Economy+Values' Facts on Ukraine Crisis back Orban-Fico- Niinisto+ Calls to Change EU-Russia Policy

*Strasbourg/News+Viewpoint/- Suddenly Worse than expected Economic Results, even in the strongest and biggest EU Countries, as well as the first visible Popular Reactions, are among a growing series of recent Facts which backed the Appeals to "Change" EU's controversial "Policy" of USA-led, sectoral Economic Sanctions against Russia, on pretext of its stance on the Conflict inside Ukraine, which were recently imposed by an exceptional decision taken by Brussels' Bureaucrats at the end of July, provoking Moscow's reaction to enact an Embargo on EU's Agricultural Products at the beginning of August, as the Popular Prime Minister of Hungary, Victor Orban, from the largest EU ChristianDemocratic/EPP party, but also the "Socialist" Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, as well as other important EU Political Leaders from various Political Horizons, such as f.ex. Finland's Rightists and/or Centrists, etc., have just started to launch throughout the 28 EU Member Countries, currently searching for more "Partners" in order to strengthen their "weight" on such crucial Strategic choices.
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 EU's powerhouse, German Economy, suddenly Dropped its Growth, France stagnated, and Italy lost ground, while Spain and several others might follow, particularly among Foreign Trade widening gaps, etc, Markets, Investors and Commentators, who started to accumulate stern Warnings for the foreseable Future, that leave no room for complacency, (See Infra) :
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In particular, for the First Time since more than a Year, Germany's GDP unexpectedly dropped Down fo - 0,2% during the period of April - June 2014, which coincides with the beginning of Kiev's Military Attacks against Dissident Regions Donetsk/Lugansk, notoriously intensified recently. On the contrary, earlier, it had Grown for 0,8%, +0,3£%, +0,4% and +0,7% until then, during a whole year, (as well as all the way during all the last 3 or 4 Years, since 2010-2014, with a unique Negative Exception only for a short period after the 2012 French Elections in France).

Moreover, as mainstream Media "Die Welt" observed on the 14th of August 2014, it's the 1st Time since the beginning of the Global Crisis back on 2009, that Germany's GDP Falls even Lower than the Average Growth of the 18 Member Countries of the €uroZone. "Now", "a Weakening Foreign Trade" and "a Declining Investment" mark significanty the German Economy since Spring, "Die Welt" finds in a Frontpage Article published Half a Month after the Controversial Brussels' Decision to enter into a Trade War with Russia by taking the Initiative to Impose Unilateral EU Sanctions on certain Economic Sectors, for the 1st time, provoking a Russian Embargo mainly on Agricultural EU products, added shortly after the EU blocked Trade on certain Banking, Oil-Gas and other High-Tech sectors.

- "Trouble spots" and "Uncertainty" placed a "too Heavy Burden on German Exports' buisiness", while "many Economists have pointed at a Growing Uncertainty about the Consequences of the Ukranian Conflict", observes "Die Welt", added to a Worse than expected Fall of the Index of Economic expectations (ZEW) "this August", ( "the Sharpest Fal in over a Year" :  from 27,1 points in July, down to only ...8,6 points, instead of the 18,2 points expected earlier !),  at the same time that the Index for Current affairs Fell from 61,8 points Down to only 44,3 points, instead of the 54 points earlier expected, (also on August 2014), following also a "Sudden Fall of Industrial Commands" revealed the 1st Week of August, according to several other mainstream Medias. In parallel, "Investors swept Back on Geramany rapidly at the Stock Markets", where "Barometer Dax" also made "substantial Losses in Recent Weeks".

=> In consequence, now "Die Welt" points at the fact that "Warning Signs, that it might go Down with the German Economy", have multiplied "in Recent Days", while observers started to expect also an important Fall on Exports, particularly of Industrial products to Russia.
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    + At the same time, the French Economy unexpectedly fell into Stagnation also at the second quarter of 2014, after having already done so even at the first quarter, remaining at "ZERO Growth", so that the Government had to Revise its initial prospects from the expected +1% Growth in 2014, Down to only +0,5%, i.e. Half less, as it was anounced on the 14th of August.  

    - Moreover, the French "Industrial Production shrank down for - 0,5% less between March and June" 2014, i.e. since the beginning of the Ukranian Civil War at the Eastern Regions, while "Trade Deficit stands at the Red" with almost  - 30% for the Semester, "Unemployment continues to grow", and "Businesses' Investment Fell Down for - 0,8%", accumulating Today a "Record-High" of Negative trends, according to mainstream French Newspapers, both of the Right and of the Left, such as "Figaro" and/or "Le Monde".

