
newsitems
EU Commission President Juncker to EF : I doN't know how Long will take BREXIT Talks !

*Brussels/EU Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora"s Question, at a meeting with Journalists just after the 1st Press Conference on what is expected to be the most Crucial EU Summit before the EU Elections of May 2019, the Experienced EU Commission's President, former Long-Time Prime Minister of Luxembourg and €uroGroup's Head, Jean-Claude Juncker, surprised by his honesty :
- "I don't know, how long might take BREXIT's Talks, between the EU and the UK, Juncker simply acknowledged, speaking after MidNight, at the very End of a longer than expected working day, during which UK's BREXIT reportedly came Twice at the table : Once with a Briefing by UK Prime Minister Teresa May, and, Later-on, in a "27" Member States' Format.
He had Earlier shared the regrets of other EU Heads of State/Government, and EU Council's President Donald Tusk, for UK's recent incapacity to endorse the latest Agreement on London's Withdrawal from the EU, added to what he Criticised as "Foggy" stance, by most Groups of MPs, inside Westminster, about what might be UK's Future Relation with the EU (See Infra, + ..., etc).
+ EU Parliament's President, experienced former twice EU Commissioner and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, speaking Previously here, during the Afternoon, with EU Heads of State/Government, had Denounced the fact that "Europe suffers from UnCertainty", inter alia. And this meets a relevant Premonitory Warning, by the Secretary General of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party, and mainstream MEP, Antonio Lopez-Isturez, who, speaking to "Eurofora" in Brussels on BREXIT, already as early as from 2016, had denounced that "some seek to provoque UnCertainties"..., (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eppsummitoutcomeafterbrexit.html).

+ Earlier Today (13/12/2018), replying to "Eurofora"s Questions, an eminent representative of the current EU Presidency by Austria, Minister of Justice and Reforms, Josef Moser, (experienced Top Lawyer and former President of Austria's Court of Accounts, etc : See also Infra), evoked a possible Period of Time for eventually more forthcoming EU - UK Talks on BREXIT, (even Beyond the End of March 2019 Deadline for Withdrawal, according to Article 50 of Lisbon Treaty, in the Agreed or in a "Hard" way), which might extend as far as the European Elections of a New EU Parliament at the End of May 2019, (itself electing, as usual, a New President, new EU Commission, etc., between July and September 2019).
- Meanwhile, the key Austrian Minister (an experienced Jurist, recently elected 3rd in the ChristianDemocrat/EPP List of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, at the 2017 National Parliamentary Election, after serving as former FPÖ Parliamentary Group Head and Director of Rightist Leader Jörg Haider's Office, while being politically Independent), also estimated that "EU Parliament might, eventually, need about 3 Weeks, or so", in case of a New EU - UK Deal, if not on the Withdrawal as such (See Infra), possibly on the Future Relations between EU and the UK, naturally in addition to the laps of Time that would be necessary also for EU Commission and, mainly, EU Council's Heads of State/Government themselves, in order to broker a really working deal between Brussels and London.
A previously published Draft Paper evokes 2020 and, perhaps, a 2 Years extension of transition (up to 2022) for the finalisation of EU - UK relevant Deals.
But, could EU Summits continue to be kept so Busy on BREXIT, at the Same Time that EU Citizens expect to see some Interesting Advances in European Integration, particularly in €urozone, and an elementary Protection from Deadly Islamist Terrorism which has just targetted cowardly even more innocent Civilian People even at Europe's Heart : Strasbourg, during EU Parliament's plenary session (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentlockedinbyterrorattack.html, etc) ? It's obviously on such Big, Vital and "Hot" Issues that the Crucial forthcoming EU Elections of May 2019 will be decided, and Not on the mere matter of Northern Ireland's Border...
--------------------
=> In order to Shorten such extensive Periods, both Presidents of EU Commission and Council, Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk, speaking at their Joint Press Conference, at the End of this 1st Day of December 2018 EU Summit, (which, already took Longer than scheduled, arriving at around MidNight), stressed together that EU does Not Intend to Re-Negotiate anew the latest Draft WIthdrawal Agreement alrteady brokered with the UK Government, But accepted to "give Clarifications", at least on certain Points, which seem to be the Most Controversial inside the UK. As, f.ex., concerning the wish to Prevent a "Hard" Border between the Republic of Ireland and UK's Northern Irish area, (where a provisional Precaution has been foreseen Only as a Possibility, and until that matter will be settled in an adequate way at a forthcoming EU-UK Deal on their Future Relations).
+ In Addition, Juncker, speaking earlier to Journalists, including "Eurofora", during that same Press Conference on the 1st Day of December 2018 EU Council in Brussels, (Comp. Supra), also Announced that EU Commission intends to Publish "All useful Informations" concerning, precisely, the Future EU-UK Relations, already as early as since "December 19", 2018, while also Urging the UK Authorities to make officially known their own Expectations on this Key Issue, in a period of about "4 Weeks", (i.e. in the middle of January 2019).
- EU is prepared and Ready, both for the case of a "Hard" BREXIT (i.e. withOut Agreement between EU and the UK), and to "Immediately" Start "serious" Negotiations on the Future EU-UK Relations, as soon as London Authorities would Ratify the already brokered Withdrawal Agreement, Juncker went on to say, (while also feeling that, normaly, it's up to the UK to say "First" what it wants for its Future relations to the EU, since it has taken that BREXIT initiative).
