newsitems

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- The Decisions taken Today by CoE's Committee of Ministers on the Supervision of ECHR Judgements' execution, clearly Reveal that the Turkish Government still persists to show Contempt of Court, Threatening to provoke a Scandalous Crisis of the PanEuropean Human Rights' Protection Mechanism, by Refusing to Comply, even when a Tragicaly Growing List of Victims of Violations who Die, vainly Waiting for Justice to be done, was just Revealed in Strasbourg, After Decades since Ankara has been repeatedly Condemned for "continuing" Violations of Greek Cypriot Refuges/Internarly Displaced Persons' Human Rights to access their Family Homes and/or Private Properties, Return Back to their Ancestral Land in elementary conditions of Dignity and Safety, according to a well-established Case-Law of the PanEuropean Court, as well as UNO's relevant Principles, (earlier Codified on the basis of a Report drafted by Professor PIneiro, at nearby Geneva : Comp. Pineiro's replies to "Eurofora" co-Founder's Questions, published earlier at "TCWeekly"+).

Recent Hopes to at least advance decisively towards an overall Political Compromise for a Comprehensive and Sustainable Solution of the Long-Standing "Cyprus Issue" under UNO's auspices, which might have Helped to Alleviate a bit those Persisting Massive Violations of Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDP's Human Rights, by Agreeing how to ReUnify the Only CoE and EU Member Country which still remains de facto Divided since a 1974 Turkish Military Invasion and Occupation of the Northern Part of that GeoPoliticaly Strategic Island, appeared Dashed and/or Uncertain since Early January 2017, when Turkey itself, joined, in a Multilateral Political Conference at nearby Geneva, beyond Cyprus, also the UK and Greece, (i.e. the  Former "Guarantors" of a Post-Colonialist 1960 Deal which gave Birth to an initial Cyprus' Constitution, as an Independent, but Bi-Communal State, shared between 72% of Greek Cypriots and 18% or Turkish Cypiots then, soon fallen into a spiralling series of Blockades, Tension and Conflicts, notoriously Fueled and Exploited by those who secretly wanted to provoke and Impose a Partition of the Island, strongly Rejected by UNO's Security Council Resolutions) :

Ankara's Government, indeed, notoriously and explicitly Refused from the outset to Withdraw its Military from Cyprus, and to let a ReUnified Island find its own ways to Defend the Security of all its Citizens, (after the 2004 EU Accession of the Country, now under an EU umbrella, as well as through UN SC supervision, etc), withOut any Unilateral Foreign Military Interference in the Future, even if this had been Clearly Declared, already a quite Long Time before, as a Key Aim of that Conference.

Since then, a rather Good Ambiance, which had been Previously Created between Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades, and the Leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community, Mustafa Akinci, (thanks also to UN SG's Envoy, Espen Barth Eide, UNFICYP's Head Elizabeth Spehar, as well as of Negotiators  teams' Chiefs, Experienced Ambassador and former EU Minister Andreas Mavroyannis with former "MP" and Foreign Representative Ozdil Nami, etc), suddenly Started to Fade Away, until it Risked to Vanish, under a Growing Series of Real Issues (such as, f.ex. in Addition to Ankara's Stuborn Insistence for its Foreign Occupation Troops to remain at the Island and its Military Intervention Claims to be Eternalized, also its sudden Claim for 80 Millions of Turks to get the Same Rights as EU Citizens inside Cyprus, in case of Solution : A Demand considered as UnAcceptable by mainstream EU Officials, Comp. f.ex., among many others, also : ...), and various Pretexts, (the Latter being merely ... a Calender of Public Holidays, adopted, after an Amendment by a Small Party, at Cyprus' Parliament, which is independent from the Presidency, as in the USA), etc.

So that, suddenly, the Turkish Cypriot Community Leader, Akinci, recently Refused even to Participate in the Bi-Communal Peace Talks organized these Yeas under UNO's auspices, and prospects for a Decisive Breakthrough towards a Political Solution, started, more recently, to Disappear, obviously Threatening a Stalemate.

CoE's Senior Officials, both from its Inter-Governemental sector and from the ECHR itself, speaking Earlier to "Eurofora", already since December 2015 in Strasbourg, had Warned, in Various but Converging ways, that the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, would rather Wait to See how those Top Political Talks might evolve, but if they are Threatened to be Blocked and/or to go down a slipery slope seriously Opposed to Human Rights, then, Decisive Action would be taken, by Strasbourg's Organization, at least for an elementary Respect of ECHR's Judgements, (to which all 47 CoE's Member States have officially Committee to abide).

Nowadays, Turkey has, indeed, done Both : Block UNO sponsored Talks for an overall Political Solution of Cyprus' issue, (Comp. Supra), and Persist into Refusing to Comply with ECHR's Judgements which have Condemned Ankara for continuing Mass Violations of Human Rights in Cyprus :

This last Fact was clearly established anew this Week in Strasbourg, when CoE's Committee of Ministers examined, during its Spring 2017 Human Rights' Session, 3 Kinds of Cases, concerning Individual Applications by Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDPs, and Families of "Missing" Persons who have faced Enforced Disappearances since the Turkish Military Invasion and Occupation after 1974 until now, as well as the "Inter-State" affair "Cyprus v. Turkey", which extends over almost All various Human Rights' aspects of the Cyprus issue.

In all these Cases, Turkey not only didn't Comply yet with ECHR's ruling, Continuing to Massively Violate core Human Rights in Cyprus, but it Even Persisted to Refuse Paying the "Just Satisfaction" that EuroJudges have fixed for the Damages already provoked to the detriment of the Victims.

- So that CoE's Committee of Ministers, responsible for "Supervising" ECHR Judgements' Execution by Member States, had, once again, to clearly "Call on Turkey" to, at least, "Abide by its ... Obligation to Pay the Just Satisfaction awarded by the European Court" to the Victims.

Something which should now be done "WthOut Further Delay", while also being an "UnConditional" obligation.  This goes Both on several Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDPs' and "Missing" Persons' Individual Cases, as well as in the "Cyprus v. Turkey" InterState case, which extends on All Massive Violations still Continuing in Cyprus.

+ Moreover, since Turkey had already Failed, several Times in the Past, to Fullfil its Obligations in this regard, COE's Committee of Ministers notes that such a Call is launched anew Nowadays by "Reiterating" its Previous Appeals, after Several such Failures by Turkey, Found and Denounced during its Previous sessions. In Addition, on the Inter-State case, which concerns Manifold Violations and ECHR's Judgement is Older (2001), CoE's Decision, Today, also "Insists Again" on that key point.

However, among 37 Groups of Cases examined this Week by CoE's Committee of Ministers, where ECHR Judgements are still Pending for Execution, throughout various among the PanEuropean Organisation's 47 Member States, it's ...Only on Human Rights Violations by Turkey committed in Cyprus, that Victims' Applications, already lodged as Early as Since 1999 or Even 1990 etc., (i.e. 18 or Even 27 Years Before !), have Not Yet Resulted at least in a Payment of a "Just Satisfaction" awarded by the European Court, as CoE's Official Documents Reveal Now :

Only in a Few Other, ordinary Cases concerning f.ex. conditions of Detention in Bulgaria and/or Russia, against which Applications had been Lodged on 1998-1999, remain some affairs still pending for execution, (and there, both steps for implementation have been taken, and just satisfaction apparently paid, whenever relevant, Contrary to what Turkey did on those Cyprus' affairs).

