newsitems
newsitems
CoE BioEthics Committee Head Ioan to EF: Plan on New Challenges Mid 2018+Conference asks pub. Debate
*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- While PanEuropean, 47 Member States-strong (including Russia) CoE's BioEthics' (CDBI) Committee President, Dr. Beatrice Ioan from Romania, had just spoken to "Eurofora" about her ambitious aim to present, before Summer 2018, an agreed full Plan for Actions to deal with the various big Challenges that Human Rights may face nowadays by Fast-Developing New Bio-Medical Technologies (See Infra), just 1 Day before Strasbourg's Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law's competent body was going to have, for the 1st Time in History, a Joint Meeting here, Tomorrow, with Brusssels' Headquartered EU Commission's Group on Ethics in Science and Technology (EGEST), already, relevant Spectacular News suddenly emerged in a way reminding that, in fact, there is No more Time to lose with undue Delays :
- From one side, it was just Anounced that anOther New Technique to Manipulate (alias: "Edit") the Human Genome, in a More Precise and Accurate way than the recently Famous "CRISPR-Cas9" method, had been Discovered, as NewsWires published Today. And, from anOther side, a well-informed Expert told "Eurofora" that the UK Authorities had just Authorized, for the 1st Time, the Medically Assisted Births of "5 Babies" with a Controversial Method called "of 3 Parents", (which had Recently been Abused, elsewhere, for an Artificial Birth due to Modify even the Germline of Next Generations, and withOut any Cure Treatment necessity, i.e. something which is Doubly Prohibited in Most European Countries)...
By another Coincidence, all this Happened at the Conclusion of an Exceptionally Important CoE's PanEuropean/International Conference, during these last 2 Days, here in Strasbourg (24-25 October 2017), with the Participation of CoE, EU, OECD, WHO, UNESCO, and Russian, USA, Japaneese, a.o. Experts, for the 20th Anniversary of the Only Legaly Binding Treaty in the World on Bio-Ethics : CoE's "Oviedo" Convention, on Human Rights and Bio-Medicine (1997-2017), examined from the point of view of Manifold New Challenges raised by the Latest Bio-Technological Developments, meanwhile, and particularly during the Recent Years in that Crucial Field, nowadays Facing very Speed Developments, apparently bringing Both New Hopes for Health, but also Big Dangers for Humanity's foreseeable Future :
From Genetics/Genome, up to Brain Technologies, as well as Information/Communication and Big Data, etc, this landmark CoE's Internatinal Conference, (very Well Attended by Numerous Medical, Biological, ICT, Robotics, Legal, Ethical, Political, Religious, Philosophical, Economic, Social and Other Actors), Systematically Discussed each Group of relevant New High-Tech, developed during these Last 20 Years, Both for the "Human Righs Challenges raised" by them, and concerning "the Principles at stake", as well as possible and Necessary "Actions to be undertaken", at a European/International level, in order "to Address" these New, and Fast-Moving Issues.
From the Perspective of an overall Timeline, Few are really Aware of the Fact, that, even CoE's World-Famous, basic and general "Human Rights Convention", which had Entered into Force already, as early as since 1953, (i.e. 64 Years ago), Coincided, indeed, with the Year when the Scientific/Technological Discovery of Human "Genes" and "DNA" was Revealed to the Public, (thanks to a Timely and Symbolic move by the State of Luxembourg, which had Decided to Ratify that CoE's Convention then, as its King, the Grand Duke Henri, recently Reminded at an Official Speech in the ECHR in Strasbourg : Comp. "Eurofora"s NewsReport from that 2014 event, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/luxembourgkingatthecoe.html). Indeed, several among ECHR's Articles can Help Protect elementary Human Rights even vis a vis eventual Risks in the Bio-Medical field : CoE's Legal Experts have already Analysed Most of them, as such, (f.ex. : Art. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, etc), particularly during Recent Events, but, in fact, with adequate Case-Law Developments, EuroJudges could use, for that purpose, even More ECHR's Articles, as "Eurofora"'s Legal Analysis has found (f.ex. also Art. 1, 4, 9, 12, 14, 17, etc)... It's a Question of Awareness and Political Will, as well as of appropriate Cases.
But, when the First Medically Assisted Procreations started, during the 1970ies, and particularly with "In Vitro Fertilisation" (IVF), as Back from 1978, etc., closely Followed by the International "Human Frontier" project from the 1980ies (HQ in Strasbourg), and, particularly, the "Human Genome Project" from the 1990ies (HQ in the USA+), then, CoE felt the Need to create a New and Specific set of Rules on BioEthics, with the "Human Rights and BioMedicine" Convention, Drafted on 1997 in Strasbourg, and starting to be Signed and Ratified from 1998, in Oviedo (Spain). To which it had to Add, almost Immediately, a First Protocol against Human "Cloning", as Technological Developments, with the notorious "Dolly the Sheep" case in UK's Scotland, had already Threatened to Bypass CoE's Legal Rules, which had to Try to Catch up, at a fast pace...
Already then, a Big Clash, between those infuenced by UK's "Socialist" Tony Blair's adventurous policies, and those who followed rather Germany's ChristianDemocrat Helmut Kohl's more careful stance, had provoked a First Tremor inside the CoE, as early as since 1997, when Oviedo Treaty's Draft had been Hastily Finalized : This was personally witnessed by "Eurofora"s co-Founder and other European Journalists in Strasbourg, then, with the Exceptional Spectacle of mainly 2 German and 1 Cypriot Experts, Strongly Denouncing, with Loud and unusually Exasperated Declarations to the Medias which were present, their Fear that such a Draft was Not Protecting Sufficiently, but Exposing to Serious potential Dangers, particularly the "Human Embryo", the "Genome", the Fragile People's (such as Children or Elders, Sick or Handicaped, Prisoners, etc) previous, free and informed "Consent", etc !
This Explains why an Heterogeneous and Sharply Divided Part of CoE's Member Countries have Refused, until now, to sign or to ratify CoE's Oviedo Treaty, Divided between 2 Groups : One, traditionally led by a mainly ChristianDemocrat/EPP (Together, Initially, with the Historic "Greens") then Germany, which did Not Find it Sufficiently Protective for Human Rights, and anOther, led then by Blair's "Socialist" UK, which, on the Contrary, did Not Find it Sufficiently Open to some Controversial Bio-Technologies on Human Beings... To the point that, as Experienced Professor Serrao from Portugal, a Long-Time President of CoE's Group of Experts on Human Embryo, had told to "Eurofora"'s co-Founder, Later-on, it Still Remained "Impossible" to "Find a Common Ground" on such "Hot" Issues between those 2 Groups, even Many Years Afterwards.
Significantly, Professor Serrao had also Denounced, speaking to "Eurofora"'s co-Founder, the Fact that, Meanwhile, that Interesting CoE's "Working Group" on the Key issue of "Human Embryo'"s protection, was, Later-on, somewhere between 2004 - 2009, surprisingly, even ..."Dissolved" (sic !), as he had told us, during the term in office of former CoE Secretary General, Terry Davis, (another UK "Socialist", of the same political party as Blair, which had remained in Government until 2010)... All this could Explain why, until Now, on 2017, CoE's BioEthical Experts have Only produced some "Additional Protocols" on various Other Specific Issues, such as : "TransPlantation" of Human Organs, "BioMedical Research", "Genetic Tests" (mainly for Insurance Companies, etc), withOut doing alike on the "Hot", Key Issue of Human Embryo, (at least, not yet). F.ex., even concerning "BioMedical Research" (which, notoriously, has as "Hottest" point, its applications on Human Embryos), the Article 2 of the relevant CoE's Additional Protocol, (finalized on 2005), surprisingly states that its Rules do "Not Apply to Research on Embryos in vitro" !...