+ Later-on (Partly UPDATED), Both Juncker and Tusk stressed their Support to British Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May, for the "serious efforts" that she reportedly does in order to finalise asap. a full EU - UK Agreement, while also Urging the EU to be well "Prepared" "for All possible Outcomes".
----------------------------------
***
(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send, Earlier, to "Eurofora"'s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be Published asap).
***
EU Parliamant : Cyprus + EU Defense emerge 1st after Strasbourg Islamist Terrorist Attack

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- It's thanks to EU Parliament's President Antonio Tajani's Firm Will to Advance as scheduled on EU Agenda, despite the unexpected and sudden Upheaval provoked by an unprecedented Deadly Islamist Terrorist Attack killing 4 and Wounding about 10 innocent Civilian People cowardly targeted by one or more Gunmen who escaped from the Police, at least for the time being, that Small but Stategic and Symbolic Cyprus' President, Nicos Anastasiades, (long-time member of the Biggest EU Political Group, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP), as well as the Timely Debate and Votes on the Creation of a much needed EU Defense Fund, managed to take place, and at the precise Hour on which they had been foreseen !
The European Defense was the 1st Target of that Terrorist Attack, since its Debate had been scheduled for shortly after it started, and its Votes for immediately afterwards, next day, while it also Faced an explicit Call by some MEPs to Stop and Postpone EU Parliaments' work immediately...
But the Chair and Many other MEPs found that, precisely, the Creation of a European Defense was an Important part of the Right Respose to Islamist Terrorism, and, therefore, EU Parliament should go on with its work, as scheduled.
As for Cyprus' President Anastassiades, he was the Keenote Political Speaker of this Month's EU Parliament's Plenary Session in Strasbourg, on the Future of Europe, and his exchange with MEPs had been scheduled as the Number 1 Item in the Agenda precisely at the Beginning of the Next Day, just After that Deadly Terrorist Attack, which Obliged MEPs, EU Civil Servants and European Journalists to be Deprived of Sleep, overNight, at least until 5 a.m., (See : ...., etc).
A Consequence of that Deadly islamist Terrorist Attack was, thus, inevitably, to Lower the Total Nuùber of MEPs present at the Hemicycle, (since Most of those who had been obliged to face a Sleepless Night, had been naturally pushed towards an Afternoon Only Programme, the Next Day), as also Experienced Cypriot MEP Helen Theocharous, (Head of succe full Center-Right Political Party "Solidarity"), observed.
But, on the Contrary, all this had, naturally, brought a Better Quality of MEPs present, since only People like, f.ex., President Tajani himself, Commissioner Jyrkui Katainen, or Manfred Weber, from Germany, Head of ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group of MEPs and "Spitzen-Kandidate" for 2019 EU Election, Ska Keller, from Germany too, Head of "Greens" Group of MEPs, Nicolas Bay, from France, Head of ENF Group, (etc).
Significantly, moreover, an initially Scheduled Debate on "BREXIT"'s latest developments was Skiped, for Later on, while, on the Contrary, the emblematic Cyprus' debate remained as it had been foreseen, at the very Beginning of Today Morning...
- "United, we shall Win against Terrorism !", vowed from the outset, President Nicos Anastasiades, urging to protect "Peace and Security" against "Fear and Terror".
+Inter alia, Advancing from Soft Power towards Strengthening Europe's Defense, the possibilities exist in order to ameliorate further what was obtained by Lisbon Treaty, he observed, eyeing in particular the forthcoming EU Brussels' Summit of 13-14 December 2018;
This should be done, as always, in a climate of consenus, taking into account the particuliar sensitivities of each Member State, for the necessary Convergence, she pointed out.
- "Cyprus was and still is a warm Supporteur of the incessantly extending Defensive and Military Cooperation between EU Member States"S, President Nico Anastassiades stressed.
+ And it's among those Countries which expressed, from the start, their wish to be enrolled at PECO"; he reminded.
>>> But, even if we Recognize PESCO as a Decisive Step,, nevertheless, "our Dream still remains the EU's Autonomous Military, the creation of a European Army, firmly stressed Cyprus' President; as far as the Horizon is concerned.
- I.e., "a structure of Hard Power, which will Protect EU's Borders, and will operate always in order to defend and dissuade, serving Europe's interests", Anastasiades concluded.
--------------------
+ Last, but no least, EU must Listen at the Civil Society, and Hear what our Citizens have to say, in order to understand the reasons of abstention, gap and trust crisis, he added, urging no to destroy, but Change the EU for something Better.
-------------------------
- Cypriot People identified right from the start their own fate, with that of the EU and other EU Citizens, expecting that Accession would play a role of Catalst into providing similar elementary Rights and Freedoms, as for all other EU Citizens, without Dividing Lines, without Foreigners' Claims for unilateral Intervention, presence of Occupation Army, and Restrictions of fundamental liberties", he highlighted, (as far as Turkey'sd claims are : See also ..., etc).
-----------------------
Finally, Anastasiades pointed at the recently agreed "Permanant Trilateral Staff", Headquarted in Cyprus, for Multilateral Cooperations in South Eastern Mediterranean, with Countries such as Egypt, Israel, Jordany, Lebanoin, Palestine, etc, "Based on International Law, mutual Respect and Guarantees", as a Regional Contribution for an EU which primotes Peace, Stability, Solidarity, Security and Prosperity, including, particularly on Energy Supplies and Transports Diversification.