But Not even One Other case where Victims' Applications had been lodged already as Early as since 1990, i.e. 27 Years Before, without Any Concrete Result for the Implementation of ECHR Judgements by the State found Responsible for Human Rights Violations, as it's Unfortunately happening Only concerning Violations of Greek Cypriots' Rights by Turkey, particularly in the very Serious cases of the "Inter-State" Affair of "Cyprus v. Turkey", (which Includes also vases of Refugees/IDPs, etc), and for the Tragic Issue of "Missing" People, (where even Unlawful Detention, Torture and Murder seem to have occured at several occasions, amog those ECHR Judgements still Pending for Execution at CoE's Committee of Ministers Nowadays !

During all this Record - High, obviously Too Long Period of Time, that Victims are still Waiting for Jutice to be done, CoE's Committee of Ministers has Vainly Multipled various kinds of Toothless "Calls", or "Resolutions", "Letters", etc., "Urging" Turkey to Comply with ECHR's Judgements, at least partly, (i.e., f.ex., by Paying a "Just Satisfaction" awarded to the Victims or their Families by EuroJudges, even if Ankara's Agents might, eventualy, still Persist to Commit a lot of other Similar Violations in Many Other Cases of the Same Kind against Tens, Hundrends, Thousands, or even Hundreds of Thousands of Greek Cypriots seriously Affected by manifold Consequences of the Continuing Turkish Military Invasion/Occupation all these Years-long), as also other CoE's Official Data Revealed recently : Comp., f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coemazochismfacingturkishcontemptofechrjudgmentsoncyprusrefugeesmissingpersons.html ). With No Results...

>>> And Now, this Spring 2017 CoE Committee of Ministers' Human Rights Session (7-10 March 2017) Revealed that Even a Tragicaly Growing Number of Victims of Turkey's massive Violations of Human Rights, are ...Dying by Old Age, while Vainly Waiting, all this Time, for ECHR Judgements to be, at last, Implemented : A Dramatic Phenomenon, which has Recently Started to Reach Worrying Proportions, as a Letter from the Experienced Lawyer of a Group of Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons, Achileas Demetriades :

 - Indeed, another Greek Cypriot Refugee (among those whose Human Rights were found Violated by Turkey, according to ECHR's Judgements) has just "Passed Away", and his "Funeral" recently took place, Added to the previous Deaths of 4 More such Victims of Turkey's Continuing Violations of many Thousands of Refugees/IDPs since the 1974 Military Invasion and Occupation of the Northern Part of the Island, despite ECHR's Rulings, Demetriades denounced.

Already, several Years Ago, former ECHR President Luzius Wildhaber, from Switzerland, speaking to "Eurofora" during a Press Conference at the CoE, had offered his "Sincere Excuses" for the Fact that a 1st Greek Cypriot Refugee/IDP, (an Old Lady who had Lodged an Application to Strasbourg's Court against Turkey seeking Access to her Family Home, from which she had to Flee after the 1974 Turkish Invasion and Occupation, being Still Hindered by that Occupation Regime to Return Back to her Ancestral Land, and/or to Access her Private Property), had been the 1st, then, to Die, while Vainly Waiting, then, for EuroJudges to issue a Final Judgement in her case : - "This is Not Normal, and it Won't Happen again !", President Wildhaber had Promised.

    The Latest concrete Example is that of Appliquant Iordanis Iordanou, who had lodged a Legal Complaint to ECHR as early as since 1998, and Won his case with a Judgemet published in Strasbourg on 2010, but Turkey hasn't yet, neither Restituted the Refugee/IDP's Usurpated Belongings, Nor at least Payed the "Just Satisfaction" awarded by the European Court to the Victim for that Continuing Deprivation of his family property, not even 20 Years After that Application :   - The Victim "Passed Away on ...February 1 February 2017, ... and his (was) on Saturday, 4 February 2O17", anounced his Lawyer, Achileas Demetriades, in his Letter to CoE's Officials competent on ECHR Judgements' Execution issues. The Deceased leaves a Wife, 3 Children and a Sibling, from that Family of Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDPs.

(Funeral Notice for a Greek Cypriot Refugee/IDP who Died on 2017, after vainly Waiting for ECHR Judgements in his case to be executed by Turkey)

 - "He joins" 3 Other recently Deceased Appliquants to ECHR, Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDPs, "the late Demades, Saveriades and Christofides, whose ... Judgements, Despite, their Filing more than 26 Years Ago, are still Ignored by" the Turkish Government, their Lawyer observed.

  - In this regard, he Reminded a "Prophetic" Letter, that one of those, Now Deceased Victims of Human Rights' Violations, had send, already as Early as since 1995, to the then Director of CoE's Commission on Human Rights, (and Future CoE's Deputy Secretary General), Christian Kruger, (currently a Lawyer still practising in Strasbourg) :

    - "... If Human Rights are meant for Living People, there is a good chance that Many of us will Not make it to Experience the practical Restoration of the Human Rights we were Deprived of since 1974" (Turkish Military Invasion and Occupation). Indeed, already at that Time (1995), "Many of my Friends Passed Away in any event. .. ", Demades had Warned, (Long Before he Dies, also himself, vainly Waiting for a famous ECHR Judgement issued in his case, which has clearly Condemned Turkey, to at least Start to be Applied by Ankara's Authorities, which, on the Contrary, still Refuse to Abide with ECHR Judgements in such cases, as Today's Decisions taken by CoE's Committee of Ministers again prove).

   => Therefore, Nowadays, after so Many Recent Deaths of Refugees/IDPs vainly Waiting, during so Long Periods of Time, for Turkey to Implement ECHR's Judgements, (Comp. SUpra), that Key Lawyer (who had obtained the 1st in History ECHR Judgement in favor of a Refugee/IDP in Cyprus, Mrs Tina Loizidou, back on 1994, Opening a much-Hoped Horizon for most Refugees throughout Europe and around the World, which has been Used also by UNO's Human Rights' Council at Nearby Geneva, the Inter-American Court, etc), urged CoE's Committee of Ministers to Trigger a procedure based on Article 3 of CoE's Statute, about the PanEuropean Organisation Member States' Obligation to abide by ECHR's Judgements, against Turkey's persisting Refusal to respect them, in these cases too.

 -   - In particular, the Victims' Lawyer invited the competent CoE's body to officialy "Declare that "Turkey has Seriously Violated Article 3 of the Statute of the Council of Europe", (Comp. Supra).

  - The Head of CoE's Directorate for ECHR Judgements' Execution, Mrs Genevieve Mayer, reportedly Replied recently to the Victims' Lawyers that "the Issue is Attentively Followed by (CoE's) Secretary General (Thornbjorn Jagland) himself, and that the Strasbourg Organisation's Committee of Minsters "has Firmly and Consistently Insisted" on Turkey's "UnConditional Obligation to Pay the Just Satisfaction" Awarded by ECHR's Judgements.

 - Meanwhile, apparently in Despair, Some among those Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDPs who had clearly Won their cases at the ECHR, but saw its Judgements remain UnImplemented by Turkey for so Long, have Offered to "Withdraw their Applications" (i.e., practicaly : Stop Asking for Restitution of their Family Homes/Private Properties, without Prejudice and Reserving their Rights), "If" Turkey, at least, "paid the Just Satisfaction awarded" by the ECHR.

But, the Final Decisions of CoE's Committee of Ministers published Today, as already Cited Above, clearly indicate that, in fact, Turkey now Refused even that Compromise.

 => Expressing, Afterwards, "Deep Concerns" for "the Future of Human Rights in Europe, due of such Failures ... to Execute Final Judgements of the ECHR", another Lawyer of Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDPs, Professor Andreas Orphanides, also urged CoE's Committee of Ministers "to Take more Drastic and Effective Measures on Turkey".
    