    Significantly, the French President Hollande had earlier claimed that "Growth" was "back" on 2013, and he had maintained that view even at the beginning of July 2014, but, suddenly, just "a Few Days Later", (i.e. almost when the USA-led Brussels' controversial Economic Sanctions against Russia were prepared), he "appeared more Pessimist", "acknowledging the fact that a Slow-down of the Economy wasn't impossible,  so that Growth could be Weakened even further, as "Figaro" reminds now. pointing mainly at "the current climat of Uncertainty and Concerns" (f.ex. in Ukraine, etc), which "puts the Brakes" on the Economy. Germany's "reduced Exports", (which are expected to become even further Reduced after the recent USA-led EU Economic Sanctions to Russia, followed by Moscow's reply)... All this also means that the French Budget's Deficit would become now "Impossible" to be maintained inside the thresholds promissed at EU level, not onlt on 2014, but even on 2015, Press commentators point out, and this had just been openly admited even by the Minister of Finances, Michel Sapin.
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    + Moreover, Italy has just droped in Stagnation, with a Falls of -0,2% of its GDP, while Spain is expected to see its Exports lower down, (etc). In fact, it's "all €uroZone" which "has just stagnated", at the end of the Second Quarter of 2014, placing EU Growth at "Mission Impossible", rebus sic standibus, unless something is done, fast and strong enough, in order to bring a positive change...
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    >>> Therefore, "EU's Policy" on Russia and the Ukranian conflict must "Change", stressed the Hungarian Prime Minister, Victor Orban.

     -  Because, particularly  “the Sanctions policy pursued by the West, that is, ourselves.... causes More Harm to us,  than to Russia,” he denounced.

    +  "What the Russians are doing" after that, (i.e. the EU Agricultural products' selective Embargo), is "a necessary Consequence" of controversial USA-led EU Economic Sanctions, he observed.

    =>  "“In politics, this is called Shooting oneself in the foot", Prime Minister Orban ironised.

    * According to a Strategy of Competitiveness, promoted and applied particularly by German Chancelor Angie Merkel, the Economy of Hungary too is "Export-driven", (as that of Germany, etc), with Russia being its "Largest Partner", after the EU, "with Exports worth 2,55 Billions € in 2013", "Reuters" observed.

    - Therefore, naturally, "EU .. should Compensate Producers somehow, be they Polish, Slovak, Hungarian or Greek, who Now have to Suffer Losses", he stressed.

    + "But", it's "Not Only" that : - In fact, "the Entire (EU) Sanctions Policy should be Reconsidered", Victor Orban pointed out.

    - Because, "I think (that it) has Not been considered thoroughly enough", he criticized.

    => Therefore, we must "Change the EU's ...Policy" on "Sanctions" vis a vis Russia, the Hungarian Prime Minister urged.

    - "I will do my outmost" for that purpose, he promised, but, since "we are alll aware" of the fact that "Hungary"s weight has "clearly" not enough "possibilities" in itself alone, then, "I am looking for Partners" he anounced.

    Victor Orban recently confirmed an Europe-wide Record of exceptionaly Strong Popularity, by being the only one among ChristianDemocrat/EPP Heads of State/Government to succeed to confirm Twice the Win of an Absolute Majority of People's Votes, both on National and EU Parliament's Elections.

    His current move is certainly not ideological, but based on a serious Realistic Analysis of the Facts, since the Hungarian Prime Minister has notoriously built almost all its political career, from the start, on the basis of his reputation to have been strongly Critical vis a vis the former USSR and even nowadays Russia in general.

    So that it's certainly not only the -otherwise Good for the development of a PanEuropean Cooperation able to stimulate much needed EU Growth- recent deal of January 2014 with Russian President Vladimir Putin, to help equip a Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary, backed by an advantageous Loan, which might have eventualy motivated alone Orban's current stance.

 

 

 

    In fact, Hungary's Economy was already doing Exceptionaly Well, among other EU Countries, already as early as since Last Year, renewing with Growth and succeeding to reduce Debt and create more Jobs, lowering Unemployment, even without any important EU Financial Help, as Prime Minister Victor Orban had already underlined in one of his Replies to "EuroFora"s Questions on July 2013 in EU Parliament, (Comp. relevant "EuroFora"'s NewsReports).

    + And, even Now, among those few EU Member Countries with an Economic Growth "Better than expected" (according to "Reuters", cited by the "Irish News"), such as Slovakia, Bulgaria or Hungary, etc., Budapest leads at a Top 1st place also in 2014 with a + 0,8 % Growth currently the Highest in the EU.
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    Both Hungary and Slovakia share a Border with Ukraine, but have also been in the Past members of the former Soviet block, against which, Victor Orban traditionaly was among the Strongest Critics.

    + However, even his Slovakian counterpart, "Socialist" Prime Minister Robert Fico, had denounced, just a Day earlier, the latest EU Sanctions against Russia as "Meaningless" :

    - "Why should we Jeopardize the EU Economy, which has just began to Grow ?", wondered Fico in a Press Conference.

    => Even "if there is a Crisis situation" in Ukraine, then, "it should be Solved by Other (Differend) Means", Fico reportedly pointed out.