----------------------------------
***
(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send, Earlier, to "Eurofora"'s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be Published asap).
***
EU Parliament locked in by Terrorist Attack in Strasbourg as Cyprus President arrives


EUParliament Budget Committee Head Arthuis to EF: +1 Billion € more to Turkey by EU, No States (2019

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Experienced former Minister, Head of Political Party, and nowadays President of EU Parliament's powerful Budget Committee, Jean Arthuis, Replying to "Eurofora"'s Questions on the New EU Annual Budget for 2019, which is due to be Debated Tomorrow, Tuesday, and Voted on Wednesday, by EU Parliament's Plenary Session in Strasbourg, expressed, in general, his Satisfaction, about a notable Augmentation of EU Funds for some Popular EU Programs (See Infra), but Acknowledged, also, the Fact that he was Not Glad for an UnExpected "Push" by some inside EU Council, to Impose to this EU Budget to pay 2 Billions €, out of a Total of 3 Billions €, to Turkey's Controversial Blackmail Deal in order to Help Stop a 2015/2016 Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants sudden "Tsunami" Massive Influx, instead of "Only" 1 Billion € Back on 2017/2018, the Rest coming from EU Member States' National Budgets.
An overall Inter-Institutional Agreement on the 2019 EU Budget, between the European Council and the Parliament, was notoriously Negotiated with EU Council by Italian Socialist MEP Daniele Viotti and Experienced Austrian ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP, Paul Rübig, and has just Received a "Green Light" in a Positive Vote by EU Parliament's Budget Committee's Members this Monday Evening, with 17 MEPs against 2, and 5 Abstentions.
- President Arthuis, (a Centrist/Liberal supporter of new French President Macron), told "Eurofora" that he was Glad because EU Parliament succeeded to get for 2019 some Bigger Sums of EU Funds, than what had been Initially proposed by EU Commission and/or EU Council, in such Flagship Popular European Programs, as "Erasmus" (for Young Students), Small/Medium Businesses, and "Horizon" (Scientific/Technological Research), etc., that co-Rapporteur Rübig had also Highlighted as Important Points, even more for this year, Speaking to "Eurofora" Earlier.
Moreover, some Millions €, among those initially earmarked for controversial and unpopular EU Accession candidacy by Turkey, had been "Freezed", also on 2019, for reasons of Human Rights Violations, anew, Arthuis confirmed.(Obviously, however, this could Not Compare with the ..3 Billions € that Turkey received from the EU, in Addition, since a 2015-2016 Blackmail : See Infra)...
Previously, however, Turkey had notoriously exerted a Blackmail on EU Council members, since Back on 2015, in the middle of an UnPrecedented and UnWarned, sudden Influx of +1,5 Million Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants tresspassing inside Europe through Turkey, particularly a Sunday in Brussels, when, Moreoever, Deadly Islamist Terrorist Attacks, cowardly Targetting innocent Civilian People, had obliged to even Block Public and Private Transports DownTown... One of the Results was an EU Promise to Pay 3 Billions € to Turkey, in full Grants, each Year, (reportedly Agreed on 2015, and endorsed on March 2016).
This worked Despite the Fact that several EU Countries had, Meanwhile, decided and Succeeded to Close the Western Balkans Route for that Massive Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants UnPrecedented "Tsunami", suddenly tresspassing into Europe, through Turkey, (See concrete Facts and Proof from International, UNHCR + IOM Official Data, already Published by "Eurofora" since May 2016, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/unpopulareuvisafreefor80millionsturksuseless.html).
At the Beginning, it was mainly the EU Member States who advanced that Money, which did Not come from EU's normal Budget, so that, Last Year (2018), 2 Billions € came from National Budgets, and just 1 Billion € from EU's normal Budget, Arthuis reminded to "Eurofora".
- But, suddenly, this Time, some from EU Council "put it bluntly" to EU Parliament, asking, in a very "Sovereign way", from the normal EU Budget to pay the DOUBLE : i.e. 2 Billions € for Turkey on 2019, (in addition to just 1 Billion € from the States now).
- "We didn't like that", since, moreover, "EU Parliament and EU Counci are Both Equal Parts of EU's Budget Authorities", in principle, "but, since several Collegues (MEPs) didn't want problems nowadays, we decided to accept", President Arthuis told us.
=> However, "Eurofora" raised the Obvious Question, where EU Parliament found all that Money, (+200% !), suddenly asked for Turkey for 2019 (i.e. 2 Billions €, instead of 1, from EU Funds, and no more States' Funds, Comp. Supra) ? Are there any Other Important EU Activities/Programs, which might "Suffer" from such a last-minute Manoeuvre ?
According to some Other EU Parliament's sources, that Supplementary +1 Billion € for 2019 would have been taken from various EU Funds initially scheduled for Chapters 3 = 4 of EU's Annual Budget, both from Internal ane External Activities, (but withOut Specifying yet clearly enough)...
However, in such circumstances, various Concrete Hypothesis could give an Idea of what this might really mean in Practice, f.ex. by Questioning whether any Important EU Program or Activity might, perhaps, have been Affected.