>>> Obviously, No Mechanism for Human Rights Protection might be considererd as Reliable, nor Efficient at all, if it is practicaly Blocked by a Recalcitrant State during More than 27 Years of Legal Procedures, (Comp. Facts cited Supra), until the Victims of Serious Violations start to Tragicaly Die, passing away one after the other, after all this Time Wasted without Result, withOut having Started to get not even a part of due Justice !....

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    - An Experienced CoE Senior Official on Human Rights, speaking to "Eurofora" under condition of Anonymity, pointed, However, to the Fact that CoE's Committee of Ministers has Just Decided this week in Strasbourg to Postpone all these 3 Groups of Cases mentioned above, for the Immediately Following, Next Human Rights Session of June 2017, (instead of Postponing consideration for a Much Longer Period of Time, as it's often done routinely). He also Observed that the Forthcoming, Next CoE Presidency by the Czech Republic, and particularly, the Chairmanship of the Human Rights' Sessions "by Denmark", (the Following CoE President, soon vice-President), practicaly Starting, precisely, from June 2017, could, eventualy, Bring in some much Needed Fresh Energy on ECHR Judgements' Implementation, in cases such as those concerning Turkey, etc., which may Change the Situation soon.

    - Meanwhile, Replying to "Eurofora"s and Other Participants' Questions, during a High-Level Conference at the CoE on Security and Human Rights, Earlier this week, the Experienced President of the International Institute for Human Rights "René Cassin", and former ECHR President, professor Jean-Paul Costa, Timely stressed, as a matter of General Principle, that, as far as ECHR Judgements' Implementation is concerned, "We should Not look only to the Committee of Ministers, but Also to several Other CoE's bodies, including, f.ex., also its Parliamentary Assembly" (PACE), etc.

    + This might become a really Important Direction, actually, at a Moment when PACE's Monitoring Committee has just Anounced, this week in Strasboug, its Decision to officialy Demand for Turkey to get Back into a fully-Fledged "Monitoring process", (instead of the Mere "Post-Monitoring Dialogue", into which Ankara is involved since 2014-2015, i.e. a much more Lenient, Softer procedure of comparatively Lesser Importance), Because of a "Serious Deterioration" and "Unacceptable" practices by the Turkish Authorities, accused to commit "Repeated Violations" of Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, as the Latest Version of a Report drafted by 2 mainstream MEPs, Marianne Mikko, a Socialist from Estonia, and Ingebjørg Godskesen, a Conservative from Norway.

    ++ In an almost Parallel Move, also CoE's "Venice Committee" prestigious Constitutional Law Watchdog, (composed mainly of Presidents of National Constitutional or Highest Courts, and Other Top Legal Expertsj, just Published Today its Conclusions on Turkey's Draft New Constitution, (notoriously Wished particularly by its President, Tayip Erdogan, who seeks to Strengthen his Powers further), Slaming that Plan as a "Dangerous step Backwards".

    => Both these 2 very Critical Findings, Added now also to a 3rd, about Ankara's persisting Refusal to Comply with ECHR's Judgements, (as we saw above), could be Debated, Later this Evening and mainly Tomorrow, by CoE's Parliamentary Assembly's "Standing" Committee, (which has SImilar Powers to PACE's Plenary), meeting Now in Spain.

    - It's True that, at least the President of PACE's "EuroLeft" Group of MEPs, Senator Tiny Cox from the Netherlands, Speaking previously to "Eurofora", had initialy Confirmed an Official Anouncement of his Group, that they Intended to Ask for an Urgent Debate and Vote on Turkey's recent Human Rights' Violations "on March, at (PACE's) Standing Committee, in Spain", (i.e. practicaly Tomorrow).

    The move was Motivated also by an Exceptional Incident, last January 2017 in Strasbourg, when, a Crystal-Clear Majority of MEPs in CoE Assembly's Winter 2017 Plenary Session were Hindered to Discuss and Vote on a Draft Resolution about Turkey at an "Urgent" Debate, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coedebateandmonitorturkey.html + ...), after an Unexpected 1 Vote Difference inside PACE's Bureau opposed such a Last-Minute Change in the Agenda of the Plenary, making it Necessary to get a Special, 2/3 Majority of Votes in the Plenary for that purpose, which wasn't reached then.

    This had made Various MEPs' Upset, while some other sources even alleged that this UnDemocratic U-Turn might have been provoked by a "Corrupted" MEP who would have been "Paid" by Turkey to swift his Vote at the Last Minute inside PACE's Bureau so that Ankara would Escape from Scrutiny and even a possible 1st Sanction for its recently Aggravated, but, in fact, Long-Standing Wrong-doings on Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law.

    At any case, it's also a Fact that, at the Conclusion of that PACE's Plenary, last January in Strasbourg, it's President, ChristianDemocrat/EPP Pedro Agramunt, from Spain, anounced to Journalists, including "Eurofora", that a separate Decision had been taken to Launch an unprecedented, independent "Enquiry against Corruption", in order to Investigate both this and other, unrelated, "Rumours" inside CoE, while also Priomising that at the Next PACE's Plenary, on April 2017, the Issue of Turkey would be certainly Debated.

    All this, apparently seems to Advance towards a Healthy Direction, Towards a Probable, and well Deserved, Critical CoE Move versus Turkey's, recently Aggravated, Violations of Human Rights, etc., - which might have some Important Consequences also vis a vis the EU, since an eventual Decision to Re-Open a fully-fledged PACE's "Monitoring" procedure for Ankara (Comp. Supra) could, normaly, be Incompatible with a Continuation of the Controversial and UnPopular Turkish status as a "Candidate" to EU Accession, because such a PACE Move would practicaly mean that Ankara does Not Fulfill EU's "Copenhagen Citeria", on Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law, which are a PreRequisitive for Any Foreign Country to be considered as a "Candidate" for the EU.

    But, some Other Facts, Warn also about possible Risks for such a Move to eventualy Back-pedal at the Last Minute :

    Indeed, that Controversial Postponement from January to April 2017, as far as PACE's critical Debate and Vote on Turkey is concerned, (Comp. Supra), has placed the Issue at a Moment which Fits Turkish President Erdogan's notorious Aim to Impose some Controversial Constitutional Changes, destinated to Beef up his own Power, by a Referendum scheduled for Mid-April, i.e. Before PACE's Next Plenary at the End of April. Moreover, by also another Coincidence, that Date Fits also the Turkish Government's declared Aim to enentualy Phase Out its current "State of Emergency" in a 3 Months Period since its Last Extension, which Ends also Before the End of April 2017.

    => Thus, obviously Turkey might again Claim, with a Last Minute, Tactical Modification, just Before the forthcoming, next PACE's Plenary, at the End of April, that it would have made a so-called "Progress" on Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, (after Erdogan would have practicaly Obtained his Political Aims, also by Abusing of Controversial, notoriously Oppressive Measures during all this Period of Time), so that PACE should, once again, "Welcome" such a possible "Step in the Right Direction", etc., (as it's usualy said in such kind of circumstances, whenever someone seeks to Cover-up something Nasty, by Pretending to have "Changed" at the Last Minute), and be Pushed anew to ...Drop any Real Sanction on Turkish Authorities aggravated Human Rights' Violations...

    Will Strasbourg's unique and precious PanEuropean Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights succeed to Prevent and/or Bypass such Risks to practicaly "Collapse", both in the Minds of the People, who are more and more Surprized to Witness so many recent Setbacks (Comp. Supra), and in Real Practice ? Shall we all see a kind of much-Needed nowadays "ReNaissance" of that (Valuable, but seriously Threatened) PanEuropean Human Rights' Mechanism on Spring 2017, or the Contrary ?