     - By the way, “it’s Weird” that Ukraine, which has signed an EU association agreement and is receiving EU's Aid, was taking “Unilateral steps” that Jeopardised the economic interests of several EU Countries, including on Russian Gas Transit issues, the Slovakian Prime Minister was quoted as criticizing.

     - "Who Profits from EU Economy Decreasing, Russia's Economy having Troubles, and Ukraine economically on its Knees ?", topicaly wonderd the SLovakian Prime Minister, shortly after a similar critical question was initially raised at our "EuroFora"s International Web Forum...

    >>> Indeed, at this crucial for a growing Foreign Competition period when many Countries accross the World are urgently searching the best way out of a finishing Global Crisis, EU - Russia Trade is between 400 and 500 Billions € per Year, compared to around Only 30 Billions € for USA - Russia Trade, (just 12 Billions on 2013, according to Forbes : i.e. the Smallest among BRICS, and almost Equal to US-Turkey trade !), so that the real Price to pay for provoking a Trade War, is Not at all the Same between Europe and USA, experienced observers pointed out.
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    +  Thus, earlier at Sochi, before going also to Kiev, Finland's President Saul Niinisto, denounced the fact that  "the Ukrainian Crisis has Affected All of us". “The Catastrophe that is going on in Ukraine has told on all of us and Concerns all". Because, as a result of the events in Ukraine, certain Damage has been caused to the traditional relations were developing between Russia and Finland, and the situation has Changed even on a Global scale", Niinisto reportedly said on his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that some had already Warned that "it was an onslaught of a New Cold War".  Niiniste expressed personal Concern with such an Abrupt Cooling of relations between Russia and the EU :  Indeed, “we have approached the Gates leading to a New ‘Cold War’,” he complained. “The Ukrainian Catastrophe, which no doubt is affecting us all, has had a Wider Impact as well. I mean that the relationship between Russian and the EU has Suffered some Knocks. On the other hand in the wider World we have heard talk of a Cold War, or being on the Brink of one,” Niinisto denounced.

    => Therefore, the Finnish President declared that he arrived in Russia to Discuss Possibilities for Settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, Stop a Negative Turmoil, and Help the situation Stabilize, reportedly adding that Russia’s Humanitarian Aid to Eastern Ukraine Population of some 4 Millions People (notoriously suffering by 5 Months of Kiev's Deadly and Destructive Military Attacks) , would hopefully mark a first Step in Settling the Ukraine crisis, since the Convoy heading for Ukraine could Signal a strengthening of reciprocal Trust.

    - Because this Trust is necessary for making the Next step, namely to Cease Fire", he added. That's why most of the attention devoted to the Ukraine crisis is focused on Ending the Fighting, as People are Dying. He nevertheless emphasized that the parties are only Embarking on the initial Steps towards a Solution.“The continuation of Fighting is the greatest Risk,” he Warned.

    >>> Together with Russian President Putin, they reportedly stressed that Russia and Finland would exert every effort to seek the earliest End of Conflict in eastern Ukraine. - "We are going to do everything within our power to End the Military Conflict as Soon as possible, establish a Dialogue among all the Parties concerned, and provide Relief Aid,” Putin reportedly said, adding both countries were seriously Concerned with the Large-scale Military operations and a true Humanitarian Disaster in South-East Ukraine. Niinisto stressed that he had come to the conclusion that it was the Time to Settle the situation, and believes that the Probability of Ending the crisis in Ukraine Now is Higher, than in a long time before, as a Solution to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia appeared Now Possible : There is an Opportunity to Reconcile the situation, perhaps more so Now, that at any time in the Past", and Finland is Ready to help, he reportedly proposed.

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    With Elections looming for before April 2014, the Finnish Government cannot certainly ignore the stance of the main Opposition party, that of "True Finns" (nowadays simply "Finns"), which not only is in favour of Teaching the Russian Language in the Education, at least at the Eastern Regions of the Country, bordering Russia, but also Opposes economic EU Sanctions against Moscow, also because they believe that a wider Trade War would hurt Finnish Business too, since Russia was expected to implement retaliatory measures, "which will not be distributed evenly throughout the EU", as they had warned.

    Even mainstream new Prime Minister Alexander Stubb (a former MEP well known in Strasbourg, Comp. f.ex. some other Stubb's statements, earlier, to "EuroFora", etc), was already "Reluctant" from the start about such Sanctions against Russia, according to Finnish Media, (despite some apparently different tones allegedly reported by certain American Media later-on).  Stubb has already warned that he expects "Solidarity" in the EU, and that "f the impact isn't equal, we'll consider what kind of solutions we will seek", as he had reportedly said even before the mainstream Center Party's chief Juha Sipilae askes him to push the EU for "Compensation" :

