

Franco - Italian Sarkozy - Berlusconi 2010 Summit: For EU Autonomy on Energy, Defence, and Economy+
*Angelo Marcopolo/Paris/- A strong will to meet a vital need for EU's Autonomous Development on Energy and Economy, but also on Sovereignity/Political issues such as Defence etc. was clearly expressed at the 2010 Franco - Italian Summit, by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, adding a GeoPoliticaly complementary dimension to EU's Franco-German "motor".
Now that all 3 Big EU Member Countries are not only better fit to spearhead closer EU integration after the recent entry into force of Lisbon Treaty's "Reinforced Cooperations" New Mecnaism, since all their 3 Leaders, of the same political ChristianDemocrat/EPP family, benefit from Solid Electoral Mandates for the Years to come, but given also Italy's Strategic Geographic location as a central EU-Africa Bridge for the new Franco-German High Tech plans to produce and transport Solar Energy from Sahara to the EU via the Mediterranean with the "Desertec" and "TransGreen" Environment-friendly projects, (See relevant "EuroFora"'s NewsReports).
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The move includes also Space High Tech. developments, where important contracts are due to be signed soon, as experienced former EU Commission's vice-President and currently Foreign Minister of Italy, Franco Fratini told "EuroFora", (See infra).
- "This (2010) Summit is just the Tip of the Iceberg concerning the joint work prepared by Ministers, ... which will unfold during the forthcoming Weeks and Months' developments", French President Sarkozy indeed warned from the outset, stressing that "France and Italy are linked by an extremely Strong Friendship, Proximity and Convergence of Views".

Significantly, Sarkozy was speaking just 1 week before a scheduled meeting between Berlusconi and German Chancelor Merkel at Hannover, pointing towards growing coordination at EU's core. - "Italy is naturaly one of the big EU Countries with which France has particularly close links, but it's obviously only by joining that together with Germany and other EU Countries that European policies can move forward. And in sectors such as Defence, f.ex. the U.K. is also very important for Europe", a well informed source from the French Presidency carefuly told "EuroFora" at Elysee palace.
Fratini appeared particularly happy to "EuroFora" when we reminded the fact that Italy made a remarkable Diplomatic came-back recently at Strasbourg's Pan-European scene by suceeding to elect to the influential Top Job of CoE Parliamentary Assembly's bigest Group of MEPs, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP's Chairman, (due to become PACE's President in the next few years), among 5 candidates, the young Italian MP, chair of UDC, Luca Volonte
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Reduce Energy dependency from foreign CO2 polluting fossil materials
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- "The 1st point is Energy Security", Sarkozy declared, paying "Tribute to the Hi storic Decision of the Italian Government of Mr. Berlusconi to make the choice of the Nuclear" Energy, that he qualified as "an extremely Important decision, which will bring France and Italy even closer".
While currently, Italy's Electricity "depends for almost 80% from Imported commodities", such as Foreign Oil and Gas, as a Spokeswoman of the Italian Power Company ENEL told "EuroFora", in the Future, Rome can start to have its own Production of Electricity at the horizon 2013, by building "at least 4 EPRs ("Evolutionary Pressurized Reactors)", thanks to a cooperation between Enel and EDF, as well as FinMecanica, with Areva Technology" from France, which is due to develop in the Future also towards other projects in 3rd Countries.
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- "We signed and we are going to sign many operational Agreements in all aspects of the Nuclear sector", because, "our Will is to work hand in hand with the Italian enterprises to develop the Nuclear" Technology, Sarkozy stressed. "The Ambitions of the Italian Government are very important, I think from 2013", and also "France and its enterprises, we are really decided to invest in working with the Italians, to train experts, to develop common activiies between big groups as EDF and ENEL (Electricity Companies of France and Italy), as Ansaldo (of FinMecanica), Areva, etc. That's something that works well, since we had initially launched it at Rome last year, and we want to advance much further today".