    As always, in such kind of often Tricky Developments, Facts and Deeds, not just Words, will Finaly Say, whether the Trust of the People and all other Players, will be well Deserved, or Not, by CoE's Human Rights' protection Mechanism in the foreseable Future, particularly at this Crucial Historic Juncture that all Europe stands Today...

(../..)

***

("DraftNews", as already send to "Eurofora" Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be published asap).

***

Speaking  to "Eurofora" on that "Hot" issue Today, she reacted to a Topical Public Debate which has just reached the level even of German Chancelor Angie Merkel, the Dutch Prime Minister and Top Opposition Leaders, EU Commission's vice-President Jean-Claude Juncker, etc., (See Infra).

Elsa is even more Directly concerned, since she has been now selected as the "Republicans"' New Candidate for MP in the 1st Constituency of Strasbourg, to which belongs also the Suburb of "Haute-Pierre" (means : High Stone), inside which is located the City's Biggest Building for Collective Socio-Cultural Events : that of "Zenith - Europe", where the controversial Mr Erdogan had already chosen to hold, Exceptionaly, a  Political Event, (a "First" ever in that Facility, build with Public Funds, mainly at Local/Regional level, by a previous Mayorship in Strasbourg, steming from Today's "Republican" Party), gathering here Thousands of openly politicized Turkish Immigrants from several European Countries, (and particularly, from nearby Germany, etc), already Back on October 2005, (Comp., f.ex., "Eurofora"s NewsReport on that event, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/erdoganspeechonterroromitsisis.html, despite the fact that, as many others, "Eurofora"s Family had to Find a "Refuge" those Days at Nearby Switzerland, escaping from those politicized Turkish Crowds, added to various "Counter-Demonstrations", etc., which had submerged then the area).

- "No", I don't think at all that it would be a good idea to eventualy allow to hold such a meeting nowadays here in Strasbourg, Miss Schalck replied to a relevant "Eurofora"s Question on that Topical Issue.

- "Here" (i.e. in France), "it's for us", French Politicians, "to hold Public Debates, on the Country's National and/or European Political Choices, told us the Youngest vice-President of Strasbourg's "Great East" Mega-Region, located at the "Heart" of Europe, EU and €urozone, (which has been Recently Extended considerably, up to the point to have Now common Borders bringing Together 5 European Countries : France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium, i.e. practicaly Linking UNO's Headquarters at nearby Geneva, to Strasbourg's Headquarters of the CoE, ECHR and EU Parliament's full Plenaries, as well as Luxembourg's EU Court of Justice and Court of Auditors, up to Belgium's EU Council and EU Commission's Headquarters), speaking at the Eve of the Forthcoming French Presidential and Parliamentary Elections of April/May and June 2017, respectively, which are notoriously Crucial also for Topical Debates on EU's foreseable Future.

- As far as the Controversial current Turkish Government is concerned, "They have enough things to do for themselves in their Country, which have not yet been done", Elsa Shalck, furthermore, criticaly observed, Explaining to "Eurofora" that she obviously referred to all those Recent CoE's and other European/International Institutions' Official Announcements, including even Today in Strasbourg, which Criticize and/or Warn against Serious Risks of Massive Violations of Human Rights, Backlash on Rule of Law and/or basic Democratic Principles, particularly Aggravating in nowadays Turkey  : F.ex. by CoE Parliamentary Assembly's "Monitoring" Committee, CoE's Human Rights' Commissioner, CoE's "Venice" Commission on Democracy through Law, etc, and even by UNO's Human Rights' bodies at Nearby Geneva, (etc).

The French ChristianDemocrat/EPP Young Politician was also reacting to "Eurofora"s reminder of the Recent Public Controversy between the German Chancelor Angie Merkel and other Top EU Political Leaders, with controversial Turkish President Tayip Erdogan, who notoriously Accused modern Germany for so-called ..."NAZI remnants" (sic !), but also the Netherlands for ... "FASCIST practice" (re-sic !), added to EU Commission's President, former Long-Time Prime Minister of Luxembourg and f. Chairman of "€uroGroup", Jean-Claude Juncker, who was also Accused of ... "RACIST trend" (sic !!!) by Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister for European affairs, Omar Tcelik, (Both mostly Echoed also by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglou, and/or Prime Minister Binali Yildirim), for Not Yielding to Ankara Government's Growing Pressure to Impose Public Meetings of Foreign Governments with Turkish Immigrants inside Europe for Open Political Propaganda on Controversial Issues, to whom the Top German and EU Leaders reportedly Replied that such Insults were "Absolutely Inexcusable" and/or "Shameful", respectively.

After several Refusals in Germany, (particularly from Regional "Länder", i.e. Federated States' and/or various other Authorities), Press reports for a General Refusal by the Austrian Government, an Interdiction of Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglou's Airplane to land in the Netherlands, where Police and/or Local/Regional Authorities also Prohibited 2 Public Meetings with Turkey's Ministers, it's also in Switzerland that the Zurich Canton and another one were Added to a Fast-Growing Series of European Countries Unwilling to yield to Ankara's Pressure and even open Threats on that "Hot" and Controversial Issue, which was Earlier Preceded by Popular Reactions against some very Loud Nationalist Turkish Gatherings with Ankara's current regime's representatives f.ex. in Koeln and/or other German Cities, followed Recently by the "Ditib" Turkish "Imam Spying" Scandal in Germany, added to a Turkish Consulate Spying Scandal also in the Netherlands and elsewhere inside Europe, (where Turkish Officials had notoriously been urged to even Collect Informations and/or Denonciations against Dissident figures or views expressed in public, even of critical Journalists, etc), Amidst mounting Tension provoked also by various kinds of relevant Street Demonstrations and/or Counter-Demonstrations, etc., resulting to Inevitable Fears of even more Unrest, Mob Clashes, etc.

This was, by a striking Coincidence, almost Immediately Followed even by a recrudecence of Isolated but Serial, and Bloody Violent apparently Islamist Terrorist Attacks Targetting various Innocent Civilian People in Germany, (Cowardly even a Young Girl aged only 13 y.o., reportedly Attacked from Behind with an Axe, an Old Man aged 80 y.o. seriously Knifed, with Life-Threatening Wounds, a massive Gas-Attack inside Public Transports' system, etc), but also 2 Different Reported "Explosions" in Sweden, (etc).

European Government's Criticism of Erdogan's loud and abrupt Accusations against Socio-Cultural "Integration" policies for Turkish a.o. Immigrants, made while Visiting Germany, during such Public Meetings, Back on Autumn/Winter 2005, had notoriously been almost immediately Followed by Exceptionaly Violent Moves and Clashes by some apparently (at least partly) Manipulated Immigrants in several French Suburbs, setting Fires, destroying Cars, Robbing Shops, etc, which Ceased only after then President Jaques Chirac authorized then Minister of Interior Nicolas Sarkozy to use all adequate means for the reestablishment of Republican Order. But, Before that, inter alia, 2 Young Teenagers had been reportedly Led by a Turkish origin Adult aged 21, into a Dangerous Electric Power Building Site, allegedly under pretext to "Hide" from French Police, during Stone-Throwing and Fire-Setting, Clubs-Brandishing, etc. Street Clashes, where the inexperienced Children, from Other Immigrant origins, were inevitably Electrocuted Dead, while their "Leader", that Turkish Adult 21 y.o., (perhaps Experienced also by notorious Turkish Lobbies' Links to Buildings' Business, there and elsewhere), was the Only one who managed to get out Alive, Fueling Afterwards even More Street Clashes Following Controversial Claims that he reportedly made to Local Medias immediately after that Tragic Incident, (even if some of his parents reportedly tried to alleviate somehow such "Hot" Statements, Later-on).

