

CoE Chair, Armenian D. Prime Minister Gevorgyan to EuroFora: The most Important is Local Democracy !

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Invited to speak on a large variety of issues examined by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE), during its Autumn 2013 PanEuropean Session, from Economy up to Roma People, Self Administration, Culture and/or Political Extremism, etc., COE's Acting Chairman-in-Office, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, and Minister of Territorial Administration, Armen Gevorgyan, replying to an "EuroFora"s Question, stressed that, in his personal view, the main point is "Local Democracy" :
- "For me, Local Democracy is the most Important of all !", among various other CLRAE issues, underlined the Armenian Deputy Prime Minister, smiling to "EuroFora".
- Particularly when "fostering Democratic societies", and "strengthen European standards on Human Rights and on the Rule of Law"; are two among the four "Priorities of the Armenian Chairmanchip of the CoE" as he recalled earlier.
- Indeed, "further Develop Local Democracy", "given its role in Modern Europe and the CoE's Agenda", is a "Major Priority", already from the previous, Andorran, as well as it "will be (also) for (the forthcoming) Austrian" Agenda, "with whom the Armenian (CoE) Chairmanship shares Common Prioriies", as Gevorgyan observed in this regard.
- Already, "2 important Conferences", recently organized "on Participatory Democracy at Local Level", and on the "Challeng" of "Making a MetroPolis Citizen-Friendly", "provided an opportunity to reflect on how the Local Authorities can become Closer to the citizens and ensure their Increased Participation in the Decision Making Processes with regard to the local and regional issues", as well as "to Exchange Ideas about (how) the Capitals, as socio-Economic driving forces, Public Solidarity ...and ...model of ..Civic Participation" which "generate Challenges conditioned by Intensive economic developments, ..... should ensure a(n) Urban Environment ...for Human Habitat focused on the Citizen", as he said previously in his Speech to CLRAE's Plenary.

The 1st gave "Benchmarks for further Development of Participatory Democracy ....and ...for Dissemination of Principles ... as well as for Implementing them", where, "New Mechanisms for Citizens’ Participation in local Government, is especially Important given the ....Technological progress of Today", ... with "New ....Opportunities ...for Formulating a Collective Opinion ....and for making local Authorities Listen to that", by "mov(ing) forward with the Principles of local Self-Governance and ...Effective ...Model(s) ... for Practical application". The 2nd, concerning "Capitals of CoE member States", from such points of view as, f.ex., "Environment protection; ... Urban Development.... ; Infrastructure Efficiency; as well as ...public interest(s) Compatibility", focused on "Solutions" for the "Organization" of ...cities with Extra-Dense Habitation", he noted.
=> - In this regard also, "Decentralisation (is) at a Crossroads" Today in Europe, as it will be stressed at a forthoming landmark Strasbourg's seminar; co-organised by CLRAE's President Herwig Van Staa, together with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)'s President Wolfgang Schuster, on the History of respectively 60 and 25 Years since the adoption of the "European Charter of Municipal Liberties" (1953) and the entry into force of the "European Charter of Local Self-Government" (1988).
Significantly, the event is placed at the eve of CoE's 2nd Annual "World Forum for Democracy", scheduled for the end of November 2013, which focuses, this Year, on Exploring the manifold Potential of New Information and Communication Technologies in the ReVitalisation of Citizens' active Participation to old and new Democratic Institutions.
+ In this wider Framework, it's Interesting to note that, already, right from the Start, CoE's Charter of Local Self-Government, had conceived Local Democracy as a way to find a "Level" where the General "Right of Citizens to Participate in the conduct of Public Affairs", as "one of the Democratic Principles .. shared by all CoE's Member States", "can be Most Directly Exercised", as the PanEuropean Charter of LocalSelf-Government states in its Preambule.
That's one more reason for which CoE Charter's Article 3, §2 clearly stated that, the provisions for Elected Assemblies of Local Representatives, don't exclude at all, nor even "affect", an eventual "recourse to Assemblies of Citizens, Referendums, or Any Other Form of Direct Citizen Participatoin , where it is permitted by Statute".
In consequence, CLRAE, ", through the different labs that it will sponsor during the" World Democrady "Forum", which is dedicated into "“Re‐wiring Democracy" by: "Connecting Institutions and Citizens in the Digital Age”, "intends to contribute "to the various debates", by "identify(ing) ..the actions, which ...will ensure their effective Involvement in the local processes", but will also "Curtail their possible Misuse for purposes contrary to the values of Human rights, Democracy and the rule of Law"; as he said to CLRAE's Plenary, speaking as Acting Chairman of CoE's Committee of Ministers.
WFD's wider aim is to face "a Decline in .. Participation, .. often viewed as a Symptom of Detachment between Citizens and Institutions", by examining the Potential of "Social media and ...networks enabl(ing) individuals to ...act and interact with Politicians ...Outside institutional systems", and by "bring(ing) together elected Politicians and civil Society leaders to discuss the impact of this technological change on Established Democratic... institutions”, as Gevorgyan noted.