- "We (Italy) were at the Front Row (avant-garde) in the past on the Nuclear sector, and Enrico Fermi, who invented the Nuclear Energy was Italian". So, back "in 1964, we already had a Nuclear Reactor, and, afterwards, another 2", replied Berlusconi. But, "afterwards, there were reactions from the Greens, the Ecologists, and, after a Referendum, the Italian People had decided to renounce to this Enerhy source".
- However, "the result is that, today, (Italian) Citizens and Businesses pay their Electricity almost + 30% more compared to other EU Citizens and Businesses ! This obviously is a Problem in terms, f.ex. of Competitivity", he denounced. "That's why, the Deecision to relaunch the Nuclear" Energy "is necessary".
- For thut purpose, "we must ensure the Citizens who live in areas where Reactors will be built, that these units are entirely Safe", the Italian Prime Minister stressed, speaking in the presence of French and Italian Environment Ministers Jean-Louis Borloo and Stefania Prestigiacomo, (from the Historic city of Syracuse, where she had organized in 2009 the G-8 Environment Summit), who declared their intention to develop Cooperation in Nuclear Safety and RadioProtection, and take joint positions at a European and Global level.

- "President Sarkozy reminded me that many French Nuclear Units, at any case, are located near the Alps" mountains, "and, therefore, (close) to our Borders. In consequence, if ever occured an accident - something unthinkable - the consequences would be felt equally in Italy", Berlusconi observed. But "we plan to launch TV campains, in cooperation with French TVs, to make some Interviews (and) inform the Italian People on the views of those who already live close to Nuclear Reactors in France". Because "there will be, indeed, a Period to prepare the Italian Public Opinion", he anounced.
Meanwhile, a French Scientist, Professor Francois Cansell, President of the Polytechnic Institute of Bordeaux, speaking later to "EuroFora" at another Paris event, confirmed that he has recently invented a new way to save by decontaminating almost 70% of nuclear waste, allowing even to use anew the Metals contained in them, which has just reached "a Production stage", so that it could be easily used by Italy already before 2013.
A series of Agreements signed today by Borloo, who is also Energy and Sustainable Development Minister, and Scajola, the Italian Economic Development Minister, plan manifold concrete Measures in all aspects of the Nuclear Sector, including Scientific cooperation, Exchanges of University Students, Joint Research projects, a common working group on the Acceptability of Nuclear Energy, etc.
At the same time, Franco-Italian Power Companies ENEL and EDF, as well as FinMeccaica's Ansaldo and Areva Industries, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for more than 5 Years of cooperation in the construction and development of more than 4 EPRs in Italy, and participation in tenders for engineering and supply of numerous EPR projects of EDF in other Countries,
Reducing Energy Dependency from Foreign Countries in CO2 polluting Fossil raw materials, while Energy needs are due to grow in the foreseable Future, the Franco-Italian move fits a recent Worldwide trend towards a kind of "Nuclear Renaissance", since "at present, there are as many as 55 New Nuclear Power Plants under Construction", which "will add more than 50,000 MegaWats .. in 14 different Countries".
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EU Defence : + SPACE High-Tech
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- Speaking afterwards "on European Security", Sarkozy stressed that "Italy and France are, indeed, two Countries which spend a lot for EU's Security". Therefore, going well beyond a flagship decision to link their Mountain Units, where both countries share an "experience", particularly at the Alps, the French President anounced that "we want to do more : We are going to bring closer our (Defence) Industries", where "we have a lot of work to do".
Indeed, "Lisbon Treaty's entry into force (since December 2009) opens New Perspectives to confirm EU's role as a Global Security Actor", and the EU will be led to take over more and more important responsibilities to guarantee its security and contribute to International Peace and Stability", stresses from the outset a "Joint Statement of the Franco-Italian Summit on Security and Defence".
"In order to reinforce UE's Capacities, Italy and France intend to seize the New Opportunities opened by the (Lisbon) Treaty for a more Integration of (EU) Member States' Armed Forces, via a Common Security and Defence Policy, and, in the Future, a Real European Defence".