>>> It's probably, also Because, Meanwhile, relevant New Bio-Technological Developments have Boomed, between the 1990ies and 2010ies, (while, on the Contrary, the experienced and critical Professor Serrao has Recently "Died", as another Portuguese Expert announced Today, during this October 2017 CoE's Conference !) :
- Indeed, that Important, above-mentioned "Human Genome Project" (Comp. Supra), was unexpectedly Completed much Faster than scheduled, so that the "Socialists" Anglo-American Leaders Tony Blair and Bill Clinton (as even "Wikipedia" reminds) could Announce, in Public, already as Early as since June 2000, that it had, practically, Reached its main Target, almost 5 Years Earlier than what had been initially foreseen...
+ In Addition, during anOher "Socialist" former US President : Barack Hussein Obama (2009-2017), his First big Decision is to Start by Lifting the Ban of Federal Funds to Genetic Manipulations on Human Embryos, (on the Contrary, established and maintained by most Previous US Presidents, and particulary GWBush : 2001-2009), already as Early as since March 2009 !
++ Moreover, it's, notoriously, also during the "Socialist" Former POTUS Obama's Past term in office, (particularly at his 2nd Mandate : 2012-2016) that Controversial "Same Sex Marriage", (including, even, Submission of Children to the Power of Homosexuals, under Pretext of "'Adoption"), is Systematically imposed, not only inside the USA, but also Pushed and Spread (by US Foreign Policy !) accross Many other Countries Abroad, (f.ex., from France to Ireland, including Attempts even in African Countries, etc), Creating, thus, a Group of Sterile Couples, ready to become Clients of Medically Assisted Procreations by Artificial Means...
+++ Finally, it's also under Barack Hussein Obama that a New Technology for easy Genetic Manipulations of Human Genome, (alias : "Genome Editing"), the so-called "CRISPR-Cas9", is invented and Completed, mainly between 2012-2015. All that Opens a way for Massive Modifications of Human Genome, even of the Germline (i.e. automatically Reproductible through Future Generations, etc), with obvious Risks for all Humakind's Future. A Shaky, Insufficient and Flue alleged Agreement, between some UK, USA and China BioTech. Research Groups, brokered out of any Regulatory Framework and Democratic Oveshight, neither real Transparency, at Obama's Last Moments as Former POTUS (End of 2015-Beginning of 2016), naturally canNot offer Real Guarantees.
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=> It's in this, UnPrecedented in Human History, almost Dramatic Context, that CoE's deputy Secretary General, Gabrieall Battaini-Dragoni, speaking, Yesterday in Strasbourg, at the Opening of the above-mentioned PanEuropean/International BioEthical Conference on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of "Oviedo" Treaty, (which is always open to Signature and Ratification also by any Non-European Country accross the World), Urged the Participants, and particularly fhe PanEuropean Organisation's competent Legal Experts of its Steering Committee on BioEthics (CDBI), currently Chaired by Dr. Ioan (Comp. Supra), to prepare and present asap its overall concrete Recommendations to CoE's Committee of Ministers on what should be practically done in order to adequately Regulate that Fast-Moving area, which has recently Reached a potentially Dangerous, Culminating Point (Comp. Supra), in a way which mixes alleged Hopes for Medical Breakthroughs on Human Health, with various Serious Risks currently Pending over Humankind's foreseeable Future.
- Significantly, even American Scientist, Prof. Sheila Jasanoff, from Harvard University's "Kennedy School" on BioEthics, one of CoE Conference's "Keynote Speakers", reminded the Central Importance of the "Human Dignity" Principle, from which all Human Rights are derived, and Criticized some USA's Supreme Court's controversial Judgements, Warning that they may, too Often, be Influenced, f.ex., by some Big Pharma a.o. Lobbies, (to the point that, in some cases, USA Supreme Court's judgements Scandalously almost ...Copied, even Litterally, Word by Word, also concrete Expressions and Verbal Formulations which had been Earlier pushed by such Selfish private Big Companies !). Therefore, that American BioEthical Expert concluded by going as far as to Urge CoE's Experts to Find their own ways to Boost a kind of positive, Original "European Model" for BioEthical Values' Protection accross the World, as she stressed in substance.
+ In Parallel, German Jurist Hans-Jorg Behrens, vice-President of CoE's Inter-Governemental Committee on Human Rights (CDDH), presented an overview of an Interesting Seminar, Earlier Organized by Cyprus' former Presidency of the CoE, back on December 2016 at the ECHR, (i.e. almost at the Same Moment that those above-mentioned "CRISPR-Cas9" Experts were Discussing on the Present and the Future of Genetic Manipulations on Human Persons at their Parallel Meetings in USA : Comp. Supra) : A Strasbourg EuroJudges' certainly, InSufficient yet Case-Law, but also Interesting, and, probably, having some More Important Potential than it might look at First Sight...
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- Meanwhile, anOther Warning, also made Yesterday Afternoon, came from a Specific Debate dedicated to the Issue of "Equity of Access to Health Care", with Keynote Speaker a Member of PanEuropean CoE's "Social Rights Committee", Rapporteur for Health Issues, which included a "Round Table" with Scientists, Diplomats (even from Mexico), Politicians (f.ex. from CoE's Parliamentary Assembly : PACE), NGOs, etc. There, Experienced Observers, (as, f.ex. PACE's Rules Committee President, MEP Liliane Maury-Pasquier, from Switzerland, etc), Denounced, inter alia, also a recent "Augmentation of InEqualities in Health Care's Access", and Warned about Risks for some People to be even Submitted, f.ex., to "Useless Mutilations", Treatments "withOut Quality", and/or to various "Aggressive Innovations", etc.
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+ But New, even More Serious Warnings started to emerge singe the Beginning of the 2nd Day of this Exceptionally Important CoE's BioEthical Conference, when Experts started to Systematically present the Challenges for Human Rights, and Discuss Necessary Measures concerning several among the Most Important New Bio-Technologies, (Comp. Supra) :
- F.ex., concerning "Sequencing and Analysis" in "Genetics" and the Human "Genome", French Research Director, Professor Anne Camon Thomsen, Member of EU Commission's European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technolohies (EGEST), among others, also pointed at the Fact that, Recently, "we are Moving from 1 Gene, towards the Entire Human Genome", so that Scientific Research now "Needs a Big Mass of Data", (in Addition to Massive "Tests", etc).
- So that New Information Technologies' "Big Data" tools, may start to Include even many Thousands or Millions of Patients' Medical Data in the Future, she warned.
+ In this regard too, Moreover, "the Borders between Research and Health Care risk to become blurred", she added, (speaking, already, a quite Long Time after, inter alia, also, f.ex., the Emergence of "Hospital-University" Modern Conglomerates, even Physically Bringing more and more Closer Patients, Health Care Stuff, and Scientific/Technologic Researchers)...
(And his, Shortly After the Dangerous and potentiallu Scandalous Phenomenon of Poor People, including, particularly Children, etc, who can't afford to Pay for a normal Health Care, by Freely Chosen and Independent Doctors, but are practically Obliged to Accept to be Sumbitted even to various Kinds of "Experiments", eventually, more or less InEfficient or Dangerous, in order to get some Cheap or Free Medical Care, have been, in fact, Popping up accross the US, and/or other Countries in the World)...