Inter alia, f.ex., at anOther Report, scheduled for Debate and Vote by EU Parliament during this Same Week, MEPs Dream for a Europe with "Autonomous access to SPACE", and even "Independence" in Space High-Tech., as relevant Amendments stress from the Start of active Young Italian MEP Massimiliano Salini's Draft on EU's "Space Agency" and its "Program".
Inter alia, f.ex., "Galileo" and "Copernicus" Programs should not only "Continue", but "they Must also be Improved", in order to "remain at the Forefront in view of New Technology Developments and the Transformations in the digital and information and communications technology domains, meet the New Needs of users", EU Commission and Parliament agreed.
But, even if the "Exploration of Outer Space", and "SST", etc., are evoked by that Report, on the Contrary, the Words "Human Space Flight", "Austronaut and "Planet", etc, seem, Curiously, Absent in that, otherwise interesting Paper, despite the fact that they are, notoriously, Key in order to Boost Space Technologies, while New US President Don Trump's NASA reportedly comes Back to such "Classic" Plans in the foreseable Future, (including, f.ex., Preparations for Moon and/or Mars' Landings, etc), and China ambitiously aims to catch up the soonest...
Could it be due to a Restriction of EU Funds, (naturally related also to the presence, or not, of a Strong Political Will, and Ambitious overall Vision for Europe), at the Same Time that EU Parliament is apparentlly Obliged to seek to make several Economies Sparing EU earmarked Funds also for Turkey's +1 Billion € More per Year, (i.e. 2 Billions € for Turkey during this Year 2019, instead of 1 Before, out of 3 Billions € in Total : Comp. Supra), Contrary to what was reportedly expected ?
Inter alia, also the Experience of a key Previous INTW of President Arthuis, but Also of various Other European Space Programs' related Top Experts, in the recent Past, naturaly Raises such Critical Questions, (Comp., f.ex., also : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eufundsforturkeyonlyifconditions.html , etc)...
F.ex., among various other relevant Facts, "Eurofora" remembers also that, according to Top Space Experts, Europe would be Glad to have around just ...Half a Billion €, or, elsewhere, 1,2 Billion €, in order to Fund some Ambitious Programs concerning Planets' Exploration, Human Space Flight projects, etc.
Should Europeans be obliged to lose such Strategic Chances, for a 2nd Time, just because of a blunt Turkish Blackmail on 2015/2016 (Comp. Supra) ?
CoE: Turkey Repeat-Offender in DisRespect of ECHR Judgements on Cyprus' Refugees + Missing People

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- For the 2nd Time in an Exceptional Row, CoE's Highest Political body, that of its 47 Member States' strong (including Russia) Committee of Ministers, slamed anew Turkey's Persisting Refusal to Cooperate on monitoring the execution of ECHR Judgements, which have notoriously Condemned Ankara for a series of Massive and Continuing Violations of Human Rights of Greek-Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons and even "Missing" People and their Families, since the 1974 Military Invasion and Occupation of the Northern Part of EU Member Cyprus, (See, already : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/turkeuyrefusescooperationwithcoe.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eucoereactonturkeyrefusaltocooperate.html , etc).
---------------------
Turkey not only Refused to Participate in CoE's relevant Discussions (Extending now on December 2018 the Negative Stance that it Adopted since last September), and did Not Cooperate with its Committee of Ministers in its Task to supervise ECHR's Judgments' Execution, but even Persisted to its Long Abstention from Paying the Just Satisfaction awarded by the European Court to the Victims, in more than 30 Cases of Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced Persons, and in the landmark "Varnavas" Case of 9 "Missing" People, (at least 2 of whom had been found "Detained at the Time of their Disappearance", as CoE reminded), as well as on the cases of Homes and other private Properties of "Enclaved" Greek Cypriots inside the Occupied Territories Controlled by Ankara's Army, who are included in the overall, Inter-State Case of "Cyprus v. Turkey" (which concerns almost All Violations of Human Rights committed by Ankara in Cyprus).
=> According to the Officially Published CoE's Decisions, the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, expressed its "Deep Regret" anew for "the decision of Turkey Not to Participate in the Discussions" of CoE's Committee of Ministers on all these affairs, 'and called, once again, on Turkey to Co‑operate with the Committee", while Also "Insist(ing) again Firmly on the ...Obligation of Turkey to Pay the just satisfaction Awarded by the European Court" in those cases, "withOut further Delay".
+ For that purpose, CoE also Decided "to Resume Consideration" on the issues of Greek Cypriot "Missing" Persons (Both on Compensations and Investigations for their Fate), and Refugees/Displaced persons (Compensations), the Earliest possible : I.e. at its Next Meeting for Human Rights, on "March 2019".
This will be Closely Followed by CoE's Examination of "Individual Measures" that Turkey has to take in the 33 Cases of GC Refugees/Displaced persons, as well as on the "Information" that "certain (COE Member States' National) Delegations requested" concerning "the Situation of the ... Property" of the Refugee/Displaced person in "Loizidou case" (that Turkey curiously seeks to ..."Close", withOut even Replying to Questions ! See Infra), on "June 2019".
Further, "the Issue of the Property Rights of the Enclaved persons", in the Inter-State case "Cyprus v. Turkey"), will be resumed on "September 2019".
--------------------------
Significantly, this important Meeting, which durated during 3 Days (November 4 to 6, 2018) , was Chaired by French Ambassador Jean-Baptiste Mattei, (according to an established practice), just a few Months before France takes over CoE's rotating Presidency, from May to November 2019.