Be it, possibly, for the Sake of Many Thousand of People's Human Rights' currently Massively Oppressed, notoriously in Turkey, particularly nowadays, (even Long Before an alleged Short-lived, 6 Hours-long "Coup Attempt" on July 2016, which served for main Pretext to a serious Aggravation afterwards, as, inter alia, also UNO's High Commissioner on Human Rights, Zeid bin Ra’ad's strong Denonciations of already Previous Mass Oppression of mainly Kurdish Populations in Turkey, obviously show), and/or in order to Simply Prevent Risks of "Importing more Tensions" inside Europe, f.ex. by probably provocative pro-Turkish Government Demonstrations, facing various "Counter-Demonstrations" by Dissidents, Human Rights Organisations, etc, but, may be also some eventual Concerns about Preventing recrudences of that Recent "Spying" Scandal inside Europe, reportedly by Ankara Government-controlled "Ditib" a.o. "Imams", Turkish Consulates, etc, as, f.ex. in Germany and/or the Netherlands, etc, particularly in the Recent Delicate Context of various Islamist Terrorists' Bloody Attacks Targetting Innocent Civilians in Europe, the USA and elsewhere in the World, (Comp. Supra), etc., EU Politicians' reserves on such Controversial Foreign Government-pushed Public Gatherings nowadays, obviously should not be underestimated.

 Particularly not when it Starts here by a Rising New French Politician, with deep Links to Both Young People, and Franco-German trans-border Relationship.

+ As for those Turkish Government Accusations of .."Racism" (sic) against EU Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker (Comp. Supra), Elsa's observations to a pre-Electoral Strasbourg gathering, were Interesting, particularly concerning "Integration"'s need and potential : While having, naturaly, Strongly Defended her Political Family's beliefs to France's "Values", "History" and "Identity", etc., at the same time, she pointed at Young Jonas, another "Republican" Party Youth Member, who had recently made a Good Speech on French Politics, underlying the Fact, that, even if when he came here, he barely spoke the French Language, nevertheless, at Present, we are Proud of him !", she rightfully concluded, smiling Friendly to that Young French of Migrant origin, Well Integrated now in the European Culture. 

***

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Real Children's "Age Verification is a very Important Issue" Today, particularly in relation to Sexual Abuse and Migration, so that a special COE's Report with relevant "Guidelines" is expected asap, Replied to an "Eurofora" Question in a Press Conference in Strasbourg a key CoE Officer in charge of Data collection for the PanEuropean Organisation's Child Abuse Watchdog, the "Lanzarote" Convention's Committee for Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and/or Abuse. He spoke on the occasion of the Publication, later Today, of its Latest Report Exclusively on an allegedly Great Number of "Minors" among an UnPrecedented 1,5 Million Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants' influx in Europe via Turkey during 2015-2016, (See Estimated Numbers Infra).

    - Indeed, "there are a Lot of Individuals Pretending to be "Children", in order to get certain Advantages", acknowledged earlier the President of CoE's "Lanzarote" Committee, Claude Janizzi, an Expert from the State of Luxembourg, in an exchange with CoE's Officials, a copy of which was shown at the Beginning of Today's Press Conference in the Morning, before being published also at CoE's web site Later-on.

 + Moreover, CoE's Report Estimates, which point at about 337.000 "Children Asylum Seekers", Focus a particular Attention on Risks for Sexual Abuses, concerning mainly around 88.300 "Unaccompanied Children", (down from a previous CoE Assembly Estimation of almost 100.000), during 2015,  60% of whom have even reportedly "Gone Missing".

    Among others, f.ex. also Germany's Federal Budget Authorities had anounced an Exceptionaly High Amount of Funds earmarked for Care reserved to such "Unaccompanied" Mass Migrant "Children" these years.

    - However, in Reply to a Question by "Eurofora" about the Younger or Older Age, and or the probable Cause of so many, reportedly "Unaccompanied Children" recently, CoE's Officer in charge of the Collection of Data, Mikael Poutier, from France, observed that "a Majority, are Older" Minors.

    - Moreover, many alleged Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants seem or claim to be about "16-17 Years Old", but, in fact, several times, it's "Not Clear" whether they are really Minors or Young Adults, he admitted.

    This seems Confirmed also by CoE's Final Report, Published Later Today, which observes that "Most Unaccompanied children in the EU are 16-17 year-Old", i.e. at the Borderline with Adults (from 18 years old).

    => Therefore, "Age Verification is a Very Important Issue" Nowadays, told us the competent CoE's Officer, (See also Infra).

    Inter alia, also because when one is Not really a Chlld, he/she won't have right to a special Protective Status. While also, Experience shows that "Mixing" Adults with Minors can Expose Real Children to various Dangers of Abuse, particularly when they Share some Collective Facilities Together, provoking Promiscuity problems, (Aggravated in some "overcrowded" Reception Centers, in case of Longer stay, etc).

    But several National Officials have already observed that Many among the Youngsters who recently entered in Europe via Turkey, appeared withOut any Official Document attesting of their Age, a lot of them routinely Claiming to be Minors.    

    During a special Hearing organized recently in Strasbourg by CoE's Assembly, on the sidelines of its Plenary Session, a Representative of "Amnesty International" from Germany denounced the Fact that a very DisProportionate Number of 2015-2016 Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants who arrived through Turkey claimed to be "Minors", in a much Bigger Percentage of that Total Population, than ever found in any other case, showing that Something AbNormal is going on, probably many among them Concealing their Real Age.

 Another Expert, from a French NGO, initialy said that PreExisting Medical Procedures for Age Assessment (some from a Remote Past) appeared Difficult to handle and/or of UnCertain Accuracy, or inadequate in such special cases. But when he was Questioned by "Eurofora" on whether it was Both Necessary and Feasible to Find some More Efficient Scientific and Practical Methods of Age Verification, that Medical Expert's Reply was clearly Affirmative.     

    => Therefore,  CoE has Recently entrusted a competent Committee "on Children's Rights" with the Task to "Define Guidelines for Age Verifications", and we are all Waiting the Conclusions of its forthcoming "Report" on that "very Important matter", Anounced CoE's Official Mikael Poutier, in Reply to "Eurofora"s Questions.

He was speaking about "CANHEF", (set up Last Year for the "Implementation" of the PanEuropean Organisation's "Strategy for the Rights of the Child", and relevent "Expertise" on Legal "Standards", while also Following particularly the Work of Monitoring Bodies as the "Lazarote" Committee against Sexual Abuse, etc), which has already Decided to form "Drafting Groups" of Experts on Children and "Digital" Technologies, as well as "Migration", since September 2016, and is due to Meet at the End of March 2017 in Strasbourg, but also on Autumn 2017.  

    - Until then, it's "Too Early" to make more specific comments on that Hot Matter, he Carefuly Advised. While, f.ex., as Other CoE Officers observed, in case of "Doubt" for the Age of Young Victims of Sexual Abuse, if there are reasons to Believe that they are Children, Lanzerote Convention asks to consider them as such, Pending Verification of their Real Age, in order to ensure their Protection from Agressors Assaulting them, CoE's Report reminds Today, urging Member States, as f.ex. Hungary, (an Exceptionaly Affected EU Country from that UnPrecedented Massive Influx of Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants from Turkey, particularly in Proportion to the Hungarian Population), which don't yet seem to have done so, to Adapt their Practice accordingly.