- AnOther Possibility might be to Spread at least "a Basic Insurance Coverage for Many People" and Boost "International Cooperation", as well as, eventually "Link Computer Systems", etc., it was evoked during Debates.
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+ AnOther EU Commission's Expert, British Professor Jonathan Montgomery, speaking in a debate Fearlessly intitulated : "Modification of Human Genome", (sic !), at least stressed, inter alia, also that, the Seriousness of Nowadays' Issues, shows the "Need to move to Public Discussions" about them, in a "Balanced" way, and, particularly, "Bring the People inside, now"... (See also Infra).
- Polish Professor on Genetics and Member of UNESCO's International BioEthics Committee, Prof. Ewa Bartnik, felt that at least some "Risks" are "Not" yet "Clear", and "Need to be Discussed". Among others, f.ex., "We doN't know if a New Regulatory Framework, might really be, or Not", the Best Solution Today, she warned, particularly as long as all main "Risks are Not yet Clear" and "a lot of things" are still , so that "it's Important", first, "to Debate" such issues, (See also Infra).
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++ However, an... "Explosion" of further Unexpected Question Marks, suddenly Popped up, at anOther Area : that of "Brain Technologies", presented by Swiss Director of BioMedical Ethics and History from Zurich, Professor Nikola Biller-Adorno :
- F.ex., by "Capturing Electric Signals, transmitted by the Brain", "some Might Spy and/or Manipulate Human Emotions", harshly Warned the Chairman of that Discussion, French MEP Jean-Yves Deaut, former Rapporteur of France's National Committee on BioEthics, and of CoE's Parliamentary Assembly, (Comp. earlier Deaut's statements to "Eurofora", at anOther occasion, at: ...).
- But, Prof. Biller-Adorno, went even much Further : F.ex., by "DeCoding" Human "Brain's activity", one could, may be, soon ..."Upload your Brain", "Stock" it in a Computer, even "Edit (i.e. Manipulate) your Brain", and "Re-Load it, afterwards", or "Stimulate Brain Activity", "Emulate" it, etc., she HighLighted, inter alia...
- All this "could be Used even <<Dual>>, Military Defence and/or Health" purposes, "of a Great Variety", she Warned. And, obviously, such "Brain Data's Transport risks to be Hacked, or face an UnAuthorized Access", particularly as "Computer Interface becomes a Key Component of New, Brain Activity Technologies...
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=> The possibilities for such Radical BioTech Innovations, apparently would push to Seek some Brand New Legal Rules, also, (as many suggested).
>>> But, nevertheless, the Experienced President of CoE's PanEuropean Inter-Governemental Committee on Human Rights, Brigitte Konz, advised to be more Carefull :
- Attention to our Classical, Basic Legal Texts, which already Exist Before those New-BioTech developments : Because, "If some Touch them, then, Afterwards, we Risk, perhaps, to have Less Protection" for Human Righs, she rightfully Warned...
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- In Fact, right from the Start, -"I Feel a lot of Hypocrisy..." about all that, Critically Observed, also, the Experienced Professor of Bratislava's Institute of Medical Ethics and BioEthics, Jozef Glasa, Long-Time Member of COE's BioEthical Committee (CDBI), speaking to "Eurofora".
+ Among others, f.ex., -"How could anyone seriously speak about <<Medical Treatment>> purposes for an Individual Patient, (as also COE's Oviedo Treaty asks for Any Intervention to Human Genome), IF this would Affect the GermLine (i.e. be transmitted also to Future Generations) ?", Critically Wondered, on a "Hot" concrete Key point, speaking with "Eurofora", the Swiss Professor in Law, Roberto Andorno, from Zurich University...
++ Last, but not least, all those manifold Appeals, during this 2 Days-long, CoE's exceptionally Important Conference, about the Need for "Public Debates", with the participation of all interested Stakeholders, before eventual New Mesaures might be taken by the CoE and/or other actors, According also to what the Oviedo Treaty on Human Rights in BioMedicine notoriously Requires itself, Before any New Rules' Change, are, naturally very Welcome.
>>> But, How to Explain, then, that UnPrecedented and Surprizing Spectacle, noticed by "Eurofora" and other Observers during the Latest CoE Parliamentary Assembly's Plenary Debate and Vote, Earlier this Month in Strasbourg, on the "Hottest" BioEthical Issue Nowadays, of Crucial Importance for Humanity's Future : that of "Genetic Technologies on Human beings" (Comp. Supra), when Controversial Rapporteur, Socialist Belgian MEP Petra de Sutter's Draft (Comp.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coegeneticsreportrisky.html), curiously, wasn't Discussed but Only Briefly, by ... Two (2) European independent MEPs, (one from Belgium, as Herself), and ... Three (3) Non-European "Observers" from overseas...Canada ???!!!...
(Even among Political Groups' Spokesmen, the Biggest, and traditionally Most Critical in such BioEthical Issues Group : that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Astonishingly was Not even Represented at that "Debate", since Noone was Registered, Neither Spoke on its Behalf, apparently for the 1st Time in History, in such kind of matters !
While, also, PACE's Agenda was Modified, at the Last Minute, and Displaced all that BioEthical Debate and Vote, from the Center of the Day, initially, towards the Obscure Margins of a Late Evening)...
=> Will the CoE find the Strength, Consciousness and Capacity to adequately Rectify such Key Concerns, in a Positive and Timely way before Next Summer 2018's expected Decisions (Comp. Supra) on so Important Issues Nowadays for all Humankind ?
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Czech Vote: New center-Right Citizens movements Win v. Kafka Castle Traditional Establishment's Left
*From Brussels to Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Stonger and quite Different than usually Expected, interesting New potential Political Patterns appear to Emerge from Today's 2017 Parliamentary Elections in the Czech Republic, that one may Clearly see, as Brightly as through a Bohemian Crystal, an Overall Image ressembling to a kind of Brand New Popular Aspiration for a version of Historic British Publicist Writer, Herbert Spencer's famous Book : "Man versus the State", to be adequately accomodated perhaps in a Franz Kafka's "the Castle" context, if one might Dream...
+ While Hard Realities also plead for an obvious Swift from the People in favour of what may be named a "New Right", against what some Criticise as an "Establishment"'s so-called "Left", roughly speaking, (See Infra)...
++ The Additional Fact that, by an Extraordinary but Symbolic Coincidence, all this takes place while the Czech Republic currently Holds a big Responsibility as rotating President (from May to November 2017) of the PanEuropean CoE's Organisation for Democracy, Human Rights, and Rule of Law, Headquartered in Strasbourg, naturally gives an even more Spicy flavour to the Dish that Czech People have just Chosen to serve to both their Politicians and all European/Global Observers :
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- Notoriously, the most commented Surprize of these 2017 Election, was the Stronger than Expected Win of the Frontrunner "Dissatisfied Citizens"' Movement (ANO) of atypical "Czech Donald Trump", Andrei Babis : A self-made Millionaire in Agri + Media Business, who had run from the start mainly on an Anti-Corruption platform, Critical of the Traditional Political Establishment, until he Clashed with its formerly Strongest Representatives : the "Socialists", resulting, finally, in a Sharper than initially prognosed Downfall of the Socialdemocrat party, after it provoked a Row over a Controversial Tax issue, recently.
Babis' "ANO", that he has described as "a Right-Wing party with Social Empathy", Won now the First place, with about 30 % of the Votes, and 78 MPs, (i.e. an Augmentation of +11% More in Votes, and +31 More MEPs), OutNumbering even the 50 MEPs that used to have, Previously, the Socialists, who had Led the Country's Government for Years, until now, (See Infra).