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+ All this doesn't mean that CoE's Chairman-in-office, Armenian Deputy Priime Minister, Gevorgyan, would not be interested also to certain other important issues, related to CLRAE, including, among various others, also of potential "Cultural Routes"' links between CoE Member States' Cities and/or Regions with interrelated "Historic Cultural Heritage", f.ex., an idea that he "certainly support(s)", as he told "EuroFora".
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But, Questioned earlier Today by several CLRAE Representatives from various Political and National Horizons, about "Monitoring" CoE's 47 Member States' compliance with the Principles of Local/Regional Self Administration, Gevorgyan, speaking officially as CoE's Committee of Ministers' (the PanEuropean Organisation's Highest Political body) Chairman-in-Office, also stressed that this made of CLRAE a "very Important instrument".
- Particularly when the "Format" of CLRAE's Monitoring can Never be accused of eventually being "Discriminatory", if it is "Applied Evenly to All its Member Countries", including in those who can be largely engaged on a "Post-Monitoring Dialogue", which can be an "Important" means for "Local and Regional Reforms", as well as in order to "respond to New Challenges", as he added later-on.
Gevorgyan's move Timely came at the same CLRAE Session during which the President of its Monitoring Committee, Swedish representative Lars O Molin, is presenting Tomorrow a Threefold Report on "Updating Key Texts on Monitoring and Election Obsevation Activities", in a consolidated form, extending from Votes' checking, up to Visits for Monitoring COE Member States' Obligations and Commitments through Full Regular or Specific only Reports, eventually also "Fact-Finding Missions", added to "Post-Monitoring", etc.
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+ A fortiori when, as far as it concerns also the overall developments in Strasbourg's PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law's main Role in General, "Now, it's Important to Ensure a Full and Complete Implementation" of its Standards and Values, by "ReInforcing all Monitoring Mechanisms", whose "Full Potential has Not Yet been Explored", including f.ex. the Charter of Local Self-Administration, which is one of "CLRAE's Key Assets", as CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland from Norway, stressed Today, launching a Call to "Improve the Follow-up of Monitoring" procedures, and to forge a "Joint Vision" enabling an efficient "Coordinated Action of various Monitoring Bodies" of the CoE.
In this regard, some among the "Hotter" Topical Issues that CLRAE has to face Today, are obviously the continuing Pre-Trial Imprisonment of some 2.000 Kurdish Mayors and other Elected Local or Regional Represetatives in Turkey, since 2009, as a Question raised by a Collegue during Van Staa's Press Conference, earlier Today, reminded, as well as, inside EU area, the persisting Threats of up to 3 Years Jail, Heavy Fine and/or Dismissal, against French Mayors who protest, on the basis of their Freedom of Conscience, vis a vis the Obligation, imposed to them by the current "Socialist" Government, to Personaly celebrate Same Sex Marriages, which could now be followed even by "Adoption" of Childrens by Homosexuals, largely Unpopular, (See specific NewsReports), etc.
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It's important to create a synergy between "mutually stimulating" EU Countries' moves in order to overcome an "Unjust" Crisis "imported from USA", stressed new French Minister for Economic Revival, Patrick Devedjian, in Strasbourg, warning also that, while hoping for a vigorous Obama US Plan, nevertheless, "Time" is of essence for Europe...
In fact, it's EU's own interest to act Fast, before June 2009 EU Election, since, with Lisbon Treaty not ratified yet, it cannot face again the risk of a Majority Abstention, as back in 1999 and 2004, nor another "anti-EU" mood among Citizens, as in the 2005 French and Dutch "No", followed by the 2008 Irish "No", without endangering rare Historic opportunities, currently open for the EU, whose future is at stake.
From Social issues up to High-Tech Scientific Research, concrete action for Economic revival started from Strasbourg and its European dimension, for the new super-Minister Patrick Devedjian, who visited a Popular Social Housing and Infrastructure project at nearby Hagenau village, before meeting new leaders of Strasbourg's unified mega-University in a Scientific Labo at the Campus, close to EU Parliament and CoE headquarters.
Devedjian, who met also with all the spectrum of Local Political deciders of Alsace region, close to FrancoGerman borders, wants for deeds to meet the words, in real practice, whenever politicians speak about Strasbourg and Europe's development.
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Devedjan to "EuroFora" : "European coordination can act as a multiplicator by mutual stimulations"
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Devedjian was questioned by "Euro-Fora" on his expectations for reciprocal effects of coordinated European plans :
- "We are living in a (European and Global) system where borders are transparent : When we take measures in France, they produce effects also in Germany, in Belgium, Italy, Spain, or other EU countries, and vice-versa. "So, we can have mutually stimulating effects between national revival Plans, if they are somehow coordinated", ..."They can augment each other's effects, acting as multiplicators and levers". "As a State stimulates Local authorities and Private business, similarly, each EU country's economic revival plan may multiply the effects of other EU countries' actions", he told us.