    Meanwhile, however, published Photos f.ex. of an alleged "Minor" (looking, in fact, as a Grown up Teenager or a Young Adult Aged 18-21) from the Recent Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants' Group which had arrived via Turkey up to Sweden, strolling among obviously very much Younger Swedish Children inside Schoolyards and/or Collective Sport Facilities, obviously Raise Critical Questions also on eventual Risks for the Real Children Exposed to such a Promiscuity.  

    CoE's 1st PanEuropean Investigation "Urgently" made by the CoE on Sexual Child Abuses and recent Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants, as Published Later Today, Revealed a quite Unexpected "Lack of Data" collected by National Authorities about such reported Abuses having being Committed by various Other Persons to the Detriment of these "Refugee Children" between 2015-2016, CoE's Officials told Journalists, including "Eurofora", this Morning in Strasbourg, even if several National Authorities reportedly Feel that Real Numbers of such Incidents could be Bigger, in Real Practive, from what has been formaly Reported.

    The Failure to Find enough Official Data about Sexual Abuses committed against Real Children among the recent Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants brought mainly by Turkish Smugglers through Greece, etc, (Except from 49 such Victims inside Turkey itself, to the Detriment of Syrian Refugees, and 4 in Belgium, etc), might also be due to the  Fact that Many among those People have reportedly had a Bad Image of Public Authorities in general, possibly because of Problems Experienced also in their Countries of Origin, which makes it particularly Difficult for them to Trust Officials, according to some CoE's sources.  

    But, while such "Data Collection Mechanisms" probably Need to be Built yet, with Adequate and Efficient Methods, as CoE's Officers pointed out, nevertheless, already, various Mainstream Press Reports throughout Europe have Already Denounced several such Sexual Abuse Attacks, sometimes even very Brutal, either Between Refugee Children and Adult Mass Asylum Seekers, or between the Latter and Ordinary Children, or even some Grown up Teenagers, even Young Adults, living in Europe since long, including European People, that CoE has the Duty to Protect too :

    F.ex., among several other Real Cases, Recently reported by Mainstream Press, are Included also : 2 Young Refugee Children sexualy assaulted in "Hot Spots" located at Greek Islands near Turkey ; 1 or 2 very small Boys from a Refugee Family, sexually assaulted by a Young Mass Asylum Seeker in a Collective Facility at Berlin, Germany ;  2 British Girls aged Only 14 Sexualy Assaulted by 4 or 5 Young Mass Asylum Seekers at a Park in the UK ; in Sweden, an "UnAccompanied Minor" Sexualy Molested 2 Girls aged 8 - 10 at a Swimming Pool (where also several Other such Sexual Abuses against Real Children had already taken place, according to the Public Authorities) + Moreover, a Girl aged 16 was Knifed at the Head by a Mass Migrant Teenager, Karim Ageri, Claiming to be 15, but, Found to be "at least 18", who had Attempted to have Sex with her ; during a Music Concert at Darmstadt (Germany) Girls aged 12-13 were Sexualy Assaulted by Teenagers of Migrant origin, alike several among those who made Violent Mob Attacks on Young Girls in Cologne, at New Eve's Night ; a 10 Years old Serbian Boy (from a European Refugee Family of Former-Yugoslavia) was Raped in a Public Bath at Wien (Austria) by a Teenager Mass Asylum Seeker/Irregular Migrant (accompanied to the Pool by a Social Worker, who didn't Nothing to save the Victim), after entering Europe via Turkey ; a 19 y.o. Student Girl, (Maria Ladenburger : Daughter of an EU Legal Officer, who used to Help Refugees in her spare Time), Raped and Murdered by an Afghan Mass Asylum Seeker/Irregular Migrant of UnDetermined yet Age, who had also entered EU via Turkey, after Committing in Greece a previous very Violent Sex Assault on another Young Girl, which was Hospitalized for Serious Wounds, after she was Thrown Down from an 8 Meters High parvis to a rocky Sea Coast.

    Scandalously, that Killer, Recidivist Hussein Khavari, had been initialy considered as an "UnAccompanied Minor" too, when he entered Germany. In Fact, he had already been presented as a 17 Years "UnAccompanied Minor" in Greece, 3 Years Earlier, but was also Registered as an "Unaccompanied Minor" aged 16 when he afterwards arrived in Germany, several Years Later on ! Only After these 2 Crimes he was recognized as an Adult. Meanwhile, he had been Awarded a place in a German "Foster Family", (normaly reserved only for isolated Mass Refugee Children).

    That Tragic, Deadly Blunder was reportedly due also to a Lack of Sufficient Coordination between the European Countries most Affected by that UnPrecedented 2015-2016 Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants influx vuia Turkey, (f.ex., in this case : Greece and Germany, etc), including by Initial Problems in the set up, use and functioning of the "EuroDac" System, etc.

    => Using sufficiently Wide Terms, interestingly, the Ultimate "Recommendation" made in Conclusion of the CoE's Report published Today, is for Member States to "Coordinate" Actions in order to "Facilitate the Prevention and Protection of (all) Children Affected, in the Refugee Crisis, from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse", without Any Discrimination between eventual Victims, nor their Abusers.

     - "Lanzarote Committee acknowledges that, in some circumstances, Children Already in the Country ("Before the Refugee Crisis" of 2015-2016) may be indirectly Affected by the Refugee Crisis, in a Variety of ways", resulting in "Situations" which have a real "Importance", COE's Report observes, citting "f.ex. ... Victim(s) of Sexual Abuse by ..Person(s) who Came to the Country", "or Because of ...Reduction to Social Aid", etc., while, however, Focusing, in that Text, on those who entered Europe during the 2015-2016 UnPrecedented Mass Population Movementrs.
--------------------
    Both CoE's competent Officers and its Report Denounced also the Abuses Haunting Children of this particular Wave of Migrants, very Predominantrly Muslim and apparently, at least partialy, Selected by Turkey, as mainstream Press Reports from Brussels' EU Experts have revealed, (f.ex. by a quasi-Systematic Exclusion of Educated People, of Christians, etc), even by "Forced" and/or "Child Mariages", (which may Threaten Real Children with Rape, etc), "Genital Mutilation" of Girls, etc.

    Current Estimates about Asylum-Seeking Children in European Countries during 2015-2016, widely Vary, f.ex., approximately, from Only 10 in Ukraine, but around 700 in Cyprus and in Luxembourg, up to about 40.000 in Hungary and in Austria, and even more than 65.000 in Sweden, topling with 135.000 in Germany. But Many "Unaccompanied Children" are Not Seeking Asylum, at least Not Yet. However, the "Lanzarote Convention applies to All Children", i.e. even "Street Children", (and, naturaly, also to Millions of European or Other Children already living since long in Europe), as CoE's Report explicitly reminds.

--------------------------

    CoE's Lanzarote Committee reportedly had to Postpone the 2nd Part (and more Practice-oriented) of its earlier work against Abuses of Children committed by individuals who Exploit a Fake Appearance of "Trustworthy" persons, (a delicate but Big Issue for Millions of potential Victims, throughout Europe and in the World, Comp. "Eurofora"s NewsReport : ....), in order to "Urgently" deal Exclusively with cases of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants who suddenly infiltrated Europe via Turkish Smugglers on 2015-2016, as far as Children abuse risks are concerned. So that now, it's expected to Return Back into that main PanEuropean/International Issue asap, for a 2017-2018 New Report, CoE's competent Officer Mikael Poutiers told "Eurofora" in substance.