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+ In Addition, 2017 Czech Election saw an Exceptional Multiplication of various "New" Parties : More than 19 (i.e. almost the 2/3 of All Parties) !...
>>> One of them even Succeeded to Climb Up to the 3rd Rank in the Country, Winning 22 MPs, with +11% of Votes :
- The "Freedom and Direct Democracy" (SPD) party, named after Nigel Farage's homonymous Group of MEPs in EU Parliament, but Linked also to Marine Le Pen's Rightists, and Founded by Tomio Okamura (a Czech-Japanese), former ChristianDemocrat/EPP of the Right, Opposed to "Islamization" and Oligarchs' Corruption, as well as supporter of Direct Voting.
+ Another New Party : "Independents and Mayors", (Liberal-Conservatives, who recently got 1 MEP in EU Parliament), Won 6 MPs at the National Czech Assembly, with 5,2% of Votes.
++ But it's a ReNovated "Pirate"' Party, which also Created a Surprize by being Propulsed to an Equivalent 3rd Rank ex-equo, Winning, alike, 22 MPs with about 11% of the Votes, (Astonishingly, from only 1% or 2% Before), for the First Time in its short History.
"E-Government" and Citizens' Participation in Public Decision-Making, as well as Government's Transparency and Accountability, Freedom of Information and Speech, often basic Social/Health-Care, etc., notoriously were among any real "Pirate" Party's typical Program points, already in the recent Past.
But its New, "propulsion Engine", seems to be mainly a former Anti-Corruption Whistle-Blower (who had reportedly Sacrificed his Job in order to Reveal the Truth about some Shady Politicians shamefuly Exploiting People's Money and Power), Libor Michalek : An Evangelical Christian and Economist who Recently succeeded the Exploit to Bring Together, what's Best in the "Pirates", with the "Greens", and even the "ChristianDemocrats/EPP", Unifying their support for Direct Democracy, fearless Criticism, and Moral Values, respectively, (as it has been done also for his own Election as Senator, in an Exceptional Agreement between those 3 Political Parties, earlier).
I.e. what seems to Personify, in Brief, the Main Substance of Czech People's Aspirations, all accross the entire Spectrum of Results in these October 2017 Elections (Comp. Supra and Infra)...
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Among the "Old" Parties, significantly, it's Only the Atypical social-Conservative CDS, "Civic Democratic" party, (Initially a Breakaway from the "Civic Forum"), of former President Vaclav Klaus (Right), which is Not Affected by the Fall of Pre-existing parties, and even Ameliorates its Latest score up to 11,3% (i.e. +3,6% More of Votes), Winning 25 MPs (i.e. +9 More).
But withOut Any relation to its Former 30 - 35% Vote scores, compared to which, it's now Only a Shadow of what it used to be, (while, nevertheless, it holds the Rank of 2nd Party in the country).
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All the Other Traditional Parties Fall Down sharply :
The Worst Losses affect the Left, wih the "Socialists" (- 35 MPs Less, Reduced to 7% of Votes Only !), closely Followed by the "Communists" ( - 18 MPs Less, Reduced to 7,8% of Votes), up to the Centrists/Liberals of "TOP 09" ( - 19 MPs Less, Reduced to 5,8% of Votes).
Only the Center-Right of ChristianDemocrats/EPP Limits the Loss to Just - 4 MPs Less, with a Stagnation of Votes: -0,98%
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=> One among Various possible Combinations for a New Government Coalition in the 200 MPs Strong Parliament in Prague, most probably Led by the "Dissatisfied Citizens"' Movement (ANO) of former Minister Babis, (Comp. Supra), might Include, f.ex., the 100 MPs of the ANO (78) and of "Freedom and Direct Democracy" (22), Together, perhaps, with the 6 MPs of the "Independents and Mayors", and/or the "Pirate" party's 22 MPs, if the Czech People's most "ReNewal" overall Vote (Comp. Supra) would be given Priority.
AnOther, more "Stability"-oriented Variation, could Obviously be for the Top Winner Babis' "Dissatisfied Citizens" ANO's 78 MPs to be Simply associated with the 25 MPs of the "social-Conservatives" of the atypical "Civic Democratic Party", i.e. Totalling, all Together, an Absolute Majority of 103 MPs, possibly Strengthened Further also by the Addition of the ChristianDemocrats/EPP's 10 MPs, (i.e. = Majority of 113 MPs, in the 200-strong Parliament), and/or the "Independents and Mayors"' 6 MPs, (i.e. = Majority of 119 MPs).
However, in the Second case, such a Variation risks to leave at the Opposition :
- Not Only the heavily Defeated center-Left, of the Socialists, Communists, and Liberals (TOP 09), who Total Now only 37 MPs, (i.e. 15 + 15 + 7, respectively);
+ But Also a brand New, Potentialy politically Explosive Mixture of 44 MPs from "Freedom and Direct Democracy", and "Pirate" parties (with 22 + 22 MPs each), may be Sooner or Later joined even by Other like-minded Newcomers, (as, f.ex. the "Independents"), or ReNovated forces (not to exclude f.ex. those "ChrisianDemocrats/EPP" who recently Voted, Together with the "Greens", for a ..."Pirate" party candidate : Comp. Supra)...
And the non-negligeable Fact that, in Addition, various among those Exceptionally Numerous, 17 "New" Parties (currently Totalling More than 6,3%, including the "Greens"), which did Not Yet cross, one by one, the required 5% Threshhold in order to Enter Now in the Parliament, have adopted such Explicit Names as, f.ex., "Free Citizens", "Civic Rights", "Civic Alliance", "Citizen 2011", "H.A.V.E.L", etc., as well as "Nation-Patriotic Union", "Bloc against Islamization - Defense of Homeland", "Vote Right", "Nation Together", "National Front", etc., taken Together also with the Relevant Fact that about 40 % of Registered Voters had chosen now to Abstain, seems to Warn that the above-mentioned "Stability" variation might Fail, sooner or later.
Unless due Precaution is taken in order to Integrate in Mainstream Government Coalition politics, also, at least a Significant Part (if not all) of that Brand "New Political Mixture", clearly Resulting from all the above mentioned Facts of that Exceptional 2017 Czech Election, (Comp. Supra), in a Crystal-clear way, remindful of "Bohemian Glass", World-Famous "for its high Quality, Craftsmanship, beauty and often Innovative Designs", (according to Wikipedia)...
At any case, the New Czech Government's Foreign Minister, whoever may be finally chosen, is due to personally Chair the forhcoming PanEuropean CoE's Committee of Ministers' Summit, on November 15, in Strasbourg, on the occasion of the official handover of CoE's rotating Chairmanship to the successor of the Czech Republic : Denmark.
One of the 5 or 6 EU Countries with a Government currently based on a Unity of the Right.
(CoE's Officials attend a Musical event organized by the Czech Presidency of the PanEuropean body in Strasbourg, 18.10.2017 - photo by Eurofora)
(../..)
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Macron : Citizens' Debates on EU's Future = crucial from Summer 2018
On this occasion, he practically resumed his 2 successive landmark Speeches, recently at the Highly Symbolic locations of the eye-catching Acropolis Hill of Athens, where Democracy had been born in Ancient Greece, followed by the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris, (See : ...)
The overall move obviously heads at a Direction in Harmony also with "Eurofora"s 1997-2017 initial Project to Boost EU Citizens' Public Debates on European Decisions seriously affecting their Lives and/or Society at large, (See, f.ex. : ... + ..., etc). So that it's probably not a pure Coincidence if, while leaving, President Macron kindly saluted "Eurofora", asking if things went well enough (in order to be Ready ?)...
