english french german greek italian lithuanian russian serbian spanish
Inicio arrow newsitems arrow EuroCorps' New Chief to EF: European Army Report on Afghanistan possible +Space/Missions/Enlargement

EuroCorps' New Chief to EF: European Army Report on Afghanistan possible +Space/Missions/Enlargement

Escrito por ACM
02.09.21

new_eurocorps_chief_2021_aside_agg_eurofora_400

*Strasbourg/Pourtales Castle/Angelo Marcopolo/- "EuroCorps" New Chief (2021-2023), Lieutenant-General Peter Devogelaere, from Belgium, Replying to 2 "Eurofora"s Questions at the Press Conference concluding a Top-Level Ceremony for "Change of Command", at the superb Castle of Pourtales in Strasbourg's outskirts near Robertsau's Forest, announced, in substance, that the Multi-National Army Headquarters and Brigade corps was Ready to Contribute, if it was asked to do so, from  a European point of view, to the Current Reflexions (including by NATO) about what should have been done in order to prevent the recent Afghanistan Failure of a Controversial Global move, after 20 Years of USA-led Military Intervention, (notoriously Resulting in Taliban's power take-over, a Deadly ISIS Bombing killing more than 100 People at Kaboul' Airport, including 13 American Soldiers, added Even to the recuperation of a Lot of US Weapons, from Helicopters up to Dangerous anti-Aerian "ManPads", many Thousands of Asylum Seekers, etc, and a Country pushed at the limits of Economic and Humanitarian Catastrophe, as even UNO Warns)...

--------------------

eurocorps_at_pourtales_castle_5_framexork_nations_eurofora_400 

    - "At a Time When the Global Order is frequently being Called into Question, and when Competition in International relations is becoming Increasingly Tough, sometimes giving way to Contestation and even Confrontation, the Presence, on This Morning (2/9/2021), of the Highest Military Authorities of (EuroCorp's 5) Framework Nations, and (6) Associated Nations, Demonstrates Europe's shared Ambition to Commit to its Collective Defense, and to Play a Full Part in International Security", stressed from the outset, in his Official Speech, the Head of Ceremony, French Army's Chief, General Thierry Burkhard. Calling EuroCorps "the European apid Reaction Force", as well as "a MultiNational Unit, Backed by European Nations", he stoped short, however, from Revealing Today what relevant Plans might have, in this matter, the Forthcoming 2022 French Presidency of the EU, (Just After the Dust Settles at the Current 2021 German Elections)...

eurocorps_nations_army_chiefs_coming_to_press_conference_eurofora_400 

---------------------------------------

    - "Concerning Afghanistan, as NATO just announced that it currently prepares a Study on what really happened and what should have been done, wouldn't it be a good idea Also for EuroCorps to use its valuable Experience on the spot, in order to prepare a Report from a European point of View ?", "Eurofora" asked the New Commander, General Vogelaere, during the ensuing Press Conference.    

    (Indeed, "EuroCorps" has been Twice Involved in Afghanistan, on 2004-2005 and 2012-2013, including as the Head of the International Force's Chief of Staff, and Devogelaere personaly participated there several times. On this occasion, a French former Commander had already spotted f.ex. the particular issue of Women and Young Girls' Human Rights under a Taliban regime, as being of a potential key importance for the Future. [Comp. many Replies by EuroCorps' Heads a.o. to "Eurofora"'s Questions on Afghanistan, f.ex. at http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsinafganistan.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/lisbonrightsdefence.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchdefenceministerlonguetoneupolicy.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/sarkomerkeldealswithobama2009.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/natobama.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsafghaistanlibya.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsroleafterafghanistan.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpscommandersoneuautonomytools.html, etc]. Meanwhile, current President Biden's clumsy management of Afghanistan issue, with Talibans taking over very Rapidly, ISIS Killing more tha 100 People, including 13 American POWS, etc; made him Fall Down to 44% against 51% for former POTUS Trump at the Polls, shortly before Crucial forthcoming Mid-Term Elections, later this Autumn 2021).

eurocorps_new_commander_20212023_near_agg_eurofora_400

    - "This Army Headquarters, that we dispose, is there for European Union's benefit", stressed , as a matter of General Principle, EuroCorps' New Chief, from the outset of his Reply to the above-mentiond "Eurofora"s Question). "Sometimes, there are elements of Studies, or of support, on certain aspects".