-------------------------------------

    + Meanwhile, another Problem is that Eventual Lack of Sufficient Protections and/or UnReported Sex Abuse of Real Children among fragile Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants (most of them notoriously Exploited by Turkish Smugglers, already, many of whom are Linked to various Mafia-like Networks, according f.ex. to UK - USA Press), might also Aggravate Risks for them to Fall even Victims of Sex Trafficking Networks, Later-on, CoE's Officials Warned Journalists in Strasbourg, including "Eurofora".

    ++ A Press Agency collegue from France raised the Question (present also in COE's Report) of eventual Dangers for some "Sexual Predators" to Attempt to Infiltrate certain NGOs allegedly "Helping" f.ex. the recently arrived Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants via Turkey. CoE Officials' Reply was mainly that States are Obliged to Take Sufficient Measures for an "Effective" Protection of all Children from Abuse, and this should include f.ex. appropriate "Vetting" of any Civil Servants, NGOs, and/or other Persons due to Deal with Children, particulary those who are in a Fragile Situation, as, f.ex., Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants, etc., in order to "Ensure" and Adequate Protection against any eventual Attempts for Abuses somewhere from Children's "Circle of Trust".

------------------------------------------------------------------

    + Meanwhile, in a Partly Related Issue, the Director of CoE's Child Abuse Watchdog, Mrs Gioa Scappucci, from Italy, speaking to "Eurofora", acknowledged possible concerns about risks for an eventual "SetBack" in UK's formely Active and Succesfull Investigations against Child Abuse, (which had f.ex. Recently Discovered and Started to Punish a Wide-Ranging mainly Muslim Pakistani Migrants' Violent Gang Sexually Aggressing and Exploiting more than 1.500 British Children during More than a Decade, thanks to a Scandalous Cover-up by some Local Politicians, Police and/or Social Workers, etc), particularly After a more Recent Failure of anOther Investigation for Child Abuse allegedly committed in a Remote Past by some High-Ranking Politicians, and a subsequently Controversial Change of Scotland Yard's Top Officer who had overseen such Enquiries, (Comp., f.ex. : ....).

    - "But the UK is Not yet Member of (CoE's) Lanzarote Convention, as also Azerbaijan and 4 Other Countries, among CoE's 47 Member States, Scappucci Regretted, while also Observing that an eventual Accession of the UK to the PanEuropean Convention for the Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse would Strengthen CoE's Fight against that Plague. Particularly given its recent Experience in Investigating such Crimes and the Possibilities of PanEuropean "Cooperations" in the Fight Against this, systematicaly Favoured by the CoE Convention's Monitoring mechanism.

    However, Recently, at least 2 Non-European but Neighbouring Countries, Tunisia and Morocco, etc., have shown an Interest into eventualy being involved, to CoE's Child Protection Mechanisms, including against Sexual Abuse, i.e. the "Lanzarote" Convention's body, which has also a Wider Regional, almost International vocation, CoE's Officer Poutier added to "Eurofora" for the foreseable Future.

(../..)

***

("DraftNews", as already send to "Eurofora" Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be published asap).

***

*Angelo Marcopolo/- At the Symbolic "Human Rights' parvis" of Paris' "Trocadero" square, between 50.000 or 200.000 People, according to various estimations, (except from the Police, which didn't say), mainstream Frontrunner Candidate of the Center-Right in the forthcoming French Presidential Elections of April/May 2017, Francois Fillon, strongly confirmed his "Determination to Fight against Islamic Terrorism", for a Real Change from the Out-Going "Socialist" Government, pointing out that his Project was the Only one Able to achieve that, while also Winning versus an EU-Sceptic Far Right currently Surfing at the Polls' Top, (including for the subsequent Parliamentary Elections of June 2017). That's why he launched a vibrant Call for the French People to "Revolt" and "Resist" to Last-minute Attempts for a "Hold Up against Democracy".

      - "My dear compatriots:  - They think that I am alone... Are We Alone ?", he asked from the outset the People, getting a Loud - "No !" in Reply from Many Thousands, tightly packed in that Huge Square, linked to several Large Avenues around it.

     - "You have Inherited a Past with a Long History, which is always Present. You are the France of Farmers, Cathedrals, Castles and Poor People, which was Bright, and still is Bright in Arts, Science, Technology, a France Opposed to Terrorists and Tyrans with its Moral and Armed Forces. You are that Republic, which creates Brotherhood, ...Born through Centuries of Fights for the General Interest", the former Prime Minister of Nicolas Sarkozy (2007-2012) reminded to the People.

     - This Republic " is a Revolt", "a Movement" : Even "If it Falls, it Stands Up, as Gavroche in his Barricade", Fillon referred to the 1789 French Revolution. "It Always Gets Up, and that's because of Voltaire and Rousseau (Revolutionary Philosophers), but also because of Victor Hugo (famous pro-European Writer), Clemenceau, (Historic Prime Minister at the 1st WW), and of the Heroes of 20 Years of Resistance", (including during the 2nd WW Invasion/Occupation, etc), Fillon spiced up his Popular Call, obviously in relation the controversial circumstances of nowadays, (See Infra).

    - "Our 1st Value is Freedom", he referred to France's famous National Trilogy, ("Liberty, Equality, Solidarity"), in an "Address to those Brave" People, "that the System attempts to DisCourage, those who are Bold, and it Muzzles, those who Dare, and it Suspects, i.e. to those for whom Freedom is a Chance to Take their Destiny in their Hands",  (an indirect but clear reference to his Earlier Call for the People Not to Let Anyone Steal them their Democratic Right to Freely and Consciously Choose the Political Representatives that they really Want, in the forthcoming Presidential and Legislative Elections of April - June 2017, Crucial also for All Europe).

    - Calling for a "Renaissance" of France, against "5 Years of Decline" ( during the Out-Going "Socialist" Governement : 5/2012 - 5/2017), the Front-runner Candidate of the Center-Left main Opposition, Denounced "a Long Winter", during which the Country "Lost its Economic Rank" and "its Standing inside Europe", while its "Social Coherence was rapidly vanishing" : - "6 Millions of UnEmployed, 9 Millions of Poor, an Abandoned Youth, Divided People, Hate spreading around", added to "an Unsustaianable Debt, in the middle of the Ruins of our Industry and Economy", as he Criticized.

    - "All Hard, but Important Decisions were Postponed. Pals were Appointed, instead of those who Deserved it", there was "Contempt for UnConfortable Truths", and "Upseting Realities were Forgotten", while "Inside" the Country "remained a Crisis", "Outside, emerged Wars", and "Europe was Dislocating", Fillon regretted, (particularly after the recent 2014 Ukraine Conflict and Syrian/Libyan Clashes, but also a growing EU-Scepticism, 2016 BREXIT, Uncertainties on Europe's Future, etc).

    - It's mainly Because, in fact, France "was Not really Governed", but merely "Managed by the 1st Secretary of the Socialist Party" (i.e. the Outgoing President Hollande, who does Not participate in the New Elections), he criticized, denouncing what he named as "Hollandism".

    + And "during these Last Weeks", something "Disgusting" occured, with those "Fleeing, like Ducks, from one (Political) Side to anOther", running "for Constituencies, Money", etc, with "assumed Desertions, Shamelessly" : "But the People have Nothing to do with such kinds of Calculations and Carreers-chassing", "Betrayals", etc, Fillon denounced by obviously Fustigating Some former Allies, (particularly from the Center), who Abandoned him, pretexting of a recent Judicial and Mediatic Harassment, (See, f.ex. ; ... + ...).