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- "We should Hold our (Popular) Democratic Conventions Before the Electoral Campaign" for the May 2019 Vote of a new EU Parliament+, in order to have, after the National, "also European (Public) Debates", he stressed.
- "That's why, I wish (for the EU Heads of State/Government) to have Finalized our Discussions until the Summer 2018", the French President noted, precisely.
- "So that we can have a(n EU Leaders') Road-Map on the Main Challenges for the Future of Europe" at that juncture, he invited.
- Because, "that's anOther (Alternative) way to Launch a European Debate", he explained, (apparently in order for some eventually reluctant parties, not to block everythinng, but allow to Advance Forward : See Infra).
---------------------------
- In this regard, at any case, "We (EU Council) shall have a relevant Debate since the very Beginning of Next Year" (2018), Macron highlighted.
- In fact, "there is Not any Technical Difficulty" on that Issue : - "It's just a matter of Collective Political Will", he observed.
- Such a kind of EU Council's Debate "is due, at any case, to take place also on the occasion of the EU Leaders' Agenda" (just Drafted by Donald Tusk, EU Council's President, on the Basis, mainly, of the "Bratislava Roadmap", already Agreed since September 2016 at EU 27's Summit in Slovakia, (Comp. "Eurofora"'s relevant NewsReports from that Brtatilava EU event, f.ex. at: ....), and many have already accepted that, Macron noted.
- "That's why, the positions of Some Parties which appear Reluctant to move on that, seem Incomprehensible", he Criticized. A fortori, "since they should", on the Contrary, "be among the First to Push towards a European Democracy ! And, it's Better for them, Not to be just an Aggregate of National Parties, But to become Real European Parties", he rightfully urged.
- Thus, f.ex., EU Parliament's "President Antonio Tajani, ensured me of his wish to push forward such Debates"
+ And, in parallel, "at any case, I intend to Push Forward the matter of the Creation of European Lists" for Candifdate MEPs from various Political Parties, Macron promised.
---------------------
- On the Substance of the Issues at Stake, the new French President insisted on "an Overall View of the European Project", withOut Limiting the main Debate only on one or another Specific Point, independently of is eventual Importance.
=> In this regard, Macron pointed at his landmark, but quite Long, recent "Speech at Sorbonne" University in Paris, where he had developed a Plan described as a Threefold "Triptych", that he usefully Resumed Today in a few words :
- (1) "Sovereignity", (2) "Unity", and (3) "Democracy", he reiterated, Observing also that he "find(s) that kind of Triptych also in the Proposals made by (EU Council's) President Tusk", mutatis-mutandis, (Comp. Supra).
(1) "Sovereignity, means that we must Agree on 6 Elements : Migration, Defence, Energy and Environment, Digitalisation, our (EU's) Neighbourhood and Development policy", as well as "our Economic, Financial and Fiscak Strength : the Economic and Monetary Union" : "These 6 Elements compose what we call "Sovereignity", he explained.
+ This includes also some so-called "Technical Problems", as, f.ex., that of "a Common Budget for €uroArea", etc., since, "if we work well on them, then, we'll practically have such a Common Budget, de facto !", Macron Highighted.
- Concrning "Migration", (which became a "Hard" Issue after the 2015-2016 Giant Tsunami pf more than 1,5 Millions of People through Turkey, and was "further Complicated by those Relocatio. ), "we (EU) have to Develop relevant Policies with the Countries of Origin and Transit", as well as to "Protect our (EU's External) Borders", "and Unify our Asylum Systems", as well as "Coordinate the Influx", he stressed.
- "If we manage to achieve that, it will Help Desescalate the overall Debate", the New French President ensured.
- In fact, all that "is going to be Discussed, by EU Leaders, During the Next Few Weeks'
(2) "After, it's about Unity : i.e. what Keeps Europe Together".
- "It's the Social and Fiscal Cohesion", "it's Culture and Education", Macron added.
- "We (EU Leaders) are going to Discuss about that on November" 2017, "and Take Decisions asap", he optimistically highlighted, referring anew to Tusk's Draft "Agenda".
(3) "Democracy", is about "Institutional Innovations", such as, f.ex., "Democratic Innovations, our Trade Policy, and the Creation of Democratic Conventions", where everyone might adapt his tune accordingly, etc.
+ Afterwards, it will, naturally, be necessary to Better Coordinate our Approaches, but, at least for the Time being, I hope that We (EU Heads of State/Government) can Start to Advance Ahead", Macron concluded for now.
-------------------------------
***
(NDLR: "DraftNews", already send to "Eurofora"'s Donors/Subscribers earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be published asap.)
***
+Merkel: Long EU Debate with Various Views+Concerns on Turkey, Starts by Funds' Cut
*Brussels/EU Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- By wishing, with a Smile, ..."Good Morning !" to "Eurofora" and other Journalists present at her entry for an UnExpectedly Delayed Press Conference, ...Late MidNight, from 19 to 20 October, German Chancellor Angie Merkel indicated from the outset that she was thinking about "the Day After", on the "Hot" Issue of Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, regarding which a Long and Intense, 2 Steps Discussion has just Started among EU Heads of State/Government in Brussels earlier Today, (See Infra).
------------------
In fact, EU Council had Already Warned, as Early as since the 18 of September 2017, that it "May Address specific Foreign Policy Issues", as it had said, mentioning "p.m. Relations with Turkey", "in the light of Events". And at a "Draft Press Program" published on Early October (4/10/2017) this was linked with a "Working Dinner" for After 7.30 p.m. Afterwards, on 17 October 2017, EU Council's President, Donald Tusk, finally wrote to EU Heads of State/Government that "over Dinner, we will look into the Deeply Worrying Developments in DPRK, the situation as regards Iraq, as well as Turkey".
But, initially, the official "Conclusions", published ToNight, of the "European Council Meeting (of) 19 October 2017", Surprisingly, did not contain more than only ... Half a Line, placed under the Heading on EU's "External Relations", merely mentioning that EU Summit "held a Debate on Relations with Turkey".
- It was only Many Hours Later, that Tusk's own remarks became known on that matter, speaking about "a Substantive Discussion", "last Night on Turkey" - i.e., apparently, having Left to Chancellor Merkel a chance to Earlier present that Key point (particularly in the German Elections of 9/2017) to the Press, (See Infra) :
- The main Outcome was, at least for the Time being, that "We (EU Summit) Tasked the (EU) Commission to reflect on whether to Cut and Re-Orient Pre-Accession Funds", Tusk confirmed, as expected, (See Infra, and, already : ....).
- We would like to "Keep the Door Open to Ankara, But, the current Reality in Turkey is Making this Difficult", he Criticized.
+ "It was Also Stressed that Turkey Needs to Respect All (EU) Member States, in its relations with the EU, including when it comes to the Implementation of the Existing (EU - Turkey) Customs Union agreement", Tusk added. Obviously refering to the Only Condition put by the EU for the Beginning of Accession Negotiation with Ankara had been (as early as, already since 2004-2005), to Stop Discriminating against EU Member Cyprus' Airplanes and Ships, (still Hindered, even Nowadays, on 2017, to use Turkey's Seaports/Airports, despite Ankara Government's undertaken Obligation for the contrary).