------------------------------------------
Cyprus Denounced the fact that, at least in the well-known Refugee/Displaced persons' "Case of Xenides-Arestis", "almost 12 Years (sic !) have Elapsed since Just Satisfaction fell Due", i.e. Turkey's Refusal to Pay the Compensation judged by ECHR, resulted in "the Longest Default in the History of the (European) Convention system" !...
+ Moreover, Cypus had "Urged" the CoE to "Resist" to Turkey's "Blackmail", which is notoriously Seeking mainly a ..."Closure" of the Most Famous, "Loizidou" case, among Refugees/Displaced persons(added even to 2 Other such cases), Threatening, Otherwise, to Persist even Longer in its Refusal to Participate at CoE's Deliberations in all those other affairs (Comp. Supra). But, such "Closure(s)", Paradoxicaly, ..."would Reward Turkey for its Non-Payment, and, in particular, for its Non-Cooperaton with (CoE's) Committee" of Ministers, and "it would be utterly Wrong to End (CoE's) Supervision, in circumstances where Turkey Seeks to make Closure a Condition for its future Cooperation".
Simply Because,
- in Addition to the Fact that there are still Many pertinent UnAnswered "Question"s in this Case (Loizidou, etc), some Already Raised also by Other National Delegations, (See Infra),
+ + "FurtherMore",,Otherwise, a "Closure" of the remaining Loizidou affair and/or Other 2 Cases singled out by Ankara, "would send a most Unfortunate Signal to any Other State that might, in Future, contemplate embarking upon a Similar Policy of Non-Cooperation, in order to Pressurise the (CoE's) Committee into Favouring its point of view", so that "Undermining the work of (CoE's) Committee" Risks to become "a Practice that is Tolerated, and, in fact, bears fruit", Cyprus Warned.
------------------------------
As for the still UnAnswered Questions in the Landmark "Loizidou" case, they are related with the most Fundamental Human Rights' Key-Issue in Refugees/Displaced persons cases, both in Europe and Worldwide :
- That for "RESTITUTION" of the Victims' Family Homes and/or other Private Properties, as Preferable to mere Financial Compensation, since it Helps much More (and Often is really Necessary, in Practice) for their voluntary RETURN to their Ancestral Land, (as it's Stressed even by UNO's most Important Report and Guiding "Principles", drafted by Professor Pinheiro, and Endorsed by UNHCR, UNHCHR and UNO's Secretary General, at nearby Geneva : Comp., f.ex. ...). Cyprus' Government also finds these Questions "Vitally Important".
Indeed, Turkey Refused any "Restitution" of Miss Loizidou's properties (as for Most Other Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons) in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, controlled by Ankara's Military, by Claiming that this would have become "ImPossible", mainly because they would have been "Transferred" to so-called "Turkish Cypriot Refugees", (in fact, People who had freely Left the Non-Occupied, but Government-controlled, Areas, leaving their belongings "by way of Exchange"), and, Afterwards, her Properties would have undergone so "considerable Changes", that these would "Prevent the ....Restitution", (Even ... "After the Solution of Cyprus' [Political] Problem" !)... Thus, Turkey reportedly offered to the Greek Cypriot Refugee/IDP, Only a mere Financial Compensation, which, in addition, appeared too much Lower than what had been previously attributed by ECHR (See Infra)...
=> But, this Raised a series of Questions, which have Not yet been Answered by the Turkish side, as Cyprus observed :
(1) Where is the EVIDENCE that those alleged Turkish Cypriots would have left the Government-controlled Areas, leaving behind their Belongings for exchange, and to whom would have been Transferred the properties of Greek Cypriot Refugee Loizidou, in the Territories of Cyprus still Occupied by Ankara's Militay ? No Reply yet...
(2) WHEN were reportedly Transferred to those Turkish Cypriots the above-mentioned Properties of that Greek Cypriot Refugee/IDP ? Before, or After ECHR's JUDGEMENT of 1996, which, notoriously, "Confirmed" that she Remained the Lawful Owner ?
(3) Which are the alleged "CHANGES" that Turkey Claims on the Greek Cypriot Refugee/IDP's properties ? On the Contrary, at least "Some of that Property" seems to be "EMPTY and UnDeveloped", therefore, "so, in principle, Available for Restitution", Cyprus observed...
(4) Why was the Turkish Offer (for Finanial Compensation) so LOW ? Cyprus calculated, indeed, that they would have "Valued the use of the Property at barely HALF the rate awarded by the ECHR" for a previous period...
+ Moreover, Significantly, the Chair of a Controversial "Immovable Property Commission" unilaterally set up by the Turkish side in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, controlled by Ankara's Invasion and Occupation Military, claiming to give there a Monopoly in Dealing with Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons' Rights, Quoted in a Press Article ("Diyalog", 24/3/2018), has reportedly stated that, inter alia, also that "....the More LAND is TURKIFIED, the Right of the Greek Cypriot side to demand Land in the North will be Abolished" (sic !)...
=> In Consequence, it "would be Manifestly UnJust" to "Close the Case", while "Turkey is (still) under an Obligation to provide Answers to these Questions, so that the (CoE's) Committee may be in a position to take a fully Informed Decision on that matter", instead of "resolv(ing) those UnCertainties withOut Evidence", Cyprus concluded.