     - In front of "a Campaign of Denigration", "Excess, Disproportions, Hate", and "InJustice", he, however, Acknowledged some "Hesitations" from "a Honest Man, who spend his Life at the Service of the General Interest, Trying to take the Decisions that he believed to be Just", as he said.

------------------------

    At this point, Fillon apparently might have Committed an Error now, (at least from "Eurofora"s point of view), by practicaly asking to be Excused for having "Asked my Wife to Work for me, because she knew that area, and it was practical", but "I shouldn't have done that", as he was pushed to say Today.

    But, in fact, it could well be the Contrary : I.e., by Avoiding to Appoint one or two Mistresses as his Parliamentary Assistants, (as Some Other Politicians have notoriously done, while a former UK Labour/Socialist Prime Minister even Appointed his Secretary at the House of Lords !), but Prefering to Work Together with his Wife, as a kind of Family Enterprise or Team Work, (something that not only SMEs, Farmers, etc., but even Writers and Intellectuals, as, f.ex. the World Famous Science Fiction Writer Isaac Asimov, notoriously used to do all his life, closely cooperating with his Wife, who worked for his Books even After his Death at an Old Age !), Fillon might have attracted a lot of Sympathy by Many simple and Honest, Family-loving average People...

    In this regard, by a Symbolic Coincidence, after initialy Braving the Rain Today, Bright Sunshine brought, Later-on, Smiles in the embattled faces of Francois and Penelope Fillon, (an Historic Name, notoriously steming from Ancient Greek Hero Odysseas' Wife, faithfuly Waiting for his Long and Difficult Return from the Troian War), waving herself a French Flag, among the People, (see relevant "Eurofora" shots).

----------------------

     - "But I felt often Strengthened by Realizing that, When I would be found to be Innocent, ... those who Accuse me so Hastily, would feel Ashamed". However, "the Problem is that, this Day will come Too Late", because, in the meantime, the forthcoming, April 2017, crucial Presidential "Election, will have been Rigged !", he Warned.  

     - And "this would have Hindered" the People "to put a Stop to 2 Scandals", which Threaten to "Disfigure the Country, much more Profoundly" :

    - (a) I.e., at First, "the insidious, but Terrible, by its Consequences, way in which (the Out-going President) Francois Hollande pushed our Country to Downgrade", f.ex., Delaying "Growth, and undermining our Childrens' Future" (by more Debt : Comp. Supra), while, now, it's "his Former Assistant, Mr. Macron (another Center-Left Candidate to the 2017 Presidential Elections, among the Frontruners, according to most Polls), who .. adopts his Program, as a Merchand of Illusions", he Criticized.

    + (b) "The 2nd Scandal is that of All our (Political) Competitors, who, regarless of Economic Realities, Disregarding all Challenges in the World, don't hesitate to Promisse (only) 32 Hours (of Work per Week), a Return Back to the Frank" Currency, "to Augment Public Expenditure", "without paying attention to the (Risks of) Bankruptcy !", Fillon Denounced, fustigating a "Demagogy" of "Illusionists" and "Extremists", (apparently pointing not only at his Left, but also towards the Rightists).

 
     ------------------------------    

    - All this "would be a Comedy", if, "during the Last 5 Years" (2012-2017), hadn't "Emerged one of the Most Terrible Dangers, that France faced since Decades", he Warned :

     - Denouncing "the Islamic Totalitarianism", Fillon reminded the Horrible Massacres targetting Civilian People at "Toulouse (Merah), Charlie Hebdo (Magazine), HyperCacher (Jewish Shop), Bataclan and Paris' Caffees, Nice" city, etc...

    - In this regard, (i.e., for the Fight against ISIS and other such Terrorists), "Contrary to those who Delay and Hesitate", or "Don't Speak about that", "I am Absolutely Determined", he stressed.

    _  - F.ex., "any individual Guilty of Complicity with the Enemy, (ISIS, etc), Must be Condemned", and "France canNot Serve as Sanctuary", or Hinterland "Backing Islamo-Fascism !", Francois Fillon, (Writer of a recent Book Titled : "Win against Islamic Terrorism"), Urged, Denouncing also "Anti-Semitism" and the Abuse of "Women as 2nd Class Citizens", etc., by Islamistic Extremists.

    -------------------------------------------------------------

    - In such Circumstances, "to Legitimate Concerns, was (recently) Added also the Anger against that Witch-Hant targetting me, which ... Aims to Destroy the Right" side of the Political Spectrum, and "Steal its Vote" to the forthcoming, Crucial Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, Fillon strongly Criticized.

    => But, "Instead of Yielding to Anxiety or Anger", We have to "Change that into a huge Energy" to "Resolutely Redress the Country, Restore Cohesion and State Authority", feeling "Proud" for  France's Historic role in "Spreading to the World the Spirit of Enlightnement" (18th Century), and for "having Always Found, even in the Middle of the Worst Moments of its History, the best ways for Courage ad Reconciliation", while also being "a Welcoming Land for all those who Understand its Richness", even if "coming from Various Horizons", but "Reinforce its Cohesion and Strength", by "Associating Diversity... with Our Traditions", as he said, speaking "Against those Prophets of Doom" and "Pessimism".

     - "Many People are Ready to Face all the Challenges in front of us", and "France is pretty Inventive", several "Initiatives pop up throughout all the Country", f.ex. on how to "accompagny the Digital Revolution, or based on the Richness of our Industrial or Craftsmanship Heritage", thanks to which, "Businessmen Invent the World of the Future", showing that "there is No Fatality", but "Thousands of >Inventors and Volunteers seek to start a New Resistance", as he Named the Will to "Build a Better World", "withOut Risks to be Destroyed by Globalisation, strangled by Red Tape, Deprived of Dialogue", but "Stimulating the Desire to Create, to be an Actor of Redress, Each one in his role", since "our Citizens both Dare and are Talented", "Belonging to a Nation with Huge Potential".

    - So, "Let's Create, Innovate, Work Together", "withOut Ridiculous Conflicts", "Never falling into Despair" ,"Neither Letting the Passions of a moment to bypass National Needs", "Nor Others to Dictate this Decisive Choice", but with "a Deep Desire for a Renewal", Fillon invited.

    - "This Choice belongs to our People, to their Votes and Hopes", and "Will be that of France, if we Pull as all Together, in a Final Effort", he Urged in Conclusion, speaking almost 1 Month Before the crucial forthcoming Presidential Election.

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    + Speaking Later this Evening, to a TV Interview, in Reply to Press Questions, Fillon made it Clear that, despite some Pressure, and an "Unprecedented in History", Last-Minute Harassment at the Eve of a so Important Election, that he Denounced as "a Hold Up against Democracy", he does Not Intend at all to Withdraw from the Race, particularly Not after having been Massively Applauded, earlier Today at Trocadero, "by about 200.000 People", as he and others estimated, Strongly Believing that he presents "the Only Credible Project for a Real Political Change".

     - Nobody from any particular Party has any Right to Block what was clearly Decided by More than 4 Millions of People who Voted at the 2016 Primaries, "Open" to various Political Groups, underlined the Winner of that race, Adding, nevertheless, that he was "Listening" to all his main Friends and Allies' various advise, always motivated by the "General Interest", and Agreeing that his "No 1 Competitor" was Marine Le Pen's Rightists of the "National Front" Party, as he said during a "Hot" Cross-Fire of Critical Queries.

     - "At last", the Time has Come to seriously Debate about the Substance of Issues and Political Projects, f.ex. on UnEmployment, on how to Fight "Islamic Totalitarianism", and Build a Better "Future", Fillon urged.

     (../..)