++ Moreover, Tusk noted the "Concerns raised by (Cyprus') President Anastasiades regarding Turkey's actions vis a vis the Greek Cypriots and Maronites", as he said, evoking the Foreign Occupation regime's Scandalous Recent Decision to Block traditional Humanitarian Aide to Enclaved Greek Cypriots, (mainly Elders, for the situation of whom ECHR has Condemned Ankara), f.ex. by Imposing "Taxes" even to UNFICYP's Humanitarian convoys, (as UNO's own services Denounced as Contrary to International Agreements), to which were recently Added also Turkish Military Occupation's attempts to sadically Divide its Victims : F.ex. by Imposing Discriminations between various Groups of Christian Refugees, etc., in a way which Risks even to eternaly submit some among them to a Never-Ending Foreign Military Occupation by Ankara's Invasion Army, (etc).
Typically, such Negative Moves come shortly after Turkey was accused to have practically pushed to a Deadlock the UN-sponsored Talks for a Peaceful ReUnification of the Island, mainly because it Insisted to Keep Invasion/Occupation Military Troops in Cyrus even when a Peace Deal might enter into force, and persisted in its Unilateral Military Intervention Claims :
---------------------
- The Recent "Failure to reach a comprehensive settlement at the (UN-sponsored) Crans Montana Conference" for a Peaceful Solution of the Problem of Cyprus' ReUnification, "is due to Turkey’s insistence on maintaining guarantee and intervention rights in Cyprus, and the continuation of the presence of Turkish military troops" there, Denounced, meanwhile, ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party's President, Joseph Daul, after a long EPP Leaders' Summit, Earlier on Thursday, October 19, here in Brussels.
=> Therefore,"We call on Turkey to comply immediately with the approach of the UNSG (Gutieres) and the EU’s principles and values, and constructively work for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem,” said Joseph Daul.
+ The EPP also "calls on Turkey to withdraw immediately" "the recent measures imposed ...against the Enclaved Greek Cypriots and Maronites", (Comp. Supra), of which it was "informed" now, "and refrain from actions that are clear Violation of Human Rights", an Official EPP Press Release, send to Journalists, including "Eurofora" on Thursday, Evening, October 19, added
-------------------------
- However, Cyprus' President Anastasiades, speaking to "Eurofora", earlier Today, had critically Warned : - "Don't Expect much about Turkey !..."
+ Different Sources told "Eurofora" and other Journalists, later-on, that Many at least along the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group found that Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid has, nowadays, revealed to he "Not Credible".
Nevertheless, several EU Member States apparently wished a Different way of reacting than simply "Stop" EU Negotiations, (as, f.ex., Austria, Denmark, a.o., reportedly prefer), or "Freezing" EU - Turkey Negotiations, (as a recent EU Parliament's Resolution has called), etc.
But, on the Opposite side, if EU did Not Act at all, or only Superficially, even in front of a so-called "Candidate for Accession to the EU" who obviously tramps underfoot its basic declared Values, has so Blatant GeoPolitical and Cultural Contradictions, and is so UnPopular, with a Strong Majority of EU Citizens notoriously Opposed to its EU claims, then, inevitably, such an EU would obviously Risk to be Discredited, First of all vis a vis the European People, (as it had Started to occur since 2000-2001, etc, provoking 3 "No" to EuroReferenda, Blocking/Delaying further EU Integration, provoking a rampant Euro-Scepticism, etc.
According to other well informed sources, at least the EPP Heads of State/Government would be Ready to Cut Pre-Accession Funds, while still maintaining Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants - related Funds, unless Turkey persists to drag its feet and aggravates a recently growing failure to cooperate, particularly on readmissions : In that case, part of those EU Funds too, could be Withheld by the European Institutions in the foreseable Future.
-----------------------
=> So, Chancellor Merkel stressed that this October 2017 EU Summit "Spoke about Turkey, in Great Detail", at "an Important Debate".
- Significantly, that move Extended, widely, all over "Various Aspects of EU - Turkey Relations" (i.e. Not Only from the point of view of Ankara's controversial and unpopular EU bid), including, f.ex., "NATO", "Influence" to the "Balkans", "Syria", "Refugees", etc., she pointed out.
>>> In particular, "we (EU) were United" also "in the view that we should not only Talk ABOUT Turkey, but also Need to Discuss WITH Turkey", and, "also Discuss the FRAMEWORK in which we can Continue to do so", the German Chancellor stressed. (I.e. the Kind of Relations, between EU and Turkey in the Future : f.ex., if not full Accession, then, probably, a kind of Privileged Partnership, etc).
- In these regards, "there were, certainly, Different Accents" between EU Member States, but, "the Discussion was very Balanced", she found.
- Mainly, "We (EU Member States' Leaders) were United ... First of all, into Asking from (EU) Commission, for (EU's) Pre-Accession (Financial) Aid to be Cut !", Merkel officially Anounced Tonight.
- Such a "Cut" should be done "in an acceptable way" : I.e. considering the fact that EU Funds "canNot be Only for the (Turkish) Government, but also, to some extend, for those who have Different Views, inside Turkey", (f.ex. Dissidents, Minorities, etc), since it should concern "All Citizens", she explained.
- On the Contrary, EU's Aid for Syrian and other "Refugees in Turkey" "must be fulfilled", Merkel promised.
----------------------------------
+ Replying to Many Questions raised by German Journalists about Turkey, the Chancellor added several interesting observations, on particular Key points :
- Naturally, the 1st relevant Question was to Remind Angie Merkel's famous TV Duel with the Socialist Candidate, Martin Schulz about Turkey, where she had Anounced her Intention to "Talk with" all the Other EU Member States' Leaders, "in order to find if we (EU) can arrive at a Common Position for the (EU - Turkey) Accession Negotiations to End".
- "Have you done this? Have you actually Raised the Question whether the (EU - Turkey) Accession negotiations can be Terminated ?" ...And do you see a Chance to Cancel or Suspend the Accession Negotiations ?", she was asked. A Question Repeated also by another Journalist, who wondered is there was, or not, Tonight, any "Majority" among EU States' Leaders to "Cancel the (EU - Turkey) Accession Deal".
- For the moment, "ToNight", "there is Not (yet) a Common Position to IMMEDIATELY STOP (EU Accession) Negotiations with Turkey", she noted in reply.
- Nevertheless, "My own train of Thought, already Earlier, is to eye a Special Partnership (and Not at all Full EU Membership) with Turkey", Merkel reminded.
- "But, once again, Turkey Must be Discussed" now, even if "it's not (yet) appropriate to Talk in Public, about How this (Other kind of Future EU - Turkey Relations) Might Look", the German Chancellor advised, (apparently Prefering Discrete Talks, at least for the Moment).
=> - In fact, as things stand "Today, here, the Comon (EU) Position is that We (EU Member States' Leaders) have Asked from the (EU) Commission to Reflect on the progress of the (EU - Turkey) Process".
>>> "And, Now, the Task that lies in Front of us, for which I shall Continue (Afterwards) with anOther Consultation, is (to Find out) HOW will we (EU) get back to Talks with Turkey, (i.e.), in WHICH FORMAT, should it be Reasonable to talk, without a showdown", Merkel anounced.
+ "And, I think that even about the Question of a (possible EU - Turkey Future) PARTNERSHIP i.e. Not Accession), No matter what it might Look like, Must also be Discussed with Turkey" itself, she added.
- Because, inside the EU Council, nowadays, "there is a very Wide Range of (various) Positions from my Colleages" (EU Member Countries' Leaders) on Turkey, she observed. And, even if, at least "Directly from the Start", "there is Not" yet "a Majority in favour" of a clear-cut position on that issue, "from the Other Side, there is, also, a Great Scepticism about the Current (EU - Turkey) Situation", Merkel Denounced.