"A stronger European Defence is also essential in order to reinforce NATO, and the role of Europeans inside the (TransAtlantic) Alliance", Italy and France add, stressing that "a leap forward is needed in EU - NATO relations, for full complementarity and for a more efficient use of resources".
For that purpose, the two mainstream EU countries want a bigger Visibility of UE's positions inside UNO's Security Council, (particularly) on Crisis - Management", and to undertake "Common Initiatives" in domains such as, "in case of Natural or Humanitarian Disasters, (f.ex. the "Bridging Solidarity Overseas" project, etc) ; Planification Mechanisms for Aleas ; EU level Training ; strengthening Financial Solidarity among EU Member States for the deployment of EU> Operations ; reinforcement of EU's capacity to planify and conduct Military and/or Civic Operations ; perspectives for a Permanent Structural Cooperation (CSP) ; Joint Sea Ship Patrols in the Mediterranean, etc ; develop an integrated European Maritime Policy to fight against illegal Trafficking, Terrorism, Proliferation, illegal Immigration, Piracy, etc., agreeing with "the Spanish (EU) Presidency's proposal to launch .. a European Maritime Security Strategy".
Being "the 1st Partner of each other in the sector of Arms Production", France and Italy also "confirm their Will to strengthen their cooperation" f.ex. by the "creation of (more) Joint Industrial Clusters", such as "the EuroTorp company on Torpedos" and a joint project for Heavy Torpedosyh, "Horizon SAS in the Navy", "EuroSysnav and Electronicca for Defence Electronics, or MBDA on Missiles", a "Joint Project for the Future Generation of refueling oil Tankers supporting the Navy", etc.
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Fratini to "EuroFora" : Developments on Space High-Tech in view..
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On the key sector of SPACE High-Tech, the experienced former EU Commission's vice-President, and current Foreign Minister of Italy, Franco Fratini, speaking to "EuroFora", observed that "yes, there will be important developments, even if they will not be signed now (i.e. at the April 9, Paris' Summit), but in the near Future", as he revealed.

Fratini's reply to"EuroFora"s question apparently pointed at issues such as, f.ex., the notification of Contracts for the procurement of Telecom Satellites "Sicral 2", before the 'end of April'. This is added to the recent "Athena-Fidus" Franco-Italian Contracts, and other "manifold realisations" on the Franco-Italian cooperation, as, f.ex. the "Space Alliance between THALES and FINMECCANICA", the Joint Exploitation of Earth Observation facilities, with "exchanges of images" in the framework of EU project MUSIS, where Italy provides Radar, and France Optical data, etc.
Meanwhile, Sarkozy is due to meet this week-end Professor Jean-Lou Chameau, Head of California's private Institute of Technology, the prestigious "CalTech", (No 6 Worldwide according to Shangai's ranking system) which is hosting also NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (the famous JPL), recently hardly hit by heavy Budget Cuts in NASA's Space Exploration and research to invent innovative Propulsion methodss, needed for New ReUsable Space Vehicles, well beyond the Shuttle, whose decomissioning is notoriously close. (See "EuroFora"'s NewsReports from Strasbourg's International Space University's Annual 2010 Conference's debates on the controversial 2011 Obama's draft NASA Budget reductions and/or changes, published on Feb. 2010).
While Europe's Paris-based ESA's political leadership is notoriously searching for years (at least since the 2005 Berlin Summit) to find a reliable International cooperation on how to invent new reusable Space vehicles, (refused in the Past by the USA, while Russia's offer to cooperate had been droped by the mere lack of only .. one vote, as ESA's well informed sources have said to "EuroFora"), recent Budget Cuts, obviousy aggravated by the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis, might also have a .. positive consequence, if those concerned really feel that "these are Good Times to Cooperate", as "EuroFora"'s questions at ISU's 2010 Symposium have recently suggested... (See February 2010 NewsReports from the International event).