---------------------------------------------
On the Contrary, it's Only in 2 Other Cases, among those 33 ECHR Judgements still Pending for Execution, in various Individual Affairs of Refugees/Displaced persons, that "Friendly Agreements" were reached between the Appliquants and Turkey, after the First "Surrendered ...the Ownership of their Properties", and "Turkey has Complied with the terms of those Arrangements", the Government of Cyprus pointed out, apparently Concluding that these 2 Individual cases, may be, Exceptionally, Closed.
Something which, Obviously, isn't but a Tiny part among More than +180.000 - 200.000 Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons, who were Obliged to Flee Turkey's Military Invasion and Ocupation of the Northern Territories of Cyprus by Ankara's Army since 1974, and are Still Hindered Today to Return Back to Family Homes and Ancestral Land.
A Few Years Ago, around 2016, UN-sponsored Top Level Talks on Cyprus, mainly at nearby Switzerland, reportedly had managed to Mark an exceptional Advance, including, partiçularly, on an eventual Draft Plan with Map for Refugees/Displaced persons' possible Return, which was, exchanged for the 1st Time between the parties.
But, shortly Afterwards, all that was Blocked mainly because Ankara's Instisted to Keep, not only a Number of Troops in Cyprus, even After a Political Solution, but even a Claim for more Unilateral Military Interventions, whenever, in the Future, Turkey might deem necessary.
(Something that, on the Contrary, Both Greece and the UK, accepted to Stop, as Cyprus naturally wished to Prevent Other Tragedies, as in the Past, by Building, this Time, a "Normal, Independent and Sovereign State", that New UNO Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, reportedly found Natural).
Following that, Later-on, the Turkish-Cypriot side even, reportedly, Asked and Withdrew the Map that had been Earlier exchanged and agreed, (Comp. Supra)...
-------------------------
Meanwhile, this week, Both COE's Secretariat and Cyprus' Government, reminded the Fact that, Already 4 Years Ago, since 2014, CoE's Committee of Ministers, (facing Turkey's Failure to Pay, at least, the Compensations awarded by ECHR's Judgements to several Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons), had adopted 2 Resolutions Warning Ankara that its Continued Refusal to Pay that Just Satisfaction awarded by ECHR to the Victims of the "Varnavas" Case ("Missing" Persons and their Families), as well as to 33 Cases of Refugees/Displaced persons in the so-called "Xenides -Arestis Group", was in Flagrand Conflict with its International Obligaions, Not Only as a Contracting Party to the PanEuropean Conention on Human Rights, but Also as a CoE's Member State...
=> Obviously, the Double Supplementary Fact that such a Problem (of Refusal to Pay ECHR-awarded Compensations to the Victims) still Persists for Turkey, even on 2018, to which was Recently Added even an UnPrecedented Refusal to Cooperate with CoE for the Execution of ECHR's Judgements, (Comp. Supra), makes Ankara's position inside the CoE, even More Problematic...
It's in such a particularly "Hot" Context, f.ex. that an Exasperated Appliquant Refugee/IDP, who had already Waited ... 13 Years (between 1997 and 2010) for an ECHR Judgement Condemning Turkey for Violating his Human Rights, later Added to anOther + 8 Years More (2010 - 2018+), withOut any Payment, until now, by Ankara of the Just Satisfaction ordered by the ECHR, (=> thus Resulting in ... 21 Years of Delay : 1997 - 2018 !), suddenly erupted :
- CoE's Committee of Ministers should "Go Beyond Literary Decisions, that are Repeatedly Ignored" by Turkey, "and take Practical Measures to EnForce and achieve Execution of the ... ECtHR Judgement", he suggested in a Letter send to Strasbourg :
=> "To this end", f.ex., CoE should "Issue a Final Warning" to Turkey, "to Immediately Execute the Judgement on Just Satisfaction, (issued 8 Years Ago), since Failure to Execute the Judgement would indicate that :
"1. Turkey Continuously Breaches, and does Not fully Implement the European Convention on Human Rights, and, Consequently, does Not Meet anymore the Copenhagen eligibility Criteria (needed in order) to Be Candidate for Accession to the EU",
"2. there is ground for a process for Expulsion of Turkey from the CoE, due to Violating its Statutes".
+° Also, if" Turkey "Fails Again to Implement the Judgment", CoE's "Committee of Ministers" could "Initiate a Process leading into Confiscating Assets/Holdings" of Ankara "in a European Country; ( e.g. France, where both ECtHR and CoE are Based), for Payment of the above", he finally suggested...
It's a Scandalous Fact that, meanwhile, several Victims of Human Rights' Violations by Turkey in Cyprus have already Started to ...Die, Passing Away in Old Age, while vainly Waitibng for Ankara to Implement ECHR's Judgements, (See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/turkeyblocksechrjudgementswhilevictimsdie.html, etc). Former long-time President of ECHR, Luzius Wildhaber, from Switzerland, was the 1st to ask sincere "Excuses", for the Death of an Old Woman Refugee, who disappeared withOut even seeing an ECHR Judgement implemented in her case, after Waiting for Decades : - "This is Not Normal, and Must Not Happen again !", President Wildhaber had said then, sincerely moved, in Reply to a Question by "Eurofora"s co-Founder, (Published then at "TCWeekly").