    => "And we ("EuroCorps") are Ready to Work Together, and give our Appreciations and thoughts on certain key points. So, that's Possible, i.e. to Give our Opinion, as an Army Headquarters", he Positively ensured, on the occasion of Afghanistan).

-------------------------------

    +"EuroFora" went on to point out that, "Recently, your collegues in the USA created a Space Force, which became very Popular. Concerning Europe, could f.ex. EuroCorps, at least, include the use of Space Technologies in your Training ?", we Asked.

    (Indeed, US Polls revealed that Space Force, created by former POTUS Donald Trump, was one among the Most Favored Issues by the American People on 2020)...

    -"It's not our vocation", at least until now. "We are mainly a Land-setting Army Headquaters, and we are not yet involved in such kind of developments". So,  "for the time being, in Europe, it's, particularly, at the level of several Member States that the First concrete Initiatives in that direction already exist". he modestly but prospectively highlighted.         

    + "But, don't you use, at least, Galileo (Space Geo-Localisation) and several other Space Technologies already in your current work ?", "Eurofora" wondered.       

eurocorps_new_chief_2021_eurofora_400 

    - Indeed, "we are dealing, f.ex., with AirBorn Integration, which is absolutely normal, (in addition to Sea Naval operations), etc. But Not Yet on the Space area as such", EuroCorps New Leader, carefuly added, (apparently open to eventual developments in the foreseable Future)...

    ("EuroCorps"' wider Mission to Become, sooner or later, a "Pluri-Modal" Force, able to use Land, Air, Sea, and -why not ? also Space- Links and relevant Technologies, had been Strongly Underlined during an Earlier Top-Level Event in Strasbourg, including Defense Ministers. [See, f.ex. at ..., etc]. And Recently, "EuroCorps" was Trained on the "Renewal" of its "Command, Control and Information System", as General Burkhard observed Today. But, according to what had Told us anOther Experienced former Army General, working as EADS' Top Expert, the Most Important "3C" Lacuna in Europe's necessary Capabilities that would allow it to have a full "Autonomous" Defense, was the Lack of an "Early Warning System", based on Earth Observation from Space, able to give Timely and Clear Alerts Warning about Risks of Attacks from Nearby Geo-Localized Hostile Forces, [f.ex. by Analysing Photos revealing the Chemical Reactions of Rockets Launching, etc]).  

--------------------------------------------------------------

    However, in parallel, anOther, Earth to Earth, Important Developement, recently, seems to be "EuroCorps" New Trend towards an Enhanced Attractivity :

ceremony_chief_french_army_head_orders_the_change_of_eurocorps_command_2021_eurofora_400 

    Indeed, Both the currently Outgoing and Incoming "EuroCorps"' Chiefs, Lieutenant Generals Colodjiej (France) and Devogelaere (Belgium) had a Valuable Experience in  working together with Other European Countries : (Colodjiej at London, UK, assuming later also the role of International Relations' Head in the French Army, while Devogelaere studied and worked extensively in Germany, including at the prestigious "Führungs-Akademie", etc), while they also served in "HotSpots" as Lebanon, Mali, and Others accross the World.

    => This coincides, Nowadays, with the expected Enlargement of "EuroCorps"' fully_fledged core "Framework Nations", (France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg), also to Poland, that Gneral Devogelaere Expects to be Realized "towards the Beginning of Next Year : 2022", since "Both the Polish themselves and all Other Nations very much Wish to do so", as he stressed at Today's Press Conference).