- Indeed, from the EU Leaders' side, "there is a Great deal of Concern" about Turkey, she confirmed. "However, there is a Wish, No just to Cut the Bridges, But to stay in Contact with Turkey".
=> Therefore, the German Chancellor presented a kind of 2 STEPS Process :
=> (A) "NOW, we (EU Summit) have Asked from the (EU) Commission to Make Proposals to us, (initially) for the REDUCTION and Modification OF the (former) Pre-accession (Financial) AID", she reminded (Comp. Supra).
+ => (B) "But, the NEXT STEP is to Contact Turkey", she Addd. "We (EU Summit) have Not yet worked this out, as such, ToNight, But I am going to take Care about that !", Merkel promised.
- Because, "I do believe that We (EU) Must Talk anew with Turkey", she stressed, on this crucial point.
- Indeed, "it's somewhat Strange, if 27 or 28 (EU) Member States, ... which are in Association (with Turkey), and have been conducting accession Negotiations since 2005", and now even "regarding the Question of a (possible EU - Turkey) Partnership, whatever it might be", the might be obliged to deal only Indirectly, "Through a 3rd Party : the (EU) Commission", while, on the Contrary, "they (EU Countries) Must also Speak (directly) with Turkey", she found.
- Even if "It's Not Easy, because it requires, of course, a bit of very HONEST TALK", the German Chancellor warned, "at least" we have started "Tonight", she concluded on this point.
- Merkel made it "quite Clear", However, that such Talks with Turkey, at least "for the Time being", would "NOT" be for any eventual "OPENING of A NEW CHAPTER" (in the controversial and UnPopular EU - Turkey Accession Negotiations), "NEITHER on EU ENLARGEMENT, but, rather, about How to Advance" about all those above mentioned matters, as she said in Reply to Another relevant Question.
- Because "this is WORRYING, equally for All" (EU Countries), she observed.
- "And, yet, there are many STRATEGIC Reasons to remain", at least, "in DIALOGUE with Turkey", she added.
- "But NO ENLARGEMENT of the EU !", vis a vis Ankara. "This was also made CLEAR", Angie Merkel ensured in fine.
---------------------------
Now, since Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid was Initially Motivated, right from the Start, (and according to a Proposal made by Ankara's Government itself, explained as such in a 1999 Letter : See, f.ex. ...), by an Attempt to get EU Funds, until then Blocked by Series of Unfullfiled Conditions on Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of (International) Law,
then, Merkel's main Idea to Start Now Cutting "Pre-Accession Aid" previously earmarked for Turkey, while, on the Contrary, keeping EU's Financial promises to Ankara if she plays the game on the Middle East's Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants Issue,
=> May, eventually, Convince Turkey to, at last, start Droping its Contested EU Claims, which might be Paid Less and Less, in order to Focus, preferably, on those Other Tasks, which would be much Better Paid by the EU, (Comp. Supra).
-------------------------------------------------------
***
(NDLR: Partly UpDated)
("DraftNews", already send to "Eurofora"'s Donors/Subscribers earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be published asap.)
***
EPP Head Daul slams Turkey for recent Deadlock on Cyprus' ReUnification + Enclaved People's Rights
*Brussels/EPP Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- The recent "Disappointment" for a Deadlock on UN Talks for a Solution on Cyprus' ReUnification, is mainly due to Turkey's claims to maintain its Military there and for Unilateral Interventions also in Future, Denounced the President of ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party, after a Summit with all its Leaders, Earlier Today in Brussels, Calling Ankara to Comply with UN SG Guterres' plans and EU Principles for a Cyprus' Solution, while also immediately Withdrawing its latest Violations of Enclaved Greek Cypriot and Maronites Human Rights, (See Infra).
---------------
Meanwhile, EU Council (which has just convened here for a 2 Days-Long Summit of the 28 Member Countries, starting from this Evening), had Already Warned, as Early as since the 18 of September 2017, that it "May Address specific Foreign Policy Issues", as it had said, mentioning "p.m. Relations with Turkey", "in the light of Events". And at a "Draft Press Program" published on Early October (4/10/2017) this was linked with a "Working Dinner" for After 7.30 p.m. Later, on 17 October 2017, EU Council's President, Donald Tusk, finally wrote to EU Heads of State/Government that "over Dinner, we will look into the Deeply Worrying Developments in DPRK, the situation as regards Iraq, as well as Turkey".
But, initially, the official "Conclusions", published ToNight, of the "European Council Meeting (of) 19 October 2017", Surprisingly, did not contain more than only ... Half a Line, placed under the Heading on EU's "External Relations", merely mentioning that EU Summit "held a Debate on Relations with Turkey".- It was only Hours Later, that Tusk's own remarks became known on that matter, speaking about "a Substantive Discussion" "on Turkey" - i.e., apparently, leaving to German Chancellor Merkel and/or other Heads of State/Government, a chance to present the First that Key point (particularly at the German Elections of 9/2017) to the Press, (See Next "Eurofora"s Newsreports, due to follow Later-on).
- The main Outcome was, at least for the Time being, that "We (EU Summit) Tasked the (EU) Commission to reflect on whether to Cut and Re-Orient Pre-Accession Funds", Tusk confirmed, as expected, (See Infra, and, already : ....).
- We would like to "Keep the Door Open to Ankara, But, the current Reality in Turkey is Making this Difficult", he Criticized.
+ "It was Also Stressed that Turkey Needs to Respect All (EU) Member States, in its relations with the EU, including when it comes to the Implementation of the Existing (EU - Turkey) Customs Union agreement", Tusk added. Obviously refering to the Only Condition put by the EU for the Beginning of Accession Negotiation with Ankara had been (as early as, already since 2004-2005), to Stop Discriminating against EU Member Cyprus' Airplanes and Ships, (still Hindered, even Nowadays, on 2017, to use Turkey's Seaports/Airports, despite Ankara Government's undertaken Obligation for the contrary).
++ Moreover, Tusk noted the "Concerns raised by (Cyprus') President Anastasiades regarding Turkey's actions vis a vis the Greek Cypriots and Maronites", as he said, evoking the Foreign Occupation regime's Scandalous Recent Decision to Block traditional Humanitarian Aide to Enclaved Greek Cypriots, (mainly Elders, for the situation of whom ECHR has Condemned Ankara), f.ex. by Imposing "Taxes" even to UNFICYP's Humanitarian convoys, (as UNO's own services Denounced as Contrary to International Agreements), to which were recently Added also Turkish Military Occupation's attempts to sadically Divide its Victims : F.ex. by Imposing Discriminations between various Groups of Christian Refugees, etc., in a way which Risks even to eternaly submit some among them to a Never-Ending Foreign Military Occupation by Ankara's Invasion Army, (etc).
Typically, such Negative Moves come shortly after Turkey was accused to have practically pushed to a Deadlock the UN-sponsored Talks for a Peaceful ReUnification of the Island, mainly because it Insisted to Keep Invasion/Occupation Military Troops in Cyrus even when a Peace Deal might enter into force, and persisted in its Unilateral Military Intervention Claims :
---------------------
EPP's Leadership :
-----------------------------
- The Recent "Failure to reach a comprehensive settlement at the (UN-sponsored) Crans Montana Conference" for a Peaceful Solution of the Problem of Cyprus' ReUnification, "is due to Turkey’s insistence on maintaining guarantee and intervention rights in Cyprus, and the continuation of the presence of Turkish Military troops" there, Denounced, meanwhile, ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party's President, Joseph Daul, (an Experienced, also former Long-Time EPP Group of MEPs' Chairman at EU Parliament, from Strasbourg), after a long EPP Leaders' Summit, Earlier Today, here in Brussels.