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+ Moreover, in a hardly veiled, implicit but obvious call to Turkey, the Franco-Italian leaders practically backed EU Parliament's explicit call to Ankara to stop blocking full EU - NATO Cooperation, ('from Kosovo up to Aghanistan', as Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt earlier observed in reply to an "EuroFora" founders' question (See 2008 Publication on Bildt as rotating CoE Chairman in office at TCWeekly) : - '
On "Desarmament", the Franco - Italian leadership underlined their "Serious Concern on the issue of Iran's Nuclear program, and stressed the importance for an immediate and full respect by Iran of its International Obligations'", as they said in Paris the same week that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan notoriously refused any threat of Sanction vis a vis "my dear Friend Ahmadinejad",a he called the controversial president of Iran, and obviously banalized Nuclear Weapons' Proliferation in the area by implicitly but surely accusing Israel to already have Nuclear Bombs, "without anyone making a fuss about it"...
Added to NATO's 6Oth Anniversary Summit's 2 Days-long Blockade by Turkey's controversial demands vis a vis its New Secretary General, former Danish Prime Minister Anders Rasmussen, (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from the landmark event, which marked also new USA President Barack Obama's 1st visit to Europe), all this makes at least ..three (3) Turkish Blockades of Euro-American Cooperation on serious issues, in a row...
If EU takes also into account notoriously Massive (in)"Human Trafficking" by illegal immigrants dumped from the Turkish Borders within the EU, either by unscrupulous negilgence, or because some inside Turkish Authorities probably close their eyes and forget their obligations, (with the result to start finding Turkey-originated illegal immigrants infiltrating the EU up to .; Belgium, the Netherlands, or even in the UK, which are hindered to expulse them because of European Court Human Rights' finding that by sending People back f.ex. to ill-equiped and submerged Greece, it might tantamount to "ill-treatment", since, at any case, it's difficult to bring them back to Turkey, because they risk to ne exposed even to Torture or other Inhuman and Degrading Treatments, (as many recent ECHR Decisions communicated to CoE's Committee of Ministers on March 2010 in Strasbourg, reveal.
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3) Economy (€ + Climate Contribution at EU Borders): No Unfair Competition
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EU and Global Economy was the 3rd big point at the 2010 Franco-Italan Summit, only a few Months before France takes over the G 8 and G 20 Chairmanship :
- "Italy must get involved, in order to bring the strength which represents the 3rd Economy of Europe", stressed from the outset Sarkozy, while Berlusconi said that "inside an EU where our Economies represent almost 40% of EU's GDP, working together is something necessary and positve".
Therefore, "we want to work together .. on very Important Issues", as "on the regulation of Raw Materials' Prices, (not only Agricultural : All Raw Materials"), "on the developments of EU's Competition system", etc. including during the forthcoming, 2010's Autumn Chairmanship of the G8 and G 20. And "we ask to support the interests of (EU's) Common Agricultural Policy, which is an element of Power : ... We can't impose to our Agricultural productors Rules of Food Security and transparency, which are not respected anywhere else in the World, and continue to Import Products which don't respect the (Environmental) Rules", Sarkozy stressed.
-"We shall make Proposals" also "on the Financial "Contribution at EU's Borders for the Climate" protection, the French President anounced. - "Italy and France refuse a kind of Naïvety : We demand to study the Climate Contribution at EU's Borders in order to protect our Industries".
- "Indeed, .. we confirmed our wish to work together for a Europe which protects its Citizens :.. Its Enterprises and the interests of each one of its Citizens", agreed Berlusconi, anouncing also the "signature of some 20 agreements".
- "That's precisely the Vision we have for Europe", replied also Sarkozy o a Journalist's question. "Europe is made in order to protect, but this doesn't mean .. protectionism". "However, if sometimes Europe is misunderstood by Europeans themselves, it's because they feel that all other Regions in the World are protecting themselves, while Europe should not over-protect". In fact, "Europe must Invest in Innovation, and, at the same time, ask for Fair Competition and refuse Unfair Competition", he stressed.
