Sarkozy recalls Ardennes Nazi counter-attack while Socialist Gonzalez Report claims Turkey is a must

*Colmar/- In an inspired, Symbolic plaidoyerie for People's Right to their Historic Identity, French President Sarkozy reminded, on the occasion of the Anniversary of the Victory against Nazism and Fascism in the 2nd World War , that even towards the end of War, Nazi had launched the Ardennes attack to take back Strasbourg, speaking the same day that, in Brussels, Socialist former PM Gonzalez published a controversial Report abruptly claiming that Turkey is a "Must" for the EU, (which would have No real Identity), regardless of EU Citizens' Votes on many National and EU Elections even in the biggest Countries.   

 - Historic "Last Liberation act" from Nazism, which opened a new Horizon for a Democratically reUnited Europe, was symbolically honored by French President Nicolas Sarkozy near Strasbourg, at Colmar, reminding that the AntiDemocratic regime of "Nazis .. fought back relentlessly" when "Hitler gave orders to launch the Ardennes Counter-offensive (alias "Battle of the Bulge"), whose Revanchist "aim was to re-conquer Strasbourg" back, (nowadays CoE, ECHR and EU Parliament's plenary sessison Headquarters).   

 Sarkozy said that the same Day that EU Council's Chairman, Herman Van Rompuy, was handed in Brussels a controversial Wisemen Report on "Europe's Future", which, surprisingly, dictated that the notoriously impopular Turkey's EU bid was a ..."must", and EU must be obliged to return back to its Past stance, regardless of EU Citizens' opposed votes in the Biggest EU Countries since 2007-2009 and even in the latest, June 2009 EU Elections, which led to conclude that EU - Turkey negotiations were Not for Accession (as EU Parliament's Votes twice confirmed in 2009 and 2010 : See Facts cited in "EuroFora"s earlier NewsReports), but only for an "Open-Ended process", as EU Council has repeatedly stressed during Recent Years. 

The French President spoke in Colmar, near CoE, ECHR and EU Parliament sessions' capital Strasbourg, at the Double Anniversary Day of Shuman's Declaration for the creation of the EU, and just before a Moscow Heads of State/Government gathering to celebrate 65 years since the Victory against Fascism and Nazism, and more than 20 Years after the end of the "Cold War", overcoming Past regimes oppressive of Liberties, making possible and necessary a new European era officially referring to Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, as also Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently pointed out at the CoE in Strasbourg.
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    Only one Hour later, Van Rompuy, speaking at the beginning of a join May 8 and 9 EU Parliament "Open Days" event in Brussels and Strasbourg, agreed that "in Politics, we must sometimes get some distance from the everyday's Crisis (particularly when we've been working on that "up to 2 o'clock in the Morning" as he reminded onYesterday's Brussels' EuroZone Summit, from which Sarkozy, meanwhile, flew to come here at Colmar), "in order to become able to see clearly in front of us (the Future) anew", as he said.
    
    However, Van Rompuy, carefully ...reserved for ..."2030, the Year that the Wisemen's Group fixed as Horizon", (according to President Sarkozy's proposal and EU Council's 2007 and 2008 Decisions), "when I'll have more than 83 Years of age", as he said, in ordrer to "re-read anew your Report to check if it's right" or wrong...

    Preceded by sounds ..of Brittish-Scottish Pipes, EU Council's President, Herman Van Rompuy was handed down a hard copy of the controversial Report, which considers Turkey's impopular EU bid as a "must", prepared by a Commission whose Secretary General, Dr. Turk, curiously keeps his only Foreign University Job .. in Turkey all long from 2001 up to 2010, with a Majority of Members linked to UK/ USA and/or with Socialist parties favoring Turkey's controversial EU aims, in obvious Contradiction not only against the latest French and German 2007 and 2009 National Elections, but also with the June 2009 EU Parliament's Elections, won by Parties clearly opposed or critical to Ankara's desiderata vis a vis the EU, in most Countries.

     Facts reveal that the Report supposed to render an Objective and Independent opinion on Turkey, was prepared in a non-transparent way by a Secretariat directed by Mr. "Turk, Secretary General", who holds a Paid Job for 10 Years at Istanbul's Technical Faculty in Turkey, and "without who(m) ...it would not have been possible", as its own text admits. Astonishingly, the Majority of the Controversial Group's Members have close links to the UK and/or USA, plus to Socialist Parties and/or former Governments, which are both notoriously pushing Turkey's impopular EU bid..

    - "That's why this (2010's) May 8, here, takes a so Particular and so Profound Meaning", Sarkozy enigmaically stressed the same Day at Colmar

    - Even after Strasbourg was liberated from Nazi Occupation Troops on November 1944, nevertheless, its region, "Alsace's sufferings didn't end soon : Nazis .. fought back relentlessly. On December ('944) Hitler gave orders to .. launch a Counter-Attack in the Ardennes" forest, whose "Aim was to get Back Strasbourg", (today's CoE, ECHR and EU Parliament's Headquarters), Sarkozy reminded.

