
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...
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=> 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".
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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send, Earlier, to "Eurofora"'s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be Published asap).
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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.
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+ 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.
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- 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).
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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.
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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send, Earlier, to "Eurofora"'s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be Published asap).
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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).
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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".
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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)...
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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").
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(Opinion)
Paris - Bruxelles - Strasbourg, 2 septembre 2008
Le spectaculaire succès du Président français, Nicolas Sarkozy, (en tête de l'UE jusqu'a décembre), à obtenir de suite un cessez le feu inattendu entre la Russie et la Georgie, immédiatement après sa visite aux Présidents Medvedev et Saakashvili, au pire moment de tensions et heurts violents meurtieurs, qui avaient tué plusieurs innocents et provoqué le deplacement forcé de réfugiés par milliers, lui donne incontestablement une stature vraiment européenne :
A ses liens personnels bien connus avec l'Hongrie, la Grece, l'Italie ou l'Espagne, en sus de son amitié avec la chancelière allemande Merkel, son souhait d'essayer d'attirer l'Angleterre au jeu européen, etc, s'y ajoute, maintenant, une réussite, fragile certes, mais importante, au combat pour la Paix dans la "grande" Europe du général De Gaulle, "jusqu'a l'Oural", qui inclut naturellement la Géorgie, l'Arménie et d'autres pays, et ne peut exister qu'avec rapports de confiance et partenartiat stratégique avec la Russie.
Apres avoir réussi à debloquer la situation au Liban, (pays avec liens culturels historiques en Europe), lors du Sommet pour la Méditerranée à Paris, juillet dernier, (comme atteste maintenant le prémier accord d'echange d'Ambassadeurs avec la Syrie), Sarkozy activa maintenant une présidence française de l'EU bien entreprenante, à l'autre bout de l'Europe, à Moscou, où, contrairement à Napoléon, il a été reçu avec soulagement par le nouveau président russe, ami de l'experimenté Vladimir Poutine.
Cet homme politique rélativement nouveau au plan politique européen, avec une vision souvent critique ou même critiquée, à tort ou a raison, mais ambitieuse et concrete a la fois, qui aime s'adresser aux "Européens", comme il dit, n'est-il pas bien placé pour stimuler le fameux débat sur l' "Identité de l' Europe", qu'il a proposé au Parlement Européen récemment à Strasbourg, moins d'un an avant les Elections européennes de 2009 ?
En 2007, il a réussi à faire monter spectaculairement la participation citoyenne aux élections présidentielles en France, obtenant des récords historiques :
N'est-ce pas, justement ce que l' Europe a bésoin, apres 2 abstentions majoritaires sans précedent aux Elections de 1999 et 2004, et 3 "Non" aux réferenda pour ses institutions en 2005 et 2008, pendant une décennie trouble 1999-2008, (marquée surtout par la demande controversée de la Turquie d'entrer dans l'UE eclipsant les avancées de la Monnaie unique et de la liberté de circulation à l'espace Shengen, avec consequences mal-ressenties par la majorité des citoyens, bien au-délà des clivages du passé), qui a failli stopper l'integration européenne ?
Et cela, au moment même ou une globalisation galopante met l'Europe devant un choix crucial entre saut qualitatif en avant, apte à valoriser une occasion historique exceptionelle à se développer résolument, après les vaines destructions, querelles et tensions des guerres "chaudes" ou "froides" qui lui ont couté son rang dans le Monde, ou réculer définitivement en décadence...
Alors, que certains de nos amis à la Commission en Bruxelles, lui laissent au moins un peu d'espace de mouvement, et qu'ils l'aident à tenter d'insufler de l' oxygène frais et vivifiant aux rapports entre les citoyens et une Europe qui a manifestement bésoin et mérite de retrouver d'urgence un nouveau dynamisme populaire, avec un souci de réalisme mais aussi une vision passionante pour son avenir !
Après tout, les Etats Unis d' Amérique ne se sont pas faits à coups de bureaucratie, nécessaire et utile, mais manifestement insuffisante : Sans l'impulsion d'hommes politiques originaux, d'intellectuels vraiment engagés, et, surtout, sans l'enorme énergie émanant de la conscience d'enjeux à la fois pratiques et grandioses, bien resentis par des millions de citoyens, stimulant leur adhésion active comme pioniers d'un nouveau avenir commun à construire, ils seraient encore une ex-colonie périphérique, affaiblie par stériles divisions, passif et impuissant spectateur des convulsions tragiques d'un Monde à la dérive...
Que les vrais "européens" ré-lisent au moins les fameux discours historiques sur l' Europe d'un Sarkozy bien inspiré à Strasbourg, aussi bien avant qu'après avoir gagné les élections françaises, le 21 février et le 2 juillet 2007, après son 1er sommet des Bruxelles, qui a adopté le nouveau Traité de l'UE en conclusion de la presidence allémande : Bonnes lectures pour cet été 2008, afin de préparer l' avenir qui s'ouvrira (ou fermera) à partir des élections européennes de 2009.
Peut-etre revelera-t-il plus, en ce sens, lors de ses 2 discours-debats prochains avec les eurodeputés, prévus lors des sessions plenières du Parlement Européen a Strasbourg en octobre et décembre 2008...
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner had already unveiled President Sarkozy's intentions, during a particularly "hot" Press Conference in Paris, where he faced some's insistance for "sanctions", with a call for "a common EU stance". In the meanwhile, he was consulting "all these days" most of his EU, Russia and Georgia counterparts, (as Sarkozy's Spokesman, P-J. Henin confirmed to "EuroFora"). This allowed him to obtained the desired result, as EU Chairman, at a short, exceptional EU Summit in Brussels, afterwards.
But, Sarkozy's No 1 official, Presidential palace's Secretary General Claude Gueant, active at Elysee during the 2008 Ambassadors' Conference, (together with his Top Diplomat, the experienced David Levitte), is well known for having an overall view : A link with 2009 EU Elections at the horizon ?