=> Therefore,"We call on Turkey to Comply immediately with the approach of the UNSG (Antonio Guterres) and the EU’s Principles and Values, and constructively work for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem,” said Joseph Daul.
+ The EPP also "calls on Turkey to Withdraw immediately" "the recent measures imposed ...against the Enclaved Greek Cypriots and Maronites", (Comp. Supra), of which it was "informed" now, "and refrain from actions that are clear Violation of Human Rights", an Official EPP Press Release, send to Journalists, including "Eurofora" this Evening, added
-------------------------
- However, Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades, speaking to "Eurofora", earlier Today, had carefully Warned : - "Don't Expect much about Turkey !..."
+ Different Sources told "Eurofora" and other Journalists, later-on, that Many at least along the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group found that Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid has, nowadays, revealed to Be "Not Credible".
Nevertheless, several EU Member States apparently wish a Different way of reacting than simply "Stop" EU Negotiations, (as, f.ex., Austria, Denmark, a.o., reportedly prefer), or "Freezing" EU - Turkey Negotiations, (as a recent EU Parliament's Resolution has called), etc.
But, on the Opposite side, if EU did Not Act at all, or only Superficially, even in front of a so-called "Candidate for Accession to the EU" who obviously tramps underfoot its basic declared Values, has so Blatant GeoPolitical and Cultural Contradictions, and is so UnPopular, with a Strong Majority of EU Citizens notoriously Opposed to its EU claims, then, inevitably, such an EU would obviously Risk to be Discredited, First of all vis a vis the European People, (as it had Started to occur since 2000-2001, etc, provoking 3 "No" to EuroReferenda, Blocking/Delaying further EU Integration, provoking a rampant Euro-Scepticism, etc.
Therefore, according to other well informed sources, at least the EPP Heads of State/Government would be Ready to Cut Pre-Accession Funds, while still maintaining Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants - related Funds, unless Turkey persists to drag its feet and aggravates a recently growing failure to cooperate, particularly on ReAdmissions : In that case, part of those EU Funds too, might be Withheld by the European Institutions in the foreseeable Future.
-----------------------
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Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, speaking to "EuroFora", denied rumors on Turkey's attempts to avoid an EU check of its obligations on Cyprus on December 2009 by blackmailing Nicosia to either accept any deal with intransigeant Turkish claims contrary to EU values on the island's political issue, or face threats against the territorial integriy of the EU island, semi-occupied by Ankara's army.
On the contrary, the incoming EU President-in-office, speaking exclusively to "EuroFora", promissed that he will act for EU Council's decisions on December 2009 assessment of Turkey's commitments on Cyprus to be kept.
Bildt was asked to react to Cyprus' President Christofias' denunciation, earlier this week, that some want to exert "pressure" on Cyprus in order for Turkey to escape from its obligations.
Avoiding to mention any precise Deadline, Bildt, however, warned about "Consequences" in case of "failure" to reunite Cyprus, but without saying whose responsibility an eventual deadlock might be.
Asked by "EuroFora" if there is a risk for "Turkey's commitments to "be forgotten or downgraded", "despite crystal-clear EU Council decisions and EU Parliament's latest Resolution on the assessment to make at the end of this year on Turkey's obligations", according to rumours that, instead of pressing Turkey, on the contrary, there might be "pressure on Cyprus", even "blackmail", as Media reported and President Christofias denounced this week, Bildt denied :
- "No ! ", he clearly replied.
- On the contrary, invited by "EuroFora", to "reassure that the Swedish EU Presidency (7-12/2009) will keep a fair stance, based on principles", Bildt promised that "we (Swedish EU Presidency) will be very clear on all of the decisions taken by the (EU) Council".
He added, however, that "we have very numerous decisions that have been taken" by EU Council, as if he warned, also, on something else.
- "'I am not aware of any sort of statements coming out today''", Bildt started to say, on our reference to Cyprus' President Christofias" denunciation of Turkish lobby's manoeuvers this week, replying earlier to 'another"EuroFora"'s question during a Press Conference at EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
- '"I know the issues that you' are concerned with'", he added, remembering the statements he gave us when Sweden was chairing the PanEuropean CoE on 2008.
- "But, obviously, .. I think that Cyprus' Peace negotiations are extremenly important".
- And "'I think that we are at a unique moment in History, in the sens that both (Cyprus') President Christofias and Mr. Talat (the Turkish Cypriot leader), are personally convinced of the need to overcome the division".
- "It's 20 Years since the fall of Berlin Wal, but we still have a Capital in Europe (Nicosia) that's divided". ,
- 'I don't that we should loose any time in overcoming that"..
- ''We should be aware of the fact that success will bring great benefits, but failure, will also have major consequences. There will not be Status Quo' " It's a question of seeking a solution, or entering another situation, which is somewhat difficult to see exactly how that could evolve", he warned.
- "That being said, this is a negotiation for Cyprus itself", Bildt admitted.
- ''We (EU) can support, the (EU) Commission primarily, be technically helpful, and then, of course, there is a specific role for the UN, when it comes to the Cyprus' situation".
- "At least so far. It might not be for ever'. Certainly not for ever, but for this period of time", Bildt added, skiping now any reference to concrete threats on UNO's Peace keeping force in face of more than 40.000 Ankara's soldiers, contrary to some Press claims, (See previous NewsReports).
Replying to another "EuroFora"'s Question, if anyone might attempt to "impose a Deadline for the conclusion" of Cyprus' Talks on December 2009, Bildt avoided to speak of any precise Time-frame, and indirectly evoked the fact that 35 Years of Turkish Invasion/Occupation obviously durated too long :
'- "If I was from Cyprus, I would say that the Deadline was Yesterday ! '",
Bildt concluded.
Cyprus' Government Spokesman, Stephanou, reportedly pointed out that "a settlement is possible on December if Turkey changes its stance", accepting a solution for the reunification of the island based on UNO resolutiona and EU principles.
Earlier, EU Chair, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeld, highlighted an "historic opportunity" to "re-Unite" Cyprus according to EU's "basic Values"' (i.e. Human Rights) and 'Rules'", in a last-minute change of his draft speech to EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
The initial Draft spoke only about "healing" the island.
Significantly, Reinfeldt linked Cyprus' reunification with Turkey's obligations to respect EU's "Values" and "follow" EU's "common Rules" :
- What is "called Membership Negotiations" should lead, "at- the end of the day", into "sharing a set of common Basic Values (i.e. Human Rights, Democracy, etc), and following common Rules", stressed Reinfeld from the outset.
- "This is something that those on the Outside (of the EU), are now contemplating", up "to Ankara", for "a solution" on "Cyprus", observed the EU Chairman, immediately afterwards..
- "Both sides of Cyprus have been granted a historic opportunity to together reach an agreement on a solution to re-Unite the island, that has been divided for far too long", said Reinfeldt, modifying his draft text.
- "The Swedish Presidency will act ...in accordance with Commitments EU has made, on the basis of Criteria that apply", "as a Honest Broker", he promised.
- "To those on the inside (of the EU), allowing the membership process to become an opportunity to solve protracted disputes, can be tempting", he added.
"In such cases, we must find solutions that can benefit both sides, and open up a way forward. Otherwise, it would jeopardize the progress we have made towards EU integration", Reinfeldt said.