------------------------------
- GermLine Manip. staged as outcry v. China, is US Obama Lobby Hypocrisy=> Need for Trump+Xi joint NO
- French JHA vMinister Nunez to EF: European Cooperation v. Terror shields Strasbourg Christmas Market
- New CoE Chair, MFA Soini to EF on 1st Test of Finland's Presidency: ECHR Judgements' Execution+
- Austrian EUPresidency JHA vMinister Edtstadler to EF on Frontex at EUBorders in Greece facing Turkey
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: 60935344Archive
Login Form
Other Menu

People in Europe and the World expect from CoE to make a succes of its "Monitoring" for Human Rights and Democracy, despite difficulties, said Finland's President Tarja Halonen to "EuroFora" at a crucial moment for the mecanism built 15 years ago by the paneuropean organization which celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2009.
Halonen, known as "Mother" of CoE's "Monitoring" mecanism, a long-time MEP and former Foreign Minister before becoming Finland's President, holds a long experience in the mattter, after also serving twice as CoE and EU Chairwoman in the past. That's why she is well placed to judge how CoE's "monitoring" should deal today with some crucial issues of importance both to CoE and to the EU.
The move came just a Month before a crucial, last visit to Turkey, scheduled for June, by the President of CoE''s "Monitoring" Committee, Ukranian MEP Serge Holovaty, to finalize his Report on Ankara, the CoE Member State with the longest Monitoring procedure. From its results depends its overall credibility.
This is a Test-case, because, in fact, it's in order to avoid Sanctions threatened against Turkey by a CoE's Assembly's April 1995 Resolution for grave Human Rights violations, Democracy gaps, the continuing Military Occupation in Cyprus, the unresolved Kurdish problem, Aegean differend with Greece, etc., that MEPs decided to create, for the 1st time on April 1996, a "Monitoring" proces, allegedly destinated to check, without excluding Countries who did not fulfill all CoE's standards.
In the Past, the obliged withdrawal of Greece's Military regime and of its "Civil" cover-up out of the CoE had helped bring back Democracy in 1974. But, on the contrary, since April 1996, the idea was to "monitor" Human Rights' respect while keeping most concerned Countries inside the CoE. After Turkey's oldest example, this was extended also to several former "Eastern" European Countries, even if CoE's Assembly has imposed to some of them (fex. Ukraine, Russia, etc., after Belarus, Serbia, etc) various "Sanctions", that Ankara always avoided. Curiously more succesful even than .. USA itself, (a CoE "Observer" since 1995), which has been at least threatened with sanctions some years ago..
EU-effects of CoE's Monitoring process became obvious between 2001-2008, since the "closure" of this procedure, when CoE felt that a Country had met most of its Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law obligations, (i.e. the "Copenhagen Criteria" for the EU), helped trigger Negotiations with the EU for "Accession" or other closer relations : This occured already before the 2004 and 2007 EU Enlargements to former "Eastern" European Countries, as well as for the commencement of "accession" negotiations with Croatia, and of "open-ended" negotiations with Turkey in 2005.
But a stricking new development are Holovaty's recent findings that on core Human Rights issues as Torture and Freedom of Expression, Turkey, even "5 Years after" CoE closed its "Monitoring", back in 2004, inciting EU to start accession Negotiations in 2005, still presents grave problems.
His findings are of crucial importance after a 2008 CoE Resolution called, "if need be", to "seriously consider the possibility of Re-Opening the Monitoring procedure for Turkey" : A move which might affect Ankara's controversial EU bid, since EU Accession Negotiations are based on the Hypothesis that the Candidate fullfils the "Copenhagen Criteria" (See above)..
-------------------------
Holovaty expressed his will to check "Matters still Outstanding" and those that he "didn't have an opportunity to discuss" at an earlier visit this year, "in order to discuss the more complex issues in greater depth", at his forthcoming New Visit to Ankara, before the December 2009 EU Summit. This is all based on the 2004 CoE Resolution which stresses that, CoE "will continue.. post-monitoring Dialogue with the Turkish authorities,...in addition to a 12-points list,..and on any Other Matter that might arise in connection with Turkey’s Obligations as a CoE member state".
CoE's Resolution also asks from Turkey "to secure the proper Implementation of Judgements, particularly in the Cyprus v. Turkey InterState case", of 2001, which concerns also the plight of many Hundreds of MISSING People. It adds Turkey's obligations to "execute" ECHR's Judgements in the Loizidou case,..and in particular adopt General Measures to avoid repetition or continuation of Violations found by the Court" to the detriment of Refugees.
Nevertheless, Holovaty said to "EuroFora" that "MISSING" persons,"might be included" and cannot be excluded, but he has yet to examine the situation "to find out which issues will be raised" to the Turkish Government.
Therefore, "EuroFora" asked Halonen, as the Historic "Mother" of CoE's Monitoring mecanism, if she thought that, "whenever there are grave Human Rights Violations, as fex. "MISSING" persons, attested even by ECHR's judgements, they should be always checked by a Monitoring process. Or could they be forgotten ?"
- "We (CoE) must be, at the same time, Fair, Realistic, but not in the mind that "now we have Forgotten", etc., replied to "EuroFora"'s question Halonen, speaking as a matter of general principle.
- "When we think of those People that are suffering from the lack of Democracy, of Human Rights, and of the Rule of Law", "we should find a base on how to deal with the (Monitoring) system more rapidly"', she stressed.
- "Sometimes it's very difficult to combine Transparency and Effectivenes together, particularly in this specific case", she went on to say. But, "I have not found a (CoE Member) Country who could be insensitive in this sens", Halonen answered concerning grave Human Rights violations attested by the ECHR.