    Something that, already, Poland's Economy Minister has asked, while Lithuania also considers a similar move, almost certainly to be joined by Greece and Cyprus, as well as France, and several other EU Member Countries, at the same time that Germany reportedly would like to have a Summit  of Heads of State/Government on all those issues soon, while French President Hollande suggested another "Normandy format" Summit, (i.e. including the EU and Ukraine together with Russia and the USA, etc, as back on July).
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    Exceptionaly, the latest and hardest ever EU Sanctions on Russia, (which were the 1st to step up to the "3rd Level", as are called any Sanctions which hit not only Individual persons and/or Businesses, but also entire Sectors of the Economy), were decided at the End of July 2014 at an obscure meeting of non-elected Bureaucrats in an Empty Brussels, for the 1st time without any EU Summit of elected Heads of State/Government nor their usual open Press Conferences before and after final important EU decisions, and while "U.S. President Barack Obama had piled Pressure on Europe for a more forceful response", according to Reuters.

    Restrict EU Exports to Russia even on some High-Tech products (including "Dual" Civil-Defense Technologies, or related to Oil prospection, etc), as well as Loans, etc., trigering a Moscow reaction which Blocked EU fresh Food exports to our neighbouring bjg country for a Year, isn't exactly a recipe to stimulate Growth at all...

    Worse: Such an exceptionaly Negative Decision, which obviously risks to provoke much more Tensions between EU and Russia, instead of mutualy beneficial Cooperation in Europe, was taken practically at the eve of the 100th Anniversary of the Start of the 1st World War, at the beginning of August, for which, both Economic and Political factors notoriously played an important role, (as also for the start of the 2nd World War).
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    On the Politcal front, Victor Orban has explicitly supported both Ukraine's Territorial Integrity, against Separatism, and Reforms towards a Federal structure, which has appeared to many (including f.ex. to experienced International Peace Bureau's - IPB- Secretary General, Colin Archer : Comp. Statements to "EuroFora") as a Key towards a Political Solution via a negotiated compromise. This was also advised by Austrian President Heinz Fischer, when he spoke in favor of a Federalisation of Ukraine in his official address of CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg, (as CoE's Chairman then), back on April 2014.

    Moreover, it would obviously  become Today an illogic Contradiction and an unsustainable Paradox for the EU and UNO to eventualy let Kiev's current Authorities Refuse any kind of Federal Solution to that Bloody Conflict against the Russian-speaking Minority at the South-Eastern Regions of Ukraine, while, on the contrary, still insisting to impose even a Bi-Zonal and Bi-Communal Federation to EU and €uroZone Member Country Cyprus, despite its EU obligations for efficiently functioning Institutions and respect of ECHR's principles on Refugees/Displaced persons' rights to access their Homes and ancestral Land.

In addition, paying the Turkish Government with more than 1 Billion €uros' full Grants (plus some 4 Billions of Low-Interest Loans, etc) each Year from EU Taxpayers' Money, (including Poor People obliged to pay full VAT on all their meager revenues), despite Ankara's 40 Years-long, persisting illegal Foreign Military Invasion and Occupation of almost 40% of the Territories of Cyprus during 1974-2014, and a continuing "Ethnic Cleansing" in the Occupied Territories from which Ankara's Military has chassed away and hinders to return almost all the traditional Majority of lawful inhabitants ; Greek Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites, Latinos, etc, contrary to ECHR's Principles,

while, on the Contrary, imposing more and more Heavy USA-led EU Sanctions on Russia, which has only touched upon a Small Part of nowadays Ukraine : Crimea, that had Nothing to do with Kiev during all its History except after 1954, when it was attached by a decision of Moscow to a simple Region or Federated State inside the former USSR, from which Kiev was never an Independent Country (contrary, f.ex. to Lithuania, etc), but only since less than 20 Years now, (while Cyprus was always Independent and/or Distinguished from Turkey during an almost 3 Thousand Years' long History, with the unique exception of 3 Centuries alone in a remote Past), would certainly become more and more Difficult to explain and even less justify at least to the current Majority of EU Citizens, particularly as it emerged from the latest, May 2014 EU Parliament's Elections...

    Moreover, Cyprus' Greek-Cypriot, Armenian and Maronite (etc) Majority's political Leader is obliged to personaly engage in long, time and energy-consuming direct Talks with the Leader of the Turkish Cypriot Minority, in addition to his obligations vis a vis the other EU Heads of State/Government collective decision-making, while, on the contrary, EU still tolerates, until now, Kiev Authorities' Refusal to open a real Dialogue with the represenatives of the Dissident Regions of Donetsk/Luhansk for a Political Solution, despite official promisses to do so, since April...

    Last, but not least, Russia did Not oblige at all the Majority of lawful and ancestral Inhabitants in South-Eastern Ukraine regions to Flee, neither usurpated their Family Homes and Private Properties, refusing them to return to their ancestral land, nor "Replaced" them by importing its own mainland Settlers, Unlike what Turkey notoriously did and still does in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, (as COE's Parliamentary Assembly and even Committee of Ministers have already denounced in Strasbourg). Nor did ever Moscow send its Army to invade and occupy half of Ukraine's Capital City : Kiev, unlike what Ankara did against Cyprus' Capital city : Nicosia, still semi-Occupied by the Turkish Military during 40 Years now : 1974-2014, (etc+)...

