillon, many Ministers, Foreign Ambassadors, etc, and culminated in a series of pan-European Mega-meetings at Lourdes 150th anniversary, together with all French Bishops, EU Commission's vice-Chairman Barrot, and some 200.000 enthousiastic People from all over Europe and beyond : After a Sea of Lights astonishingly braved Saturday Night's rain, an open-air mass at riverside fields among Pyrenees' Mountains Sunday Morning, was followed on Monday by a Sea of "Compassion" to those facing Health or Life threats, surrounded by an endless gathering of People, whose gigantic dimensions obviously surprised the organisers..
Meanwhile, Benedict had the occasion to speak to the French Priests at Notre Dame of Paris, and with the Bishops at Lourdes, where they prepare a crucial November plenary meeting, due to take important decisions on imminent EU debates and choices about Europe's identity, BioEthics, etc.
-------
- "A new way of thinking about Laicity has become necessary", agreed the Pope with President Sarkozy at Elysee. While keeping the "distinction between Politics and Religion, to guarantee Citizens' Liberty", "religion is important for shaping Consciousness and contributing, together with others, to create a basic Ethical Consensus in society".
- "Searching Essential realities", (as "God" for christians), needs "Speech : "Logos" in greek, i.e. Reason", "able to shape a Community","with creative work transforming Human History". But "Dialogue" is instrumental for "Reason", because it's the way to "search" for Truth", in "Liberty", according to Greek Platonic Philosophy, with Socrates' dialectics. "Reason" implies "Spirit and Liberty", hence the polyphonic "Music" of "Dialogue", in a responsible, "well balanced" way, to avoid "destruction".
Starting with a "Dialogue between christians and intellectual or artistic movements" highlighted at Bernardins' Cultural Center. with former Presidents Chirac and Giscard d'Estain, UNESCO's chair Anastassopoulos, etc., as well as representatives of Muslim Communities, (including a separate Turkish), after contacts with Jews at Vatican's Embassy, the Pope turned towards the People :
-------------------
To French Priests : "Church built on the rock" !
---------------------
- Speaking to thousands of French Priests at Notre Dame's Cathedral, Benedict highlighted a solid "Church built on the Rock" of conscious and active persons, transmitting "a lively, energetic and sharp" "God's Speech, actively working on Human History".
"Praying together" with "representatives of Christian Churches and ecclesiastic communities", (as Orthodoxes, Armenians, Protestants, etc), he called "to reinforce the Unity of the church", against "any form of Division", around Holy Spirit', "the Word","Christ's Justice", and "Love" to fellow- humans : Essentials which "resume all holy scripts", as he said.
-----------------------
To Young People : "New Horizons"
------------------------
To some 15.000 enthousiastic Young People at Notre Dame's parvis, along Seine's river, Benedict spoke about "the Energy of the Holy Spirit" and "the Mystery of the Cross" : - "The Holy Spirit opens New Horizons to Human Intelligence .. and makes it conscious of the real greatness of Christ's sacrifice, dying and resurecting for World's life".
Some "may slander you as crazy, laugh at you, or even persecute you. But, "the Holy Cross is a symbol of God's love", and "givesmoral strength" : "Witness of People's pains, it's at the same time, a precious, unique expression of their Hopes", he told them at Paris' dawn.
----------------------------------
Invalides' plateau : "People chosen to become God's friends"
---------------------------------------
At the 1st open-air Mass in Paris' center area of Invalides, facing the Grand Palais, along the river Seine, during an impressive gathering of more than 150.000, French Prime Minister Fillon, Ministers Alliot-Marie, Bachelot, Dati, Jouyet, Assembly's President Accoyer, Senate's Chair Poncelet, former 1st Lady Bernadette Chirac, former Prime Minister Raffarin, many foreign Ambassadors, and other political personalities were present. (While earlier, from the Socialist opposition, Paris' Mayor Delanoye, artist Robert Hussein a.o. assisted at the Elysee meeting).
But the "Entry Song" focused on the "People chosen to become God's Friends". The September 11 mass was Dedicated to "Saint Chrysostomus, that great priest of Constantinople", with his "wonderful eloquence and great courage to face challenges", who "made out of despaired and godless people, a people of brothers", opening a possibility to "become all one complete entity", as Pope Benedict reminded.
- "Reason never enters in real contradiction with Faith", stressed Pope Benedict, who prepared his speeches for France during a short Summer rest at Brixen/Bressanone's Seminar, whose Library honors both "Faith and Science".. - "We must use not only our Reason, but also our Faith" : "Get away from Idolatry", "cupidity", "avidity for money, power or even knowledge deviating from essential aims", and other "falses appearances". and "build your Home on the Rock", "with the force that Holy Spirit gives to those who let it act in them", he said to the People of Paris.
--------------------------------------------------
Benedict at Lourdes : - "Become Light (even) in the Dark !"
------------------------------------------------------------------
- "Our World needs Hope", stressed Pope Benedict, addressing an impressive TorchLight procession at Lourdes' sanctuaries, where a Sea of Lights held by Hundreds of Thousands of People gathered at Pyrenee's Mountains from all over Europe astonishingly kept their flames despite a heavy Rain at a windy Dark Night...
- "150 years earlier (1858 - 2008), ..here, in the cave, ... a simple young girl, Bernadette .. saw a Light". "The everyday life of her Family was, however, made of Misery, Sadness, Sickness, Misunderstandings, Rejection and Poverty... It was hard to live in Jail". Today, "we think to all Human Beings who suffer : The innocent Victims who face Violence, War, Terrorism, Hunger, Injustices, Catastrophes, Hate and Oppression, Violations of Human Dignity and of their fundamental Rights, of their Liberty to act and think. We also think to those who face Familial problems, sufferings from Unemployment, Sickness, Infirmity, Isolation, or their situation as Immigrants, without forgetting those who suffer and die for the name of Christ", he said.
- "But the Shadows of the Earth, did not hinder Sky's Light to shine : <<The Light shines in the Dark>>" ..."A Way full of Light opens in Human History even in its Darkest moments" : ..."As Night falls, Christ tels us : <<- Keep your Lamps alight !>>."Hold a Light while walking in the Night .. sums up our condition as Christians on their way : "We need light, and we are called to become Light !", Benedict stressed to People setting in motion Lights, Flags and Songs with enthousiasm.
"<<- She looked at me as a Person, who speaks to another Person>>, the poor girl had noted."Light emerges from such a Dialogue", stressed the Pope : "A small Flame called Hope, Compassion and Tenderness dwells inside those who return after being moved by Lourdes' experience". "Christ .. entrusts us with the Mission to let the Light of Charity shine : To make of our Prayers an Act of Love to our brothers and to Fraternal Charity", he concluded.
(../..)