- When "the US President (Obama) defends the interests of the American Economy", "it's perfectly normal", and "nobody makes hip a reproach for that", Sarkozy observed, after his return from the USA, where both EU leaders were due to go again next Monday. - "We shall go to Shangai's International Exhibition, in China, to India, etc. in Asia. Everybody understands that the role of a Government is to protect its fellow Citizens without being accused of Protectionism. Europe stands for Market Economy, for the Liberty of Trade, but cannot be Naive". On the contrary, "we want a Europe which doesn't hesitate when it comes to defend its Values and Beliefs", Sarkozy concluded.
- "Protectionism would be the Worst of all, but Unfair Competition and Naivety would lead to Europe's Destruction !", he warned,
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DEBT : Greece and EuroZone
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Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi also anounced that they "spoke also about the (Financial) support to Greece. We perfectly agree that Greece belongs to the EuroZone, and that it's important, therefore, for us to give all our help. And we are "interested to give our support, because, otherwise, we shall have negative effects on our Currency and on our Economy".
- "Greek Authorities took courageous measures in order to redress the situation of their Public Finances. A support Plan was aproved by all EuroZone's States. We are Ready to activate it at any moment to help Greece. It's up to Greece and to EuroZone's member states, on ECB's Recommendation, to decide if the conditions are met to fully activate that", added Sarkozy.
- "Every time Europe faced a Crisis, the Financial Crisis with the Plan on Banks, the Hungarian Crisis, the Latvia's Crisis, etc., Europe knew how to react on time. Nobody should doubt that it will do the same concerning Greece", he concluded, (receiving Berlusconi's "full agreement").
As for Italy itself, "we inherited from previous Governments a heavy Debt : There was an Historic compromise between the Socialist party, the Christian Democrats and he Communist party, who succeeded .. "Négative Miracles" to multiply by 8 the public Debt from 1950 up to 1982. But, despite that, we succeeded to have (now) Good Accounts : We had some new emissions of public Debt and normaly the Market's demand represents 2 or 3 times the amount of the emission. This is a proof of the trust that Citizens have to our Government and State". "As for our action during the (Global) Crisis, we supported the Businesses. We reduced Taxes. We extended State's aid to all persons who lost their job, and we augmented Minimal Retirement schemas to Millions of Citizens. ... Now "we are going to work already for the 3 next Years in front of us : We have a really important and concrete task to accomplish, and we have a Country which behaved well in front of the (Global) Crisis", the Italian Prime Minister observed.
I. e. on Greece, to put it in a nutshell, Sarkozy and Berlusconi are ready to use the EuroZone support mechanism, against speculation trying to exploit the .. "Negative Miracle" of Debt's Multiplication during the 1980ies, as the Italian PM reminded, pointing at an astonishingly similar scenario with Greece, whose previous PASOK Governments had accumulated an exceptionaly big and long debt since the 1980ies, that subsequent ND (ChristianDemocrats/EPP) Government's efforts didn't succeed to eradicate completely, unlike Italy's case, as current OECD comparative Data reveal.

Among all OECD member countries data unveiled by the Paris-based International Ecconomic Organization, (which stays mute on Turkey, on the contrary), only Germany once had such an exceptionaly big Debt in the Past, but, unlike PASOK past Governments in Greece, Kohl's German Govenent's exceptional 1996 deficit it was in fact an "investment" for the future : Shortly afterwards, Germany's Finances marked a positive Record Peak high, according to OECD's data, while, on the contrary, in Greece's PASOK past Governments the huge bulk of cushy job holders after massive recruitment in the 1980ies, are still there, notoriously continuing to overburden Greece's Public Debt..

Unless EU Parliament's forcthcoming Hearings, joined to some EU Governments" critical moves, succeed to start Investigations on what really happened during the 1980ies and particulalry on 1998-2001, find and punish those responsible for such periods known for ambiant nepotism, several wrong doings, (including a ;; vis a vis Turkey'(s controversial EU bd) which became unpopular.
Because, obviously such moves could create much needed trust also on Markets that no such false impressiions and manipulations could happen again anew, rei,nforcing People's trust on EuroZone's fiability and real strength.
