CoE's Chief Jagland to EuroFora: Human Rights/Democracy at the core of Ukraine CeaseFire + Peace

*Strasbourg/EuroFair/Angelo Marcopolo/- Inaugurating Strasbourg's 2014-2015 Economico/Political Year just a few Minutes after the Start of a long-awaited, unlimited CeaseFire in Eastern Ukraine's Tragic and Dangerous for Peace Conflict, agreed earlier this Afternoon at Minsk,  CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland, Speaking to "EuroFora" at the conclusion of a Fast-Track series of Visits both to Kiev and Moscow, as well as in Wales, where  the Summit of NATO's Heads of State/Government concludes Today, agreed in substance that Human Rights are central for a sustainable CeaseFire in Ukraine, and, together with Democracy and Rule of Law, even for a lasting Peace, while also stressing that, for the moment, priority No 1 was to ensure that the CeaseFire stands in real practice.

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    Jagland, who has also served as long-time President of the Oslo Committee for the NOBEL "Peace" prize, exceptionaly came to inaugurate Strasbourg's EuroFair 2014 right after Meeting with almost All the main diplomatic Protagonists, from Ukranian President Poroshenko and Foreign Minister Klimkin, following by Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov, (etc), including the new NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg,  paying a Fast-track series of Topical Visits both to Kiev and Moscow, as well as in Wales (UK), where  the Summit of NATO's Heads of State/Government concluded Today, before returning back to the Airport  of Strasbourg, (Headquarters of the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, as well as EU Parliament's Plenary Sessions, ECHR, EUROCORPS, etc), focused on efforts to promote Peace in Eastern Ukraine's bloody and Dangerous Conflict, which threatens both Europe's Economy, Stability and Values, just a few minutes after the 1st Bilateral agreed CeaseFire was anounced.

 

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    In particular, Jagland spontaneously and clearly agreed with "EuroFora" that the vital need to protect Human Rights lie at the Core of the current CeaseFire's legitimacy, while the "Horizon" for a Future Solution to the Eastern Ukranian issue is linked to key "Reforms" in Ukraine's Constitution and/or Legislation, that CoE's "Venice" Commission and other relevant Bodies are due to scrutinize later on October :

    - Jagland immediately confirmed to "EuroFora", with an exceptionaly Bright Smile, that, indeed, a "Success on Ukraine" was apparently obtained Today, by a coincidence immediatey after his Kiev, Moscow and Wales' visits (Comp. Supra), which were obviously Helpful.

    - In this regard, in fact, "Human Rights are Central", even regarding the immediate aim of the 1st Bilateraly Agreed "CeaseFire", which has just Started this Afternoon, the Head of the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law also agreed with "EuroFora".

     Indeed, among otthers, f.ex., one of the two representatives at the Minsk meeting from Novorussian Donetsk and Luhansk areas, has reportedly revealed that participants hadn't realy Time yet to start dealing with the Final Political Solution to the Eastern Ukraine Conflict in itself, but were animated by the Urgent Feeling that Military Clashes had to immediately Stop, in order to Save mainly Civilian People's Human Lives and Hard everyday sufferings : - "Human" factor had a priority for us, he  pointed out, just a Week after UNO's Human Rights Commission issued earlier an Alarming Report denouncing an Escalation of Civilian Victims during the last Month of Kiev Military's Attacks agains the Dissident Donetsk/Luhansk regions, (See : ......).

    Even an unusual NATO Summit's official Declaration on Ukraine, issued at the conclusion of its Heads of State/Governments' gathering these Days at Wales (UK), "encourage(s) the Ukrainian Armed forces and Security services to ....exercise the Utmost Restraint ....so as to Avoid Casualties among the local Civilian Population".

    + The TransAtlantic Heads of State/Government Wales' Summit also "encourage Ukraine to further promote an Inclusive Political Process, based on Democratic values and respect for Human Rights, Minorities, and the rule of Law", while, at the same time that they "call on all parties to meet their Commitments, including those made in Geneva and Berlin", (which include, in particular, similar points).