- "I have no ready-made answer. I have the expectations that you, in the CoE, will, step by step, find the different types of the monitoring systems."
Also "because this is a part of the UN's Post-Conflict system, (fex. when it comes to Cyprus' MISSING persons), and it's a more Global system". So that, "If we make a succes in Europe, the others will follow", throughout the World. "But they expect that we (Europe) are this opportunity, this Opportunity to make a Succes", Halonen concluded.
In addition, she advised to extend CoE's Monitoring to all its 47 Member States, "because, as long as we hear that, all these monitoring systems are "OK for the neighbor, but not for me", "it's very difficult" to understand. Something which could make easier to Compare...
Finnish MEP Jaako Laakso, former CoE Rapporteur on the Occupied Territories of Cyprus and one of the 5 Signatories of the Historic CoE's call to create the "MONITORING" mecanism since 1996, was more specific : - "We (CoE Assembly) have to find a way for the issue of Cyprus' MISSING People to be better followed", he stressed, anouncing his intention to "speak to Mr. Holovaty" about that. "There might be also other ways", added Laakso.
- The 2008 "Year had been a very Bad one for Turkey with regard to Human Rights in general, and Freedom of Expression in particular", denounced, meanwhile, Holovaty's preliminary Post-Monitoringh Draft Report by Holovaty, published by the CoE on April 2009.
"Amnesty International believes that freedom of expression is not guaranteed given the various articles of the Criminal Code that restrict it. .. "For example, 1,300 Websites are said to have been closed down by the (Turkish) authorities in 2008" ! While "the new Turkish Criminal Code was used to bring a total of 1,072 proceedings between June 2005 and April 2008, and led to the conviction of 192 people", for expressing views. "Representatives of the Özgür Gündem newspaper, which specialises in Kurdish affairs, ..complained about Numerous Attacks on their Freedom of Expression ...as was everyone who advocated a settlement to the question by means other than the intervention of the army" "According to their figures, 19 Newspapers had been suspended 43 times between 4 August 2006 and 4 November 2008" !...
Moreover, on 2008, CoE's "Ministers adopted its 4rth Resolution on the execution of the judgments of the ECHR, ...and outstanding issues regarding 175 Judgements and decisions relating to Turkey delivered between 1996 and 2008... concerning Deaths resulting from the excessive use of force by members of the Security forces, the failure to protect the right to life, the DIisappearance and/or death of individuals, Ill-Treatment and the Destruction of property". CoE's " Ministers urged the Turkish authorities ...to ensure that members of Security forces of all ranks can be prosecuted without administrative
authorisation" for "serious crimes". Holovaty reminded.
"Nonetheless", Holovaty heard anew of "Several cases of Violence committed last year (2008) by the (Turkish) security forces". Amnesty International speaks of Many Cases of ill-treatment and Torture in the prisons and by the police". "Including, fex."'the death of Engin Ceber, a young man of 29 who died on October 2008 as a result of the TORTURE allegedly inflicted on him by police officers, prison staff and members of the gendarmerie. He was part of a group of people arrested on September 2008 during a demonstration and Press Conference in Istanbul'. Proceedings against suspects are "on-going" in this case.
- " I therefore noted an Obvious Contradiction between the Government’s stated “zero tolerance” policy.... of Torture and other forms of ill-treatment, and the different testimonies given", denounced CoE's Rapporteur. Turkish "authorities must make considerable efforts to guarantee that proper investigations are carried out into allegations of abuses by members of the security forces and that perpetrators are effectively punished" "In this respect, I have requested detailed Statistics on the number of Investigations, acquittals and convictions in cases involving allegations of abuse in order to show the positive impact of the measures taken to date", Holovaty said, repeating a permanently unsatisfied CoE's demand to Turkey since a Decade...
- "The Political Crisis that shook the country in the spring of 2008 highlighted the Weaknesses of the (Turkish) Constitution", which comes from the Military regime of 1982, "and the Urgent Need of Reforms", stressed from the outset CoE's Rapporteur in 2009. In particular, "the ...Democratic functioning of state institutions, including the independence of the judicial system, are crucial", he observes.
But, "the Electoral system and the ways in which it is circumvented do not appear to give those elected complete Legitimacy, and tend to pervert the course of direct universal suffrage", denounces Holovaty, observing that, even 5 Years later, Turkey did not yet change the 10% nationwide Threshold for a party to take any seat, which is "far higher" than the "3%" maximum in Europe and already condemned as contrary to European Standards by the CoE.
+ Moreover, EU Parliament's 2009 Report on Turkey, drafted by Dutch MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijten and adopted in Strasbourg on March, expresses "Concern over the Failure of the (Turkish) Judiciary to prosecute cases of Torture and Ill-treatment, the Number of which is Growing". EU also "is concerned about continuing Hostility and Violence against Minorities" in Turkey. It also "calls on the Turkish Government to launch, as a matter of Priority, a Political Initiatve favouring a lasting Settlement of the Kurdish issue, (while "condemning violence.. and terrorist groups"). EU "regrets that No progress has been made on establishing full, systematic Civilian suprevisory functions over the (Turkish) Military".
The final results of Holovaty's 2nd and last visit to Turkley will be known later this year, and, at any case, before EU's December 2009 Summit.