The fact EU Parliament's Economic Committee officialy decided to invite to Next Week's Hearing on what really happened in Greece, and how to ensure that this will never again be repated anywhere in the Future, has invited also a representative of ''Goldman Sachs', the Financial Agency which had reportedly helped a former PASOK ("Socialist") Government in Greece to present a better Economic outlook than its real situation on 1999-2001, is naturaly positive. (See also relevant "EuroFora"'s earlier NewsReports).
But, mainstream ChristianDemocrat/EPP French MEP Jean-Paul Gauzes, speaking earlier to "EuroFora", cited the case of a former EuroStat Expert who reportedly got later a job in the Private Sector overseas, after the 1999-2001 False Statistics Scandal, and said that, "if a representative of the current ("PaSOK'") Government in Greece is invited, then", he "intend(s) to ask also for the current Opposition; i.e. for a representative of the Former Greek Governmenrts" of New Democracy (ChristianDemocrats/EPP) "to be present at the Hearing".
However, informed EU Parliament's sources told today "EuroFora" that "there is no scheduled last-minute Change" to the list of Experts Invited to next week's Hearing on Greece, which includes from Greece only "a representative of the National Office for Statistics".
- "I don't like Secret Party-Deals behind closed doors !", earlier said to "EuroFora" EU Parliament's Economic Committee's Chairwoman, Sharon Bowles, Liberal Brittish MEP from South-Eastern England, who knows well, as she told us, the Kent Broadstairs-Margate Seaside area where used to guide his Ship the Historic former Prime Minister Howard Heath, the pro-European Conservative Politician who brought the UK into the EU...
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People in Europe and the World expect from CoE to make a succes of its "Monitoring" for Human Rights and Democracy, despite difficulties, said Finland's President Tarja Halonen to "EuroFora" at a crucial moment for the mecanism built 15 years ago by the paneuropean organization which celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2009.
Halonen, known as "Mother" of CoE's "Monitoring" mecanism, a long-time MEP and former Foreign Minister before becoming Finland's President, holds a long experience in the mattter, after also serving twice as CoE and EU Chairwoman in the past. That's why she is well placed to judge how CoE's "monitoring" should deal today with some crucial issues of importance both to CoE and to the EU.
The move came just a Month before a crucial, last visit to Turkey, scheduled for June, by the President of CoE''s "Monitoring" Committee, Ukranian MEP Serge Holovaty, to finalize his Report on Ankara, the CoE Member State with the longest Monitoring procedure. From its results depends its overall credibility.
This is a Test-case, because, in fact, it's in order to avoid Sanctions threatened against Turkey by a CoE's Assembly's April 1995 Resolution for grave Human Rights violations, Democracy gaps, the continuing Military Occupation in Cyprus, the unresolved Kurdish problem, Aegean differend with Greece, etc., that MEPs decided to create, for the 1st time on April 1996, a "Monitoring" proces, allegedly destinated to check, without excluding Countries who did not fulfill all CoE's standards.
In the Past, the obliged withdrawal of Greece's Military regime and of its "Civil" cover-up out of the CoE had helped bring back Democracy in 1974. But, on the contrary, since April 1996, the idea was to "monitor" Human Rights' respect while keeping most concerned Countries inside the CoE. After Turkey's oldest example, this was extended also to several former "Eastern" European Countries, even if CoE's Assembly has imposed to some of them (fex. Ukraine, Russia, etc., after Belarus, Serbia, etc) various "Sanctions", that Ankara always avoided. Curiously more succesful even than .. USA itself, (a CoE "Observer" since 1995), which has been at least threatened with sanctions some years ago..
EU-effects of CoE's Monitoring process became obvious between 2001-2008, since the "closure" of this procedure, when CoE felt that a Country had met most of its Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law obligations, (i.e. the "Copenhagen Criteria" for the EU), helped trigger Negotiations with the EU for "Accession" or other closer relations : This occured already before the 2004 and 2007 EU Enlargements to former "Eastern" European Countries, as well as for the commencement of "accession" negotiations with Croatia, and of "open-ended" negotiations with Turkey in 2005.