    But it's also Austria, which has Just recently Joined the Group of "EuroCorps"' simply "Associated Nations", (currently : Italy, Romania, Greece, Poland and Turkey), represented by a "Liaison Officer" in Strasbourg, as the Organisations' Head Press Officer, Marie-Luise Skura, reminded "Eurofora" Today.

eurocorps_logo_bw 

    All this, Obviously, "Strengthens <<EuroCorps'>> European and International Basis", as the Chief of the "Change of Command" Ceremony, French Army's Head, General Burkhard, stressed Today : An almost Necessary move of GeoPolitical Adjustmment, since a Realy "European" Force could Not leave Out an EU's  Central Core Nation as Ausstria, while Keeping Turkey, which naturaly concerns "EuroCorps" 2nd role, Also as an efficient NATO tool in certain cirumstances : Indeed, after having recently been Certified and Served as a NATO's Rapid Reaction Force on 2020 (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsandnatoonlibya.html, etc), "EuroCorps" is Also due to Become, on 2024, even a "NATO's Joint Task Force HQ", as General Burkhard observed, (a move that Devogelaere said to have been "Well Prepared" by his Predecessors).

    Before that, "EuroCorps" will finalize its current "European Training Missions" in Mali and Central Africa, with the participation of General Devogelaere himself on the spot, as he announced at Today's Press Conference.

---------------------------------------------------------------

    +Meanwhile, the departing former EuroCorps' Chief, General Laurent Colodjiej (2019-2021), speaking at the same Press Conference, observed that he was Glad to have Led such a "Unique" Army HeadQuarters as "EuroCorps", particularly Based in Strasbourg, at the Heart of Europe, with a Franco-German Culture and inspiring "European Citizenship".

head_of_ceremony_french_army_leader_gives_commander_of_honour_legion_to_retiring_eurocorps_chief_eurofora_400 

    General Colodjiej, who was promoted Today as "Commander of the Legion of Hounour", by decision of French President Macron, in a moving Ceremony here, on the occasion of his Retirement from the Army in general, had, apparently, eyed quite well a quite astonishing phenomenon : Indeed, Both a Young French Lady, Graduate of Strasbourg University, and a Sportif Middle-Age German former School-Teacher, who Kindly Helped "Eurofora", as "EuroCorps"' Press Officers, in various practical ways, during and after the Official Ceremony, were, in fact, "Reservists", as they told us : I.e. EU Citizens accepting to Offer their Various Acquired Capabilities to the service of European Defense... Our German interlocutor even told us that he could do so up to 10 Months per Year, and had followed "EuroCorps" during a so Long Period of Time as ..."since 1993", i.e., by a Striking Coincidence, as Long as "Eurofora"'s co-Founder himself !...

    A Previous Top-Level Conference in Strasbourg had, already, throroughly Analyzed and Theorized the Recent Development of such a Strategy,, resolutely Aiming to regularly Attract various Qualified, Experienced, and Motivated People, to such a Voluntary Service to National and/or European Defense. => European Citizens, are they a precious "New Weapon", due to considerably Strengthen the Defense of Europe in the foreseable Future ?

 

eurocorps_press_card_2021_eurofora__am_400_01
 

 

(../..)

 

("Draft-News")

 

-----------------------------------

 

EUHorizonSMEtool

Statistics

Visitantes: 54900072

Archive

Login Form

Syndicate

RSS 0.91
RSS 1.0
RSS 2.0
ATOM 0.3
OPML

Other Menu

 politkovskaya_gongadze_adali_400

Hu Jia's prize brings SAKHAROV's wife to "EuroFora" on murders of Journalists Politkofskaya, Gongadze and Adali :

- Elena Bonner : "All Journalists' murders must be fully investigated", without Double Standards.                                                                                    

During a special Mega-Event to celebrate 20 Years of SAKHAROV Prize for "Freedom of Thought", attributed in 2008 by EU Parliament to jailed Chinese Cyber-Dissident Hu JIA, the move was reinforced by strongly criticizing the persisting impunity in three cases of Journalists' Murders, such as POLITKOVSKAYA in Russia, GONGADZE in Ukraine, and ADALI in Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

Any bureaucratic doubt about whether Cyber-dissidents like Hu JIA might have, or not, a right to be protected as all Journalists must be, particularly when they take risks to search, find and publish original and critical News on issues of general interest to the society, could not resist to the emotion provoked by the message of his Wife, Zeng JINYAN spectacularly transmitted at a big screen in EU Parliament's hemicycle :

- "The most important and most interesting thing he did was to ... say the Truth :.. to write about the phenomena he observed... He never stopped Publishing.. on websites, so that the Public could learn about the reality .. and understand it.  In my view, this has been his greatest contribution", stressed the young wife of the jailed man, eager to cite also the cases of other critical journalists who faced various kinds of "harassment".