    Timely, the Minsk pro-Peace move came immediately after a Troubled overNight Military Attack against the Dissident Areas by Kiev's Army, whose Shelling reportedly made at least "9 Civilians Killed", as   Dissidents' semi-official website denounced earlier Today.  (See relevant PHOTO with Candles).
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    + "And the (Ukranian) Constitution (Reform) is the (main) Horizon", for a Peaceful Solution through an adequate DeCentralisation of Power,  Jagland also agreed with "EuroFora", underlying that by adding a spontaneous - "Yes, yeah !", given particularly the forthcoming appraisal of CoE's Constitutional Law watchdog : the "Venice Committee", which has scheduled to examine, discuss and vote on a Report on  Ukraine's Draft Amendments (notoriously Crucial for obtaining an eventual compromise agreement for Peace between Kiev's Government and Donetsk/Luhansk regions, later on October, (See, f.ex. : ......)    -
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     => - Then, as things stand, from now on,   -"What's the Next Step ?", "EuroFora" asked CoE's Secretary General.

    - "First of all, we (European/International Community) Need some more Time", Jagland immediately replied to our Question, suddently becoming Thoughtful.

    >>> This is particularly "in order to see that the CeaseFire is doing Well", and stands long enough, he explained to "EuroFora".     

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    - In fact, as a matter of general Principle, "Peace is Possible, if we Built the right conventions, Based on common Values (i.e. of Human Rights/Democracy, etc) "and Interests", the experienced Head of the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law observed earlier, pointing to the Fact that Strasbourg already is an Historic "Symbol" of that.

    + Symbolically, a Huge and solid Statue of Jesus Christ, has started to be artfuly covered by Bright Golden leaves from a Family of Historic Monuments' Restoration Craftsmen, precisely since Today's Inaugural Day of Strasbourg's Euro-Fair 2014 (See Infra)..

    -  Addressing Previously, as Keynote Speaker,  the Inauguration of Strasbourg's Euro-Fair, whose 2014 Guest of Honour is Algeria, CoE's Head pointed from the outset at the topical Words of the new Consul General of that big and key Mediteranean Country at Europe's Neighbourhood, which has notoriously been for a long time among the Leaders of the World-wide "Non Aligned" Movement, particularly with experienced current President Bouteflika, former Foreign Minister, Mrs Houria Yousfi, who had topicaly chosen to salute all invitees with a traditional  :  - "As-salamou ailakoum'", i.e. "May Peace be with you ! "

    - "In Troubled Times like this, when Peace is Threatened in so many places", (as Ukraine, inside Europe, but also Syria, Iraq, etc, in the wider Middle East region), "it's hard to imagine a Better Word for Greeting", Jagland observed smiling....

    + Moreover, "in this Complex and Chaotic World, History is an incredibly sensitive Adviser, and I think that we all would be Wise to Learn from the History of Strasbourg, with its impressive ....U - Turn, from a sharply Divided City, to a Symbol of Reconciliation" and now "a Capital of Europe", as he said.  - "Indeed, Strasbourg is an International City, which is Open to the World, and posesses a Strong European Identity : (i.e.) the City with the Symbolic Bridge (also of High Speed Train) accross the Rhine and the imminent plan for a Tramway (from Strasbourg) to Kehl (neighbouring German City), "it's Good to See, and it's a very good Example for France and for Europe", as well as "a concrete and tangible Proof for Other parts of Europe and to the World, that Peace ...is a win-win  project"

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     In fact, Today's opening of 2014 Strasbourg's Euro-Fair with Honoured Guest, for the 1st time, Algeria, marks a DOUBLE Reconciliation Symbol :

    Both Franco-German, and Franco-Algerian,  which are Historically and GeoPoliticaly linked together, since it's well known that World-famous former French President De Gaulle started, back on 1963, the Historic raproachement with German President Adenauer, just after a deal to End the War in Algeria and recognize its Independence on 1962, together with a general Amnesty, which was a hard decision, but able to open a New and Positive Future, as the following Decades proved.