    However, EU has notoriously been pushed by the USA to impose more and more Sanctions against Russia and uses NATO to repeat Military Pressure and/or Threats, at the detriment of the European Economy and/or putting at Risk even Peace in Europe, while, on the contrary, Washington DC traditionaly asks from Brussels to accept Turkey even as "Candidate" State to the EU, which has been also obliged to pay more than a Billion € in full Grants to Ankara each year, without exerting any Military or even real Political Pressure on Turkey to at least withdraw its Invasion/Occupation Troops from EU-Member Cyprus, despite their illegal status according to several UN SC, CoE and EU Resolutions which vainly asked their Withdrawal. And it's vain to remind also the fact that Turkey, obviously, didn't ever bother to hold, when its Army Invaded the Northern Territories of Cyprus, any of those Referenda that pro-Russian Autonomists did recently in Ukraine everywhere they could, right from the Start, and with an apparent Popular Success, to judge by the massive participation of huge quews of Voters seen at most Cities in many Videos, Photos, etc., revealing a massive interest among the original local (mainly Ethnicaly Russian) Populations of the Dissident Regions for their "Autonomy", (even at the Risk of being Killed by Kiev's Military detachments, as it happened, f.ex., at Mariupol, when they attempted to Hinder the Vote).

    Why then, all those more and more obvious Double Standards, between the USA-led EU Treatment of Russia vis a vis Ukraine, compared to that of Turkey vis a vis Cyprus ?
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    + In Germany, a huge Majority of 70% Critically believes that EU's stance on the Ukraine crisis until now, is Wrong, according to a recent Poll for "Die Welt"/"ARD- TV", made on August soon after the latest EU Sanctions against Russia, (while, nevertheless, in general, 72% also endorses Chancelor Merkel's and Foreign Minister Steinmeier's activities on most Other issues).

    It seems certain that even the Biggest national Economy in the EU, that of Germany, would be Affected by such Economic Sanctions, unprecedented in the European continent, and their aftermath, i.e. with Russia's 1st response. However, despite a real Concern about the unfortunate, exceptional Hardships inevitably provoked by such kind of Sectoral Economic Sanctions (diplomatically nick-named : of "3rd Level"), nevertheless, Berlin might share USA's President Obama's claim that this was necessary, at least at that moment, (f.ex. since EU hadn't prepared any other way to act efficiently vis a vis the Ukranian Conflict until now).

    => In consequence, (and even more: if EU realises that there are currently not enough alternative export countries for its products which have beeen affected by such kind of Sanctions), both Germany and other key EY Countries would probably be enclined, as a result, to boost their efforts in order to help find a Political Solution to the Ukranian Conflict, (See Infra). And there, Chancellor Angie Merkel's personal Political action would certainly be a crucial factor.
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    + Sign of the Times ?  Main Opposition Newspaper in France, "Figaro", has just published, exceptionaly, a very Critical Article on the "Negative" stance of the out-going EU Commission vis a vis Russia all along the on going Ukranian Crisis, that it accuses to disserve the real interests of Europe, and such a move became so Popular that it was almost Unanimously supported by the very numerous readers of that Media of the Center-Right, (which won both recent Local and EU Elections vis a vis the Governing Socialist Party). Almost at the same time, the latest Polls published by another French Media gave the 1st place for the forthcoming 2017 Presidential Elections to the controversial Rightist leader of "National Front", Marine Le Pen, (already No 1 Party in the latest, May 2014 EU Parliament's Elections in France, for the 1st time in History), closely followed by still popular former President Nicolas Sarkozy of the Center-Right, (all Socialist candidates lagging far Behind). MLP has clearly adopted a stance favorable to a much better treatment of Russia, while Sarkozy was the 1st to strongly warn against a risk for "Confrontation" with Russia, which would have "Catastrophic" consequences in Europe, as he said, (as early as since February 28, 2014, in a landmark Speech at the Adenauer Foundation in Berlin, where he was invited by its Head, the former EU Parliament's President Hans-Gert Poettering, after meeting with Chancelor Angie Merkel for an Hour in her office).    

 

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+ Precisely, from a Political point of view, one of the reasons for which too many People voted for Marine Le Pen's "FN" in France, and/or Nigel Farage's "UKIP"¨in the UK, (etc) at the latest EU Parliament's Elections of May 2014, etc,  was, precisely, also the fact that they were among those few political parties which supported a more Friendly policy vis a vis Russia on the Ukranian crisis, following less Obama's USA pressure for more and more Sanctions added to NATO moves judged dangerous for Peace even by the experienced Geneva-based International Peace Bureau.