But a stricking new development are Holovaty's recent findings that on core Human Rights issues as Torture and Freedom of Expression, Turkey, even "5 Years after" CoE closed its "Monitoring", back in 2004, inciting EU to start accession Negotiations in 2005, still presents grave problems.
His findings are of crucial importance after a 2008 CoE Resolution called, "if need be", to "seriously consider the possibility of Re-Opening the Monitoring procedure for Turkey" : A move which might affect Ankara's controversial EU bid, since EU Accession Negotiations are based on the Hypothesis that the Candidate fullfils the "Copenhagen Criteria" (See above)..
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Holovaty expressed his will to check "Matters still Outstanding" and those that he "didn't have an opportunity to discuss" at an earlier visit this year, "in order to discuss the more complex issues in greater depth", at his forthcoming New Visit to Ankara, before the December 2009 EU Summit. This is all based on the 2004 CoE Resolution which stresses that, CoE "will continue.. post-monitoring Dialogue with the Turkish authorities,...in addition to a 12-points list,..and on any Other Matter that might arise in connection with Turkey’s Obligations as a CoE member state".
CoE's Resolution also asks from Turkey "to secure the proper Implementation of Judgements, particularly in the Cyprus v. Turkey InterState case", of 2001, which concerns also the plight of many Hundreds of MISSING People. It adds Turkey's obligations to "execute" ECHR's Judgements in the Loizidou case,..and in particular adopt General Measures to avoid repetition or continuation of Violations found by the Court" to the detriment of Refugees.
Nevertheless, Holovaty said to "EuroFora" that "MISSING" persons,"might be included" and cannot be excluded, but he has yet to examine the situation "to find out which issues will be raised" to the Turkish Government.
Therefore, "EuroFora" asked Halonen, as the Historic "Mother" of CoE's Monitoring mecanism, if she thought that, "whenever there are grave Human Rights Violations, as fex. "MISSING" persons, attested even by ECHR's judgements, they should be always checked by a Monitoring process. Or could they be forgotten ?"
- "We (CoE) must be, at the same time, Fair, Realistic, but not in the mind that "now we have Forgotten", etc., replied to "EuroFora"'s question Halonen, speaking as a matter of general principle.
- "When we think of those People that are suffering from the lack of Democracy, of Human Rights, and of the Rule of Law", "we should find a base on how to deal with the (Monitoring) system more rapidly"', she stressed.
- "Sometimes it's very difficult to combine Transparency and Effectivenes together, particularly in this specific case", she went on to say. But, "I have not found a (CoE Member) Country who could be insensitive in this sens", Halonen answered concerning grave Human Rights violations attested by the ECHR.
- "I have no ready-made answer. I have the expectations that you, in the CoE, will, step by step, find the different types of the monitoring systems."
Also "because this is a part of the UN's Post-Conflict system, (fex. when it comes to Cyprus' MISSING persons), and it's a more Global system". So that, "If we make a succes in Europe, the others will follow", throughout the World. "But they expect that we (Europe) are this opportunity, this Opportunity to make a Succes", Halonen concluded.
In addition, she advised to extend CoE's Monitoring to all its 47 Member States, "because, as long as we hear that, all these monitoring systems are "OK for the neighbor, but not for me", "it's very difficult" to understand. Something which could make easier to Compare...
Finnish MEP Jaako Laakso, former CoE Rapporteur on the Occupied Territories of Cyprus and one of the 5 Signatories of the Historic CoE's call to create the "MONITORING" mecanism since 1996, was more specific : - "We (CoE Assembly) have to find a way for the issue of Cyprus' MISSING People to be better followed", he stressed, anouncing his intention to "speak to Mr. Holovaty" about that. "There might be also other ways", added Laakso.
- The 2008 "Year had been a very Bad one for Turkey with regard to Human Rights in general, and Freedom of Expression in particular", denounced, meanwhile, Holovaty's preliminary Post-Monitoringh Draft Report by Holovaty, published by the CoE on April 2009.