    Now, indeed, Friendship and Cooperation between France and Algeria are a Strategic "Key for Stability in the Mediterranean area", as the Prefect of Strasbourg's region Alsace, Stéphane Bouillon, observed Today, and even the Economies of the two Neighbouring and Linguistically interlinked Countries are, in fact, Complementary, as Algerian Trade Minister, Amara Benyounes, pointed out during the inauguration visit of the stands :

    - F.ex. Algeria managed to succesfuly face Terrrorism alone, but sustainable Peace needs also more Economic chances for the People. Therefore, we are launching a New, 262 Billions € Investment Programme for the 5 Next Years, and we have Financial Resources, Energy sources and a Young WorkForce, well trained also in French Language, but we Need 2 more Things, that France can give us : Management and High-Tech, ..... concluded, in a short but comprehensive overview, the energetic Algerian Foreign Trade Minister Benyounes.

 

And while famous "European Innovation Lepine Prize Award"'s President Dorey was describing to "EuroFora" a particularly impressive, this year, series of Innovative projects, from Transports to BioMedicine, as well as Environment/Climat etc. focusing mainly on Modern "Networks" and Transparency, (from a "Crystal Car" named "Zen", to simple ways to transform any Bicycle into an "Electric" one, including anti-Heatwave Curtains able to succesfuly face very High Temperatures, etc,

 

in exchange, an Artful Cultural spectacle organized in Strasbourg's Palace of Congres and Music (PMC) by the charming Algerian Consul General, Houria Yousfi, who reminded to "EuroFora" earlier the Historic Geographical and Cultural/Linguistic, but aso Human Links, through the Mediterranean, between the Maghreb Countries, France and the rest of Europe,

 

pictured a surprisingly Timely and Symbolic image revealing that even Ancient Tribes who lived at the profound Sahara's Hoggar area, used often to Stop a Violent Conflict, lay both their Arms at the Ground, make a Truce, and gather all Together to Debate in a circle any Differences they might have had, in order to reach a Deal...

 

If our Algerian Friends could do it in the Past even at Sahara's remote Hoggar, at least, our Ukranian friends could at least try to do it also in Europe, couldn't they ?...

 

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NATO, or EU/CoE/OSCE  ?

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    + Meanwhile, in a parallel development, Jagland's compatriot from Norway, and fellow Socialdemocrat politician, Jens Stoltenberg, who has been recently elected as NATO's new Secretary General, is due to take over from outgoing Rasmussen (who had been elected as SG at NATO's 2009 Summit in Strasbourg : Comp. "EuroFora"s NewsReports from that exceptional event) during the next weeks, i.e. from the 1st of October 2014.

    But Stoltenberg was also, in the Past, a notorious personal Competitor to Jagland, inside their common Country and Political Party, for a long time...

Who, among these two Top-level Norwegian personalities is due to play the most important role for a solution to the Eastern Ukranian Conflict in the forseable Future : The New Head of NATO's Military Alliance, Stoltenberg, of the recently re-elected Head of the PanEuropean Organization for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law,  (who has served also as President of the Oslo Committee for the NOBEL "Peace" prize), Jagland?

    => This strange, unprecedented situation, triggers a Timely Question, particularly vis a vis the Eastern Ukranian issue : - Is it mainly by Military, i.e. NATO means, or, rather, mostly by Political tools (inevitably linked also to Law and Morals), as those of Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law : i.e. CoE's main tasks, that the Eastern Ukraine conflict could be better settled ?

    In this new, friendly Jagland - Stoltenberg "competition" (Comp. Supra), at least German Chancellor Angie Merkel, has recently stressed her crystal-clear preference  :

- "There is No Military Solution to the Eastern Ukranian conflict. Only a Political Solution can really bring Peace in Ukraine, Merkel reportedly stressed, in substance, during her latest Visit to Kiev.