    It's well known that De Gaule's wish for the Franco-German Reconciliation, together with Adenauer, had been developed almost in parallel with his famous formula about the "Great Europe, from the Atlantic Ocean until the Urals Mountains" etc., i.e. including most Russia, and a similar Franco-Germano-Russian core for a United PanEuropean space was also former long-time President Jacques Chirac's political "testament", particularly well symbolized at a landmark Chirac- Merkel - Putin Summit at the Historic Compiegne Castle, (built by Napoleon there where the Agreement which ended the 1st World War was signed later-on), back on September 2006, (Comp. "EuroFora" co-Founder's NewsReports from that Trilateral Summit f.ex. at "TCWeekly").

    Meanwhile, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy had notoriously succeeded to save, at the last minute, back on August 2008, Peace in Europe, by taking an active Initiative to immediatey visit Moscow and Tbilisi in order to broker an Agreement between the then Presidents of Russia, Medvedev, and Georgia, Shakashvili, convincing to Stop Russian Troops just some Kms before arriving at the Georgian Capital, when he acted then also as EU Chairman in office, in phone contact with German Chancellor Merkel, then in Italy. But even now, during the Ukranian Conflict, Sarkozy Timely launched a clear Warning against Confrontation between EU and Russia, as the worst "Catastrophic" event which risked to hit the entire European Continent. as he stressed as early as since the 28th of February 2014 in Berlin, after meeting with Chancelor Merkel there (Comp. Supra). Astonishingly, however, it was revealed only a few Days later, that he had been placed under covert Surveillance of the Police, even on all his Private and/or Family contacts and communications, under an apparently fallacious pretext, .. precisely as he was suddenly ...Detained and Questioned by the French Police for more than 20 Hours, and even officialy prosecuted for another, apparently even more fallacious accusation, also later-on, just .. 3 Days after giving an exceptional Interview to an Academician for the "Paris-Match" Magazine, where he spoke in favor of Natural Family and of Europe's "Christian roots" !

    However, by another "coincidence",  similar points have also been recently stressed by  German Chancelor Angie Merkel, during  her succesful September 2013 Electoral campaign, particularly on a United and Peaceful Europe, as well as on EU's Cultural Identity, ("No Multi-Culti"), etc., winning almost an Autonomous Majority at the Bundestag, minus only 4 MPs), as well as many among those various Political Parties to whom EU Citizens gave a large Majority, particularly (but not only) at the Right side of the Political spectrum during the latest, May 2014 EU Parliament's Elections throughout all Europe.
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    As for Ukraine itself, it could naturally play an important role as "a Geo-Political, Cultural and even Technological (See, f.ex. Antonov Airplanes, Sea-Lunch system, etc), "Bridge" between the EU and Russia for a Peaceful and productive Future, serving both all Ukranian People's interests, as well as EU's General Interest, (even better than f.ex. EU Member Countries Finland and/or Austria have already started to do, mutatis-mutandis),     

    instead of being Manipulated by some selfish, slyly Anti-European and/or even Anti-Deocratic shady interests, in order to become, on the contrary, a troublesome obstacle to a full PanEuropean cooperation, and a permanent danger of chronic Instability, risking to exhaust both its own and EU's resources and/or to provoke a "Cold War" dangerous situation.

    Perhaps most of all, Ukraine should better preserve cautiously its Historic European Cultural Identity, as well as all sincere and Honest Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights' loving Young and Old People among its Citizens, and Anti-Corruption militants, (some coming from a Noble part of "Euro-Maidan"/Civil Society movements, some others from the Donetsk/Luhansk and/or Odessa Dissidents), instead of ...Burning its beautiful Christian Churches, as it was seen sometimes at the Bombarded Eastern Ukraine regions, and - most of all- instead of letting its Military to be Manipulated and pushed into a sly Trap of blatant Violations of even of elementary Human Rights and/or other Horrible Destructions and Deadly Crimes even vis a vis defenseless and fragile Civilian People, such as Women, Elders, Children, and other innocent Victims of the still on-going Kiev's Military Attacks against the Dissident Regions.
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    Because, last, but not least : Modern, Post-War Europe's appeal to Moral "Values" protecting European Citizens is currently Threatened by a Worst and more Long-lasting "Crash" than a 3rd Malaysian Airlines plane, given the tragic Fact of more than 1.250 Civilians atrociously killed, (out of a more than 2.300 Dead), and much more than 4.500 People Wounded, until this mid-August 2014. "Real Numbers are likely to be much Higher", according to the UNO, who warned that "It's imperative ... to find a way out of this Murderous and potentially even more Explosive Crisis", where "at least 50 People are being Killed or Wounded every Day". In addition, Hunderds of Thousands of People have been obliged to live for many Weeks or Months without Water, Electricity, and/or Communications, while Food and Medical Care were becoming Rare, and  in Towns under Kiev's Military Blockade and Fire, (sometimes Worse than Gaza !), Forcing some 140.000 People to be Displaced elsewhere in Ukraine (mainly at Odessa, etc), and more than a Million of Refugees to flee to Russia, (often by Hundreds each Day), while even attemps to send at least a real Humanitarian Aid to the Surviving Victims have been initialy Refused, slandered, and afterwards Blocked for more than a Week now at the Borders, under various petty Bureaucratic pretexts, while Civilian People are still Starving and/or being Killed or Wounded at the Dissident Regions every Day by Kiev's Military Attacks abusing even of GRAD Missile Launchers, Tanks, Canons, Army Helicopters and/or Army Airplanes' bombings).

