newsitems Famous AntiMafia Judge Di Pietro to EuroFora on blacklisted Turkish Banks + Mafia in EU Politics ?
Famous AntiMafia Judge Di Pietro to EuroFora on blacklisted Turkish Banks + Mafia in EU Politics ?
Famous and succesful Anti-Mafia Judge Di Pietro from Italy, currently Leader of the "Values"' party and long-time MEP, replying to an "EuroFora question on FATF's June 2011 decision to "Blacklist" all Turkish Banks because of their reluctance against EU Rules on Gurantees against Money Laundering, f.ex. by Mafia-like organized Crime, etc, stressed the importance of such a.o. measures in order to face the present need to fight efficiently against reportedly growing risks of Foreign Mafias, particularly related to EU's Enlargement, to infiltrate EU's borders and even set up links to EU's Political world, as he warned :
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Di Pietro's move was made in a special Press Conference, together with the President of EU Parliament's Liberal Group, former Prime Minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt, on the occasion of the adoption by EU Parliament, earlier today, of a new Report on "Organized Crime", drafted by Italian Liberal MEP Sonia Alfano, who had earlier spoken to the Press together with other MEPs from various other Political Groups, (such as ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Socialists, Left and Conservatives). This "Report is dedicated to all those, Judges, etc. who were killed by Mafia and those who still fight to eradicate this scourge", as it was anounced.
- Verhofstadt highlighted from the outset that Alfano's Report got "an enormously large Majority, with some 500 MEPs voting for, only about 25 or so abstaining, and I didn't see any Red Light, so that this sends a Strong Message" from EU Parliament, as it's required by the fact that "Organized Crime and Mafia are not only Italian today, because they don't care about Borders", as he said.
- "EuroFora" observed, in our 1st Question, that Di Pietro had "spoke(n) about Money Laundering, Bank Accounts and (Mafia) activities that go beyond Borders, i.e. well beyond Italy, also in other EU Countries".
- In addition, "other experienced "People have spoken, already a long time ago but also recently, about Overseas' Mafia, as, f.ex., Colombian and others, threatening to establish links inside the EU", we reminded.
- In relation to that, "what does it mean to "Blacklist" some Banks, for not giving enouph Guarantees again Money Laundering ?", we specifically asked. Because, "recently, since June 2011, it was anounced (including by the latest EU Commission's Report on Turkey, published earlier this month, on the 12/10/2011) that all the Banks of a whole 3rd Country, Turkey, were Blacklisted by FATF (who works closely together with OECD in Paris and the CoE in Strasbourg), in order to oblige them (Ankara's Government) to adopt the required Guarantees. What is the real importance of such measures" in order to prevent Mafia spreading inside the EU, and "how do you think that it could help, in concrete terms ?", we asked Di Pietro.
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- "Certainly !", replied positively the experienced Judge Di Pietro to "EuroFora"s question on Turkish Banks' blacklisting for lack of guarantees against Money Laundering. Because "this is the very Heart of the matter", he stressed.
- That's why "we hope that EU Commission and the EU" as a whole "will be able to come up with a specific Directive, in order to make sure that the Banking System can be Transparent, and can guarantee Transparency in Financial transactions. Otherwise, it should be established that they may not operate in the EU", Di Pietro explained.
- "Banks, of course, want to maintaint their Banking Secrecy, and (they) refer to the fact that the Criminal Origins of the Money has not, perhaps, been proved, and there's got to be more done in that sense. One of the Phenomena here is the use of Straw-Men, because the Banking System is interested into maintaining such a thing, and, in every Bank, such Middle-men know who the Real final Beneficiary are", he pointed out.
- "Thus, we want to establish Cooperation so that the Judicial Authorities in the (EU) Member States can have a Guarantee that this Information is made available to them. This is very Important in combatting Money Laundering", Di Pietro concluded on this measure.
- Today, "there are several on-going Investigations, also Judicial, not only Journalistic, which highlight connexions between the Political and Criminal Systems, inside and outside of the EU, concerning even 3rd Countries external to the EU, as f.ex. Turkey, and others related mainly to EU Enlagement. A Majority of this Criminality stemming particularly from Eastern Countries, is closely connected to the Political system", Di Pietro revealed in his reply to the 2nd "EuroFora" question.
=> Often, "this Extremely Powerful Mafia, searches to establish links to the Politicians of our (EU) Countries", the experienced Di Pietro warned.
Famous from his investigations and trials which had discovered links between Mafia and mainstream Italian Politicians such as the former Head of the Socialist party Craxi, several former Christiandemocrats, etc., Di Pietro didn't mention explicitly EU Commissioner Fuhle's recent founding that FATF has blacklisted Turkish Banks for lack of guarantees against Money Laudering an/or funding terrorism, (revealed by the Octover 2010 Annual EU Report on Turkey), but obviously included such facts in his overall critical view about EU Enlargement, 3rd Countries of the East, and alleged attempts by Mafia-like networks to penetrate the EU and get hold of several EU politians, (comp. supra).
On the contrary, Turkey's political life has been shaken several times recently by discoveries of close links between Mafia (mainly of drugs), Police/Army and Politicians, as f.ex. in the famous Scandals of "Susurluk" (cited even by ECHR), or "Ergenekon", etc.