    - So, "on January" 1945, Nazi "Tanks attacked Saverne" city (close to Strasbourg)", and, "the American Commander decided to retreat back, behind the Vosges' Mountains". But "this would mean abandoning Strasbourg to the Nazis"' oppressive regime, he denounced.

    The famous French Leader "General De Gaulle opposed that :  - "It goes without saying that the French Army cannot accept to abandon Strasbourg !", he stressed.

    - "We came close to to one of the most Grave Crisis between France and its Allies", Sarkozy observed.. "But, Strasbourg was saved" at the end, thanks also to De Gaulle's Voluntarism, he underlined.

    Thus, "the Last Act for Liberation... was played here, at Colmar (near CoE, ECHR and EU Parliament Headquarters, Strasbourg), the Last Occupied City", Sarkozy observed from the outset.

    - "I came here to pay hommage .. to all those who Resisted", "to the Volunteer Fighters, the Youngest of whom was roughly aged 16",  "who made hard Sacrifices, even of  their Lives,  for Freedom", that oppresive "Gestapo" methods "chassed, arrested, Tortured or even killed". "To the Refugees, who entered into Clandestinity, etc  They were Brave and came from all Areas"

    - Because it's only "after a Hard Battle, ... with Fervour, Tenacity, and Manouvering capacity", and many "Months of Heroic Struggles", that "the Last Occupied Area was  Liberated", he reminded, (as if he indirectly hinted that the 2007 and 2009 Elections in France, Germany and EU Parliament, were not enough yet in order to revive a European Project, in front of an opposition which, even after having lost many Elections, was obviously searching indirect ways to take its revanche, on Turkey's and other issues)...

    - "But I didn't come here, at Colmar, this May 8, only in order to evoke the Memory of those Fighters to whom we owe much". I came here also in order "to Repair an Injustice", Sarkozy added, Warning also on the subsistance of "a Profound and Hidden Wound, whose Pain hasn't yet gone",

    >>> "Those who Did Nothing to Prevent this Atrocity from being committed against innocent Citizens, but abandoned them, betrayed our Values, and were disgraced", the French President denounced.  

 However, the French ChristianDemocrat President didn't make yet any explicit comment on the former Socialist Prime Minister's controversial views on Turkey, apparently reserving that for a better opportunity asap.

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    - "EU must (sic !) honour its commitments with regard to ... Turkey", loudly and unilateraly claims Socialist former PM Gonzalez-chaired controversial "Wisemen" Commitee Report on EU's Future.

    - Paradoxically, "at the same time", EU "should" practicaly ....exclude other Countries, even if they are unquestionably European, in Characteristics, Culture, Geography, History, Economic Development, etc., as, f.ex. Ukraine, Serbia, etc. It should offer, iinstead, "Intermediate stage Agreements", "prior to the launch of Accession Negotiations", the controversial Report adds.

    This claim is obviously the Contrary of the opening of an EU-wide serious critical Debate on EU's Future in order to check whether a Democratically strong and Political EU, with its own Identity and Borders, could accept Turkey's controversial EU bid without diluting and/or undermining EU's project, as French President Sarkozy had initially proposed, as part of a wider Compromise in order to accept the continuation of Turkey's lucrative EU Negotiations, despite his clear Opposal during the 2007 Presidential French Elections, to which EU Commission's President Barroso had replied by advocating to "leave it all up to a special Committee" of Technocrats.
    
    - "I acknowledge that there were Differend points of view inside the Group: ... each one had differend views on the reality", Gonzalez revealed, when he handed a copy to EU Council's President Van Rompoy.     

      - "There were very Intensive Discussions" inside his Group on Turkey, and the Decision was "not Unanimous, but by a Majority", Gonzalez admitted, speaking of his Group which was obviously composed by individuals (most of them Unknown to EU Citizens) , which worked without Transparency vis a vis EU Citizens nor even EU Parliament, and regardless of EU Citizens' democratic votes. ( Comp. Supra).

    EU President Van Rompoy had only met Gonzalez "Twice", and the latter, since 2007, had just made "one (1) informal Oral briefing" to EU Heads of State/Government, only on the sidelines of March 2010 Brussels Summit, while it was dealing with Economic affairs, as he observed. Meanwhile, curiously, both EU Citizens and even EU Parliament as such were kept in the Dark, (contary to what would seem natural for a Report destinated to EU Citizens)...