    I.e. a Deadly, Inhuman Tragedy never seen before in Europe since the 1st and 2nd World Wars, in blatant Contradiction with EU's declared pro-Peace and Human Rights values, obviously trampled underfoot at Eastern Ukraine !

    +Supplementary clear sign : Even a main pro-Kiev Website dedicated to slam alleged "Fake" News on the on-going Conflict, which had in the Past Criticized a Photo of Killed men at a Crematrium reportedly published in some Social Media after the initial Attacks against dissident Slaviansk village, as allegedly taken elsewhere, since then, hasn't yet found anything to say vis a vis the most out-standing Photo and Video documents which reveal Horrible Slaughters of obviously innocent and even fragile Civilian People, such as Elders, Women, young couples, Mothers, Children, etc, often near -or in- their Family Homes. As for another similar pro-Kiev Government's Website, its translations in English have astonishingly been ...Stopped since more than 2 Months now, (i.e. precisely while Deadly and Destructive Military Attacks by Kiev's Army against event Civilian areas at the Dissident Regions of Donetsk/Luhansk have notoriously intensified)...

    Meanwhile, in addition to the Killings of an Italian Photo-Reporter and of 3 Russian Journalists, the Wounding of one of their French collegues, and the arrests and/or kidnapings of many other Journalists, it's particularly (if not only) on Press Freedom violations that both CoE's Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg (since April 2014), and OSCE, as well as International NGO "Reporters without Borders" (based in France, Paris), more recently, etc., have repeatedly Criticized certain concrete Kiev Authorities' attempts to Muzzle or excessively Block the Free flow of Media information on the most serious Conflict in the European Continent, notoriously dangerous not only vis a vis EU Economy but also against Peace, and modern European Values (comp. Supra).
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    + Moreover, in this regard, Kiev's persisting demands and/or pretexts to impose a Total Blockade around the Dissident Regions (f.ex. by Hindering any Free Access to Borders, Destroying local Airports, Railways, Motorways, Roads, even Phone and/or Internet Communication Networks, etc), as a pre-Condition for an eventual Cease-Fire, obviously risks to appear Less and less Credible, as long as it continues to Delay and/or Block even Humanitarian Aid with much Needed Water, Food, Electric generators and even Medical Drugs for wounded People, for so many Days now, despite UNO's, ICRC's, International Human Rights Organisations' and mainstream Foreign Media's acknowledgment that several Hundreds of Thousands of suffering Civilian People  at Donetsk/Luhansk Urgentlly Need that elementary Aid after so many Months of Deadly and Destructive Kiev's Military's Attacks.

    Such Violations even of International Humanitarian Law (See the general Principles, timely reminded by the ICRC and afterwards also by the EU, at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/icrcandeuforinternationalhumanitarianlawinukraine.html ) cannot remain without any efficient reaction by the EU and/or UNO and other International Organisations without being Discredited in the eyes of the People and/or severly judged by History, sooner or later, in one way or another.
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    => Thus, according to the latest relevant Poll in Germany, an absolute Majority of 59% of People is in favour of Berlin playing a more important Role as an interMediator for the search of a compromise in order to find a Political Solution on the Ukranian Crisis, (as in-coming New EU Commission's President, and experienced Long-time former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, had already stressed, in reply to a relevant "EuroFora" Question at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, as early as since the beginning of April, (Comp. : ....).

    + Meanwhile, it's also French MInister for EU Affairs, Harlem Desir, (a former MEP, well known in Strasbourg), as well as German MP Andreas Schockenhof, vice-President of the Governing CDU/CSU Group at the Bundestag and Chairman of the Franco-German inter-Parliamentary Group, with a big Experience both on Russia and EU/Foreign Policy issues, together with French and German Presidents Francois Hollande and Joachim Glauck, who replied Positively to an "EuroFoa"s Question on the  possibility for the Franco-German EU core to act efficiently enough in order to help create a "Hope" for a Peaceful Political Solution in Ukraine, as it was topically said at the 100th Anniversary Day of the beginning of the 1st World War, (Comp. August 3 "EuroFora"s "Draft" NewsReport from nearby Hartmanswillerkopf, already sent to Subscribers/Donors earlier).