(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already sent earlier to "EuroFora"s SUbscribers/Donors. Watch out for a possible Final Version, more accurate and complete, asap).
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Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, speaking to "EuroFora", denied rumors on Turkey's attempts to avoid an EU check of its obligations on Cyprus on December 2009 by blackmailing Nicosia to either accept any deal with intransigeant Turkish claims contrary to EU values on the island's political issue, or face threats against the territorial integriy of the EU island, semi-occupied by Ankara's army.
On the contrary, the incoming EU President-in-office, speaking exclusively to "EuroFora", promissed that he will act for EU Council's decisions on December 2009 assessment of Turkey's commitments on Cyprus to be kept.
Bildt was asked to react to Cyprus' President Christofias' denunciation, earlier this week, that some want to exert "pressure" on Cyprus in order for Turkey to escape from its obligations.
Avoiding to mention any precise Deadline, Bildt, however, warned about "Consequences" in case of "failure" to reunite Cyprus, but without saying whose responsibility an eventual deadlock might be.
Asked by "EuroFora" if there is a risk for "Turkey's commitments to "be forgotten or downgraded", "despite crystal-clear EU Council decisions and EU Parliament's latest Resolution on the assessment to make at the end of this year on Turkey's obligations", according to rumours that, instead of pressing Turkey, on the contrary, there might be "pressure on Cyprus", even "blackmail", as Media reported and President Christofias denounced this week, Bildt denied :
- "No ! ", he clearly replied.
- On the contrary, invited by "EuroFora", to "reassure that the Swedish EU Presidency (7-12/2009) will keep a fair stance, based on principles", Bildt promised that "we (Swedish EU Presidency) will be very clear on all of the decisions taken by the (EU) Council".
He added, however, that "we have very numerous decisions that have been taken" by EU Council, as if he warned, also, on something else.
- "'I am not aware of any sort of statements coming out today''", Bildt started to say, on our reference to Cyprus' President Christofias" denunciation of Turkish lobby's manoeuvers this week, replying earlier to 'another"EuroFora"'s question during a Press Conference at EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
- '"I know the issues that you' are concerned with'", he added, remembering the statements he gave us when Sweden was chairing the PanEuropean CoE on 2008.
- "But, obviously, .. I think that Cyprus' Peace negotiations are extremenly important".
- And "'I think that we are at a unique moment in History, in the sens that both (Cyprus') President Christofias and Mr. Talat (the Turkish Cypriot leader), are personally convinced of the need to overcome the division".
- "It's 20 Years since the fall of Berlin Wal, but we still have a Capital in Europe (Nicosia) that's divided". ,
- 'I don't that we should loose any time in overcoming that"..
- ''We should be aware of the fact that success will bring great benefits, but failure, will also have major consequences. There will not be Status Quo' " It's a question of seeking a solution, or entering another situation, which is somewhat difficult to see exactly how that could evolve", he warned.
- "That being said, this is a negotiation for Cyprus itself", Bildt admitted.
- ''We (EU) can support, the (EU) Commission primarily, be technically helpful, and then, of course, there is a specific role for the UN, when it comes to the Cyprus' situation".
- "At least so far. It might not be for ever'. Certainly not for ever, but for this period of time", Bildt added, skiping now any reference to concrete threats on UNO's Peace keeping force in face of more than 40.000 Ankara's soldiers, contrary to some Press claims, (See previous NewsReports).
Replying to another "EuroFora"'s Question, if anyone might attempt to "impose a Deadline for the conclusion" of Cyprus' Talks on December 2009, Bildt avoided to speak of any precise Time-frame, and indirectly evoked the fact that 35 Years of Turkish Invasion/Occupation obviously durated too long :
'- "If I was from Cyprus, I would say that the Deadline was Yesterday ! '",
Bildt concluded.
Cyprus' Government Spokesman, Stephanou, reportedly pointed out that "a settlement is possible on December if Turkey changes its stance", accepting a solution for the reunification of the island based on UNO resolutiona and EU principles.
Earlier, EU Chair, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeld, highlighted an "historic opportunity" to "re-Unite" Cyprus according to EU's "basic Values"' (i.e. Human Rights) and 'Rules'", in a last-minute change of his draft speech to EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
The initial Draft spoke only about "healing" the island.
Significantly, Reinfeldt linked Cyprus' reunification with Turkey's obligations to respect EU's "Values" and "follow" EU's "common Rules" :
- What is "called Membership Negotiations" should lead, "at- the end of the day", into "sharing a set of common Basic Values (i.e. Human Rights, Democracy, etc), and following common Rules", stressed Reinfeld from the outset.
- "This is something that those on the Outside (of the EU), are now contemplating", up "to Ankara", for "a solution" on "Cyprus", observed the EU Chairman, immediately afterwards..
- "Both sides of Cyprus have been granted a historic opportunity to together reach an agreement on a solution to re-Unite the island, that has been divided for far too long", said Reinfeldt, modifying his draft text.
- "The Swedish Presidency will act ...in accordance with Commitments EU has made, on the basis of Criteria that apply", "as a Honest Broker", he promised.
- "To those on the inside (of the EU), allowing the membership process to become an opportunity to solve protracted disputes, can be tempting", he added.
"In such cases, we must find solutions that can benefit both sides, and open up a way forward. Otherwise, it would jeopardize the progress we have made towards EU integration", Reinfeldt said.