    >>> In this case, Jagland's CoE, together with Swiss President Burkhalter's OSCE 2014 Chairmanship, will have much work to do, both into contributing to solidify the current CeaseFire, and, much more, into searching adequate Political Solutions according to elementary Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law Values, which could really work.

    And the forthcoming OSCE Annual Summit, reportedy scheduled for nearby Bale, on December 2014, the nearest possible to CoE's Headquarters in Strasbourg, might, eventualy, unveil useful Synergies between the two Non-Military, PanEuropean and partly Euro-Atlantic Organisations, each one with it specific competences, towards a Peaceful Solution of  the Ukraine issue.

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Bilateral, Agreed CEASEFIRE COMPROMISE Official Data :
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Earlier this week, on 3 September, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed, in rely to Journalists' Questions, that, following a Conversation with Ukranian President Petro Poroshenko, (during which they apparently expressed "very Close" Views on concrete "Steps" towards a possible settlement of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine), he drafted a series of "Thoughts that could constitue an Action Plan" for a bilateral CeaseFire between Kiev's Military and Dissident Donetsk/Luhansk regions, "in order to Stop the Bloodshed and Stabilise the Situation", expressing the "Hope" that "Ukraine's Government will ... make use of the positive Opportunity that the Contact Group" (between Kiev's Authorities and Dissident Donetsk/Luhansk regions' representatives, under the auspices of the Swiss Presidency of the OSCE, and in the presence of a Russian Ambassador), provides, starting by its Meeting of  Today (September 5) at Minsk (Bielorussia), "to bring about Final and comprehensive Settlement to the situation in SouthEast Ukraine", for a Peaceful Solution "in full and unconditional Respect for the lawful Rights of those who live there", as he said.

Putin's Draft Plan notes included the immediate "End" of "active Offensive Operations" ; Withdrawal of Ukranian Military from "Populated Areas" so that Civilians wouldn't be, no more, affected by "artillery" or "launch Rocket systems", as well as to "Exclude .. use of Military Aircraft against Civilians and Populated Areas" there ; "International Monitoring" of the "CeaseFire" and of "the situation in the (above mentioned) Safe Zone" ; "Exchange" of "Detainees", "without preconditions", and "on an <<all for all>> basis" ; "Humanitarian Corridors for Refugees and for the delivery of Humanitarian Cargoes" ;  "Repair" of "Damaged Settlements" in order to "rebuild Social Facilities and Life-supporting Infrastructure", while also "helping .. to prepare for .. Winter" time.

These moves followed a growing International OutCry (first by EU Parliament since July, and afterwards even by UNO's Human Rights' Commissioner on August, See, f.ex. : ... + .........), mainly against big numbers of Civilian People Killed, Wounded and/or Suffering by Cuts of Water/Electicity/Phones/Banks/Transports and Scarcity of Food/Medicine at the Dissident Regions of Lugansk/Luhansk during Kiev Military's Attacks.

But also a Fast-Spreading,  counter-Offensive by Dissidents' forces, since August 24, which succeeded (for the 1st time since the beginning  of Kiev's Military's Attacks back on April, i.e. in 6 or 7 Months' time), to Win back a growing number of Areas, Villages and Towns in their own Regions of Donetsk/Luhansk, which had been, previously, taken over by Kiev's Military, while also reportedly "surrounding" an important number of Kiev's best remaining Army with equipment, and even arriving until the Azov Sea.
To the point that certain Dissidents' Leaders criticized this CeaseFire, Warning of a Risk that some, inside Kiev's Authorities, might only want to buy some Time just to "re-group", receive even more Weapons, and re-start anew to Attack, as in the Past , shortlived 1 week-long Unilateral CeaseFire of last July).