    - "My Personal opinion is that if (once in the Past) EU Council had decided that a Country (as Turkey) is a Candidate and had "held Negotiations" with Ankara, then, EU wouild be condemned to persist, (unless it finds that Turkey doesn' fullfil its EU obligations), even if facts prove it to be an Error, and whatever EU Citizens might think or Vote, and regardless of "certain EU Countries'" opposite position, (as France, Germany, etc), Gonzalez, apparently believed, (curiously choosing to speak only in Spanish, and without Translation by EU's TV)...
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Gonzalez' astonishing ignorance on Merkel's famous "Pacta sund Servanda" reply to "EuroFora" founders' 2005 question on Turkey..
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    - Because .. "Pacta sund Servanda !", otherwise "EU would not be credible", exclaimed loudly the Socialist politician, making an obvious reference to German ChristianDemocrat Chancellor Angie Merkel's famous Reply to "EuroFora" co-Founder's  Question on Turkey, back on 2005, as if this would impose Turkey's impopular EU bid regardless of EU Citizens' votes...
    
    But, by doing so, Gonzalez revealed an astonishing Ignorance of the Facts and of what really happened about this famous Merkel 1st statement on Turkey, (unless he was misled by some grossly Inaccurate or even False Media Reports) !

    In fact, when we Questioned Merkel, in her 1st Press Conference as Chancellor, back on November 2005, at Elysee Palace in Paris, together with former French President Chirac, we had asked "if they think, as Leaders willing a strong, Political Europe, that they could succeed to make Turkey respect its Commitments", (i.e. on Human Rights, International Law, Minorities, Cyprus, etc).

    Merkel's Reply to our Question was that "this is Simple (Clear : "Einfach" in the original in German) : For us, Pacta sund Servanda", (i.e. Commitments should be kept)".

    Our Question - Reply with Merkel logically came at a period when former French President Chirac had started to "be more Strict on the Conditions" of Turkey's controversial EU bid, as he had already declared in his concluding Press Conference at the EU June 2005 Brussels' Summit, because of the  "No" of French People to the Referendum on the EU Constitution, on May 2005, was notoriosuly motivated by EU Citizens' opposal to Turkey's EU claims.

    Notes, Audio Tapes, and Elysee's own trancript clearly attest of what really happened then. It's true, however, that we were suprised to find out later-on, that a transcript initially made in a German Translation (while we had spoken in French) at that period of Socialist-CDU/CSU CoHabitation back in Berlin, had somehow distorted our own Question, in a way which might mislead whoever wasn't present nor aware of the real Facts. Nevertheless, Merkel reportedly repeated in 2009 the Reply she had initially given on 2005 to our Question, (and, this time, exactly with the Meaning that we had given from the start !).  Facts are so crystal-clear, indisputable and easy to prove, that anyone who might claim to give them another, or even contrary Interpretation, would inevitably fail.
    
    And that's what happened in that obviously distorded version of Merkel's 1st ever official Statement as a Chancellor on Turkey, made in Reply to our Question (See supra) :

- Instead of focusing on Turkey's obligation to respect the commitments it has undertaken vis a vis the EU, (as we had asked Merkel), on the contrary, those who distorted our own Question, (in Dialogue with which, results obviously the meaning of Merkel's Reply "Pacta sund Servanta"), claimed that it was all only about ... EU's obligations vis a vis Turkey !!!.. I.e. those who distorted our Question, behave as if they attempt to turn the Earth upside down !...

    - My Group was "Independent and worked with its own Criteria", i.e. without asking the Opinion, not even taking into account what EU Citizens (fex. by their Votes), and Democratically Elected EU Parliament and EU Countries' Governments think on Turkey's controversial EU bid, Gonzalez, a former Socialist Politician, boasted moreover with a smile,  speaking of the 2 Years work which costed more than one Million € from EU Taxpayers Money, (including the Poor, who pay VAT on all their revenues).

    Questioned whether his stance was in accordance, or not, with "the Mandate" given by EU Council, on a proposal by French President Sarkozy, notoriously in order to examine mainly if Turkey's controversial EU bid was consistent, or not, with EU's Identity, Democratic Political nature, EU Conditions and EU Borders, etc., the Socialist politician claimed that this was no explicitly formulated in the Mandate (prepared by EU Commission's Chairman Barroso), even if he "knew, sufficiently well, that the move included the Debate whether EU should reply "Yes" or "No" to Turkey, as he said.
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No European Identity ?
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    In these conditions it's not surprizing that the Gonzalez and Dr. Turk's controversial Report doesn't even speak about a ""European" Identity" but only once, ..between braquets (!), only to claim that it might be still "emerging", and composed only of merely Subjective and Vague elements, such as "understanding", "vision", etc. or simply formal "EU Citizenship". For the rest, it repeats what one of its Members, Shustel, had already warned earlier "EuroFora" (See October 2009 NewsReport), about a Relativist Dilution into "Multiple Identities" (sic), including only "Local, Regional and National elements", (i.e. No European), which would "remain the key reference points for Citizens for a Long Time to come", as they claim pessimistically...