- "F.ex., when I visited Strasbourg University's Scientific labos, they told me that part of the renovation, funded by France, is realized by German companies located only a few Kms away from the border. Thus, the French revival plan benefits also the German economy. And vice-versa : when Germany takes certain measures, they can have beneficial effects also for French companies"
In an era of Globalisation, "nobody can close and isolate himself inside a Fish-Bowl !", he concluded.
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Economy's revival starts from Strasbourg and Europe, for new French Minister Devedjian
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This could be one of the reasons for which the new French Minister for Economic Stimulus chose to make his 1st visit to Strasbourg, the headquarters of European and Paneuropean Institutions, in the Franco-German river borders at the heart of Europe.
- "It was President Sarkozy's idea", he revealed, adding also fresh "support to Strasbourg's European vocation, not only with words, but also with deeds" :F.ex., the completion of a High-Speed Train network, due to stimulate fast links with Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary and other central EU Countries.
- "This Crisis is Unjust for Europe, because it wasn't its fault". The greatest part of the "Crisis was imported from the USA, where problems are deeper than here'', in the EU. The Crisis "wasn't due to a bad managment by Europe", who was affected by problems which emerged elsewhere. That's why Europe must be united and active enough to face this challenge. said Devedjian, who has just won +5% in popularity...
- "I hope that there will be an "Obama-effect" also on Economy, and that the Plan of the New American President will be substantial enough to face this crisis, which is worse in the USA than in our area", Europe, he added.
"Economic Revival overcomes political divisions : F.ex. Strasbourg's Socialist Mayor "Ries agreed that State actions funded by Public Debt are justified during such exceptional circumstances", noted the Center-Right republican Minister.
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"Zeitnot" for 2009 EU Elections ?
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"My problem is Time", stressed Devedjian from the outset, at Strasbourg's University. "I have to engage 75% of funds in 2009, out of a total of 29 Billion euros", he explained later. "Monitoring will be of essence", because we must "avoid bureaucracy or delays. No project should get lost or neglected in complex meanders of adminstrative offices' moving sands", he warned.
- "I must create activities in the middle of the Crisis", he added. Questioned by EuroFora whether he aims to start creating some "hopes before the June 2009 EU Elections", Devedjian, a former leader of the Governing Political Party in France: UMP, did not immediately reply, but revealed, later, that he "hoped to start at least some Projects on May 2009, even if the bulk of Revival Plan's effects are "expected from Autumn 2009".
However, with only 30% of EU Citizens currently aiming to cast a vote at the forthcoming EU Elections on June, (See other NewStory), the coordinated moves' results are expected to be crucial for Citizens' participation and votes at the forthcoming June 2009 EU Elections throughout all 27 EU Member Countries...Thus, it's vital for all Europe's own Future that coordinated national Economic revival plans start to have concrete results and create hopes for new dynamics before the June 2009 EU Election...
A real challenge, since careful choices are needed : Our aim is to fund projects which "create activities", even "in the middle of the crisis", and have a "lever effect, attracting other investments", Devedjian said. Because the "Stimulus' Plan has 2 aims : A Tactical one : to create New Activities. And a Strategic one : Choose what can become efficient and useful also in the Long-term".
- "Are you ready ?", he asked Strasbourg University's new President, professor Alain Beretz, with some 700 million euros in his pockets for Education-Research in France. - "We are !", he replied.
- "The Minister's initiative can accelerate funds, and Time is important for us. This concerns the entire renovation of all our buildings", said to "EuroFora" President, Beretz. "I showed some Scientific Research Labos to Mr. Devedjian. But, If we had more time, I could show him also some Education Amphis, whose condition needs to meet Strasbourg's new Mega-University's ambition" to reach the 10 best in the World, as Prime Minister Fillon earlier anounced here.
(Devedjian kicks off his Economic Revival tour from Strasbourg University, meeting with its new chairman Beretz, at Scientific Institute Le Bel)
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Regional Prefectures should gather and select projects to be presented for decision before the end of January 2009.
A well-known close friend of President Sarkozy, who succeeded as EU Chairman to launch, in agreement with German chancelor Merkel and even British prime minister Brown, vigorous EU actions against the Financial/Economic Crisis, (starting from the 1st Historic Summit of EuroZone's Heads of State/Government, October 12 at Elysee Palace, followed by Washington G20 Global Summit), Devedjan will have a key role in the realisation of National and EU plans recently agreed in Brussels.
President Sarkozy is expected to arrive himself in Strasbourg, on the occasion of the official inauguration of its brand New Mega-Hospital, on the 9th of January 2009, at the eve of EU Parliament's session here, Elysee confirmed shortly after Devedjian's visit.
EU is due to review its economic revival plans at March 2009 EU Council in Prague, before the April 2 London Global Summit.
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Multi-facet concrete activities at focus : Stimulus Minister Devedjian at the Political, Social and High-Tech fronts in Strasbourg...