    German Chancelor Angie Merkel has recently developed a keen interest in Diplomatic Activism around the Ukraine issue : From her premonitory December 2013 anouncement, in a Press Conference during the EU Summit of heads of State/Government in Brussels, (Comp. "EuroFora"s relevant NewsReport from Brussels, then), of her intention to try to find a Compromise between Ukraine's accession to EU's Trade Union, and its possible maintainance also inside the Russia-Belarus-Kazakstan-Armenia-Azerbaidjan-Kirgistan (etc),  Trade Area, from which she was notoriously Hindered by a strange BrutalE Incident at an Internationaly famous location in Switzerland, where she curiously fell and wounded a leg, obliging her to abstain from work, and/or from visits for a long time. Up to the February 2014 Bilateral Franco-German Summit with President Hollande in Paris, when they succesfully sent to Kiev 3 Foreign Ministers : Fabius, Steinmeier and Sikorski, from France, Germany and Poland, who managed to broker a written Agreement between the then Ukranian President Yanukovich and all the Opposition Leaders of then, but was finaly cancelled after unidentified Snipers started to Shoot and Kill both Policemen and Protestors, until they provoked more and more Violent, Deadly Clashes leading to a Brutal Putch, which Divides until now the People of Ukraine in two Separated and violently Conflicting Parts, between the Western and Eastern Regions of the Country. Naturally including the 1st meeting that she brokered herself between the newly elected Ukranian President Poroshenko and the Russian President Putin, on the sidelines of the International Commemoration Top gathering of many Heads of State/Government invited near Deauville by French President Hollande last July. Followed by a series of frequent Phone Contacts with all main Top Partners involved at the Ukranian Conflict, as, f.ex. also USA President Obama, Russian President Putin, Ukranian President Poroshenko, etc, each time Events made it Necessary (etc). And, indeed, apparently, her initial idea to try to find a practical compromise/modus vivendi between EU's Free Trade Area and Russia's Trade Union with several former CIS Countries (comp. Supra), that Merkel managed to transform even in Official EU process with an on-going series of scheduled Meetings nowadays, could certainly help a lot to find a Political Agreement for a Peaceful Solution in the Ukranian Conflict, (in parallel, and in Addition to Kiev's internal Constitutional Reforms, due to be checked by CoE's "Venice" Commission, which are expected to meet at least a main part of Dissidents' concerns by an adequate Federalisation/DeCentralisation process).

    But, obviously, for all this to realy succeed this time until full conclusion, everybody involved must at least avoid and carefulyprevent any other, direct or indirect, obvious or covert, partial or total "Repetition", mutatis-mutandis, of any kind of such "Snipers" who might again emerge, out of the blue, just in order to provocatively and brutaly Undermine any sustainable CeaseFire and/or new Peace Process in Ukraine, (by a coincidence, shortly after an unforgetable ... - "F... the EU !" statement notoriously attributed to US. Assistant Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland -who didn't even deny- shortly before those fatal February 2014 bloody incidents at Kiev which influenced negatively the course of events until now)..

    On the contrary, a key factor, obviously much needed recently in Ukraine, as well as throughout all the European Continent, is to Overcome that brutaly and artificialy provoked, dangerous Division of its People, f.ex. by unleasing the full potential of the Conscientisation of the Horrible, Inhuman Violations of Civilians and other Victims' elementary Rights, during these too long Months of Violent Clashes and Kiev's Military Attacks against the Dissident Regions, unacceptable inside Modern Europe, as well as of what is the real General Interest for a sustainable Development of that strategicaly located, until recently Peaceful, European Country, and of all Europe.  

 

+ As far as that latest point is concerned, in addition to the above mentioned Foreign Trade and Growth issues, (Comp. Supra), EU Countries should naturaly never lose sight also of the crucial GeoPolitical importance of Cooperation with Russia, not only on Energy, but particularly on Space Technologies, (which, otherwise, risk to be undermined, as far as the EU is concerned, f.ex. Galileo, ISS, spacecrafts, etc), as well as of the fact that the real question raised from the start on the occasion of the notorious Ukraine-EU Trade agreement, (as well as vis a vis Armenia, Azerbaidjan and several other former CIS Countries), is an Historic Opportunity for the creation of a new, Big PanEuropean Trade area, including both the EU and Russia, from Portugal up to Vladivostok, as f.ex. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Kurz has reportedly observed recently.

In addition to bringing, in fact, the EU - via a Russian Siberian "Bridge" - for the 1st Time close to China, Japan and the USA (Alaska) through Land, (moreover of Historicaly European basicaly Culture) something which could obviously open Huge Perspectives particularly for very High-Speed Trains' (TTGV) development, etc. Without missing, no more, the notoriously immense new opportunities for various important Natural Resources (from Oil/Gas and Gold up to several Rare Materials, etc) that would normaly open soon the emerging prospection of Russia's longest in the World and deepest penetrating Sea Coasts at the Arctic Ocean, which have recently started to attract a big International interest, (etc).

For all those reasons, (including, naturally, also the well known Energy network links), Ukraine should better become a good EU Bridge towards Russia, instead of a bad Cold War Obstacle.