"Amnesty International believes that freedom of expression is not guaranteed given the various articles of the Criminal Code that restrict it. .. "For example, 1,300 Websites are said to have been closed down by the (Turkish) authorities in 2008" ! While "the new Turkish Criminal Code was used to bring a total of 1,072 proceedings between June 2005 and April 2008, and led to the conviction of 192 people", for expressing views. "Representatives of the Özgür Gündem newspaper, which specialises in Kurdish affairs, ..complained about Numerous Attacks on their Freedom of Expression ...as was everyone who advocated a settlement to the question by means other than the intervention of the army" "According to their figures, 19 Newspapers had been suspended 43 times between 4 August 2006 and 4 November 2008" !...
Moreover, on 2008, CoE's "Ministers adopted its 4rth Resolution on the execution of the judgments of the ECHR, ...and outstanding issues regarding 175 Judgements and decisions relating to Turkey delivered between 1996 and 2008... concerning Deaths resulting from the excessive use of force by members of the Security forces, the failure to protect the right to life, the DIisappearance and/or death of individuals, Ill-Treatment and the Destruction of property". CoE's " Ministers urged the Turkish authorities ...to ensure that members of Security forces of all ranks can be prosecuted without administrative
authorisation" for "serious crimes". Holovaty reminded.
"Nonetheless", Holovaty heard anew of "Several cases of Violence committed last year (2008) by the (Turkish) security forces". Amnesty International speaks of Many Cases of ill-treatment and Torture in the prisons and by the police". "Including, fex."'the death of Engin Ceber, a young man of 29 who died on October 2008 as a result of the TORTURE allegedly inflicted on him by police officers, prison staff and members of the gendarmerie. He was part of a group of people arrested on September 2008 during a demonstration and Press Conference in Istanbul'. Proceedings against suspects are "on-going" in this case.
- " I therefore noted an Obvious Contradiction between the Government’s stated “zero tolerance” policy.... of Torture and other forms of ill-treatment, and the different testimonies given", denounced CoE's Rapporteur. Turkish "authorities must make considerable efforts to guarantee that proper investigations are carried out into allegations of abuses by members of the security forces and that perpetrators are effectively punished" "In this respect, I have requested detailed Statistics on the number of Investigations, acquittals and convictions in cases involving allegations of abuse in order to show the positive impact of the measures taken to date", Holovaty said, repeating a permanently unsatisfied CoE's demand to Turkey since a Decade...
- "The Political Crisis that shook the country in the spring of 2008 highlighted the Weaknesses of the (Turkish) Constitution", which comes from the Military regime of 1982, "and the Urgent Need of Reforms", stressed from the outset CoE's Rapporteur in 2009. In particular, "the ...Democratic functioning of state institutions, including the independence of the judicial system, are crucial", he observes.
But, "the Electoral system and the ways in which it is circumvented do not appear to give those elected complete Legitimacy, and tend to pervert the course of direct universal suffrage", denounces Holovaty, observing that, even 5 Years later, Turkey did not yet change the 10% nationwide Threshold for a party to take any seat, which is "far higher" than the "3%" maximum in Europe and already condemned as contrary to European Standards by the CoE.
+ Moreover, EU Parliament's 2009 Report on Turkey, drafted by Dutch MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijten and adopted in Strasbourg on March, expresses "Concern over the Failure of the (Turkish) Judiciary to prosecute cases of Torture and Ill-treatment, the Number of which is Growing". EU also "is concerned about continuing Hostility and Violence against Minorities" in Turkey. It also "calls on the Turkish Government to launch, as a matter of Priority, a Political Initiatve favouring a lasting Settlement of the Kurdish issue, (while "condemning violence.. and terrorist groups"). EU "regrets that No progress has been made on establishing full, systematic Civilian suprevisory functions over the (Turkish) Military".
The final results of Holovaty's 2nd and last visit to Turkley will be known later this year, and, at any case, before EU's December 2009 Summit.
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