    - But, on the contrary, "there wasn't any Doubt on its Identity",  and "there wasn't any Doubt on its European Ideal", symbolically stressed the same day the French President, speaking about the struggle to liberate the  CoE, ECHR and EU Parliament Headquarters' Strasbourg's Region Alsace from the Nazi oppressive regime at the end of the 2nd WW.

    - Sarkozy pointed at People "who reflect on themselves in order to find inside them the strength to Open up to others, and, without forgeting nothing from their Past, to turn towards the Future".

    - Identity emerged from what a People "wanted", where "its Soul was", how "its Heart felt", "unable to (even) imagine" the contrary, he observed. - "The Tragic Fate of those People is part of our History, of our Collective Memory", and "we are linked tp them by a profound feeling of common belonging... betweeen People who shared many sufferings", he said.

    Sarkozy denounced as "a real War Crime", anti-Democratic, brutal ways to Deny a People's Identity : - "The Victims of Nazism, of the Worst Regime that History ever saw", were Annexated de facto : Whatever reminded their Country, whatever could express their Will to be part of it.., was Banned, Harassed, Punished : Their Language was probibited, even their Names had to be Changed, everything that used to link them together..; disappeared". ' "Towns were Divided in Sections, Cells and Blocks in order to be more easily Monitored. The Population was enroled in NAZI Organisations : Adults in (Obligatory) Work Service ..; All Young People aged 10 to 18 were obliged to enter in Hitler's organizations, 13.000 Men were incorporated by force to Hirler's Army, obliged to act against their beliefs, and sent to the Eastern Front, where 30.000 died and 10.000 went "Missing", while Prisoners faced atrocious conditions of detention. Threats of revenge against their Families didn't let a choice to theseVictims of Nazism.

- "But the worst of all sufferings was the most Hidden", he warned.

 - "It's very important for us that the President said that about the People of Strasbourg's Region Alsace in front of all", and, "as he (Sarkozy) stressed", it has a Meaning also for Europe", observed the new Chairman of Strasbourg's Region Alsace, Philippe Richert to "EuroFora".

     - "I think that the President made a Political choice", by coming here now  : "He wanted to honour an area which was the Last to be liberated" from Nazi oppression, and he chose Colmar near Strasbourg, CoE, ECHR and EU Parliament's Headquarters, and this is symbolic also of a"Voluntarism" which looks "beyond the present (Global) Crisis" towards an "2013" Horizon, said to "EuroFora" the City's Mayor, Gilbert Meyer, who has had a long experience also of the CoE.

      Meyer, before welcoming President Sarkozy on Saturday, topically inaugurated at the eve an exhibition of US Painter Joe Downing, (a Kentucky-born American turned French after the 2nd WW, who studied Physics of Light in Chicago before turning to Art), at the famous Unterlinden Museum, which hosts the wonderful Religious Art Masterpiece of painter Matthias Grünewald picturing a superbe Christ's "Resurrection", emerging from a bright Sun-Light surprising those who had slandered, oppressed, humiliated and eliminated him.    

    As surprising, but also positively welcomed, if not ardently desired, as the "Renaissance" of Europe, eyed by the famous July 2; 2007 landmark Speech by French President Sarkozy in Strasbourg, where he had already pointed at the 2 main concrete issues to be settled as a matter of priority for EU's future : that of EuroZone's Economic Government, and that of Turkey's controversial EU  bid.

Exceptionally, Sarkozy, after paying hommage also to "various People who came from everywhere : From Kentucky, Pensylvania" (and other American cities), even from Afrika, (who saw for the 1st time  Snowy Vosges' Mountains), or from Germany itself, (as a Memorial on Munich University Students' Group "White Rose", who were arrested and killed by Gestapo reminds in Strasbourg, in front of the ECHR and EU Parliament's buildings), (etc), concluded by reminding a Poem on "Young People" about the sufferings, sacrifices and struggles against the oppressive regime of Nazism and Fascism :

- "They have broken our Dreams, ...and much more". - "They have stolen our Joy and our Hopes, and much more", the French President cited, the Day that anyone who hoped for a strong and Democratic, Political EU with an attractive and popular Identity, was inevitably disappointed by the controversial, unilaterally pro-Turkish Report prepared by Socialist former PM Gonzalez and Dr. Turk of Istanbul's Technical Faculty, which leaves No "European Dream" possible...

But, isn't it precisely at such moments, that "Resurrection" and "Renaissance" Symbols (See supra)  fit better People's needs and aspirations ?