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- But Ukranian President Poroshenko reportedly added, later-on, that, in addition to the "Termination of the (recent) Offensive" from the Dissidents' side, and to the Liberation of many Hundreds of POWs, since "Ukraine has not made any Concessions in terms of its Territorial Integrity and Political System", "we must do everything possible to Stop the Bloodshed and put an End to Suffering",

- That's why "we Agreed.. with Russian President Vladimir Putin" on an "Initiative for Immediate CeaseFire", while also "in Minsk, iin the framework of Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine - Russia - Donetsk/Luhabsk Dissidents), a Protocol ..was signed" Today, based on a "Peace Plan", which "outlines the Contours  of the Future Political Settlement", so that "in No way can we Disrupt the Peace process", from which "Depends the Fate of the World", (given the obvious Risks against Peace in all Europe and even Worldwide, if the Confic provoked since February in Ukraine persists and deteriorates), given also that, at any case, it's "Better to administer policy through Ballots, instead of automatic Gunfire and Grad volleys", as he reportedly acknowledged now.

- Thus, "we are now reGrouping our Armed Forces, .... Not to Attack, but to ensure efficient Protection of our territory", while, "I can only assure.. that the Ukrainian Government will do Everything possible to Preserve Peace", as he promissed.
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=> Therefore, the "Trilateral Contact Group" (Ukraine - Donetsk/Luhansk Dissident regions - Russia, under the auspices of OSCE's Swiss President Didier Burkhalter's representative, Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini), held "Consultations" which arrived to the following "Results", according to the Official "Protocol" signed by all participants, concerning the "Joint Steps", which "aim at the implementation" of Ukranian President Poroshenko's "Peace Plan", "and the Initiatives" of Russian President "V.Putin" :

- "Immediate bilateral Cessation of the use of Weapons", subject to  "Monitoring and Cerfication by the OSCE", and "immediat.. Release (of) all Hostages and unlawful Detained Persons".

- "Measures aimed at improving the Humanitarian Situation" in the Dissident areas, as well as "for the Economic ReVival.. and the Recovery of Economic Activity" in the wider area of South-Eastern Ukraine ("Donbas").

-  Legislate on an Amnesty "prohibiting the prosecution and punishment of persons in connection with the events" in Donetsk/Luhansk regions, while also providing "Security Guarantees for the Participants of the consultations" at the Trilateral Contact Group.

 - "Incusive National Dialogue", (as it had been promissed already since the April 17 Geneva Agreement between Foreign Ministers of Ukraine, USA, Russia, the EU and OSCE), as well as a "DeCentralization of Power", added to a "Temporary Status of Local Self-Government, in certain Areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk Regions", (i.e. a "Special Status"), while also "holding", meanwhile, "Early Local Elections" there.

 - "Monitoring.. and Verification by the OSCE" "on the Ukranian-Russian Border", "together with the Creation of a Security Area" there, while also "remov(ing) unlawful Military formations, Military Hardware" (f.ex. Tanks, AirFighters, Military Helicopters, multiple Rockets launchers, etc), "as well as Militants (i.e. Voluntaries, from Both sides), "and Mercenaries" (notoriously existing from Both sides), from the Ukranian territory.

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+ Meanwhile, Timely adding even another, 3rd Topical Symbolism, Strasbourg's 2014 EuroFair started from Today's official Inauguration by CoE's Secretary Genearal Thornbjorn Jagland, to accompagny all Prayers for the Success of that fresh, bilateral Ceasefire and Peace process which started now at Minsk for South-Eastern Ukraine, in the impressive image of a .. Huge Statue of Jesus Christ, progressively covered by glittering Gold leaves by a sympathetic pioneer Family SME specialized in "Conservation/Restauration"of Art and Cultural Monuments, run by Elodia and Pascal Meyer, "Best Workers of France", as even our collegue Jacques Fortier, the City's "DNA" Newspaper's experienced former Religions and now Politics' Chief Editor, observed to "EuroFora" with a friendly smile, on this obviously good coincidence; where every Peace-loving People should really "cross fingers"...