 - "Welcoming all those who have suffered for defending Human Rights", EU Parliament's President, German MEP Hans Gert POETTERING, who had invited to Strasbourg all former Sakharov prize-winners from various Countries throughout the World, said that "China needs Europe, and Europe needs China : A great nation" with which "we want to have a good relationship", "association and ..friendship". "But we are never going to stop our fight for Human Rights, and No Government can expect this from us".

    - "It's impossible  to achieve goals of Peace, if Human Rights are left out. In fact, Peace and Human Rights are intrinsequaly linked", added POETTERING.

    It's in this spirit that MEPs adopted, on Thursday, a Resolution denouncing that "the criminal
investigation and trial following the murder of (a) Journalist ...raises serious concerns with regard to transparency and respect for the rule of law", when a "brutal killing has not yet been fully investigated and solved in a satisfactory way".

    The text refered to dissident Journalist "Anna POLITOVSKAYA", a critic of Tchechen conflict, killed some years ago in Moscow, where Russian Authorities have found, arrested and are currently judging two executants, while also searching to arrest also a 3rd one, allegedly escaped in Belgium. But they have not yet found the instigators.

     Similar texts were adopted recently also on dissident Ukranian Journalist Georgiy GONGADZE's murder, for which Ukranian Authorities have at least found, arrested and condemned 2 executants to 12 and 13 Years of jail, but not yet the instigators. For that purpose, they recently accepted an International Experts team to participate to the investigations.     

But, it's only for the Murder of dissident Turkish Cypriot Journalist ADALI, in the occupied territories of Cyprus, that Turkey has NOT yet found ANYONE responsible, and even claimed recently inside CoE that it would be "impossible" to do so !    

These astonishing differences exist despite the fact that ECHR condemned alike Ukraine and Turkey with 2 Judgements on the same year : 2005, for the murders of  Journalists GONGADZE and ADALI, strong critics of Corruption in Ukraine, and of Ankara's policies on mass-influx of Turkish Settlers in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, respectively.    

Regarless of that, CoE's Committee of Ministers, who is entrusted with the duty to supervise execution of ECHR's judgements, has just asked Ukraine's Government to reply to further questions on Gongadze's murder before March 2009, while Turkey, curiously, got a longer postponement for answering questions on Adali's murder, until June...   

A comparison of these cases, raises serious questions about Double Standards :

------------------------

On TRANSPARENCY :
--------------------------
    On Gongadze's murder, CoE's body speaks even about the participation of
"an INTERNATIONAL group of Experts" in the Investigation, (f.ex. of "Tape Recordings"), accepted by Ukraine.
    On the contrary, on Adali's murder, CoE is obliged to repeatedly ask (for a 2nd
time) Turkey whether, at least, it informed the victims' Family, or not...
------------------------------
- On EFFICIENCY :
-----------------------
On Gongadze's murder, CoE formally "recalls that the Committee (of Ministers) ..URGED the Ukranian authorities.. to TAKE ALL NECESSARY INVESTIGATIVE STEPS TO ACHIEVE CONCRETE and VISIBLE RESULTS in the INVESTIGATION, aimed at the Identification of the INSTIGATORS and Organisers of the Murder", and "STRONGLY INVITED the Ukranian Authorities to provide information on the PROGRESS IN THE INVESTIGATION", before MARCH 2009.

But, on Adali's murder, on the contrary, CoE's body merely .. "took note" of the "arguments presented by" Cyprus, which denounce the absence of any proof of new "investigation" by Turkey. Following Turkey's own suggestion (!), it simply "noted" that there is "no limitation period" for "any new element" to "lead potentialy (sic !) to a Re-Opening of the Investigation". Without saying who might find any such "new" fact, since Turkey stoped searching... It also POSTPONED the issue until .. JUNE  !
-----------------------
 - On the PUNISHMENT OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE :
----------------------
 -  On Gongadze's murder case, Ukranian Authorities already arrested and condemned, at least 2 suspects, to 12 and 13 Years of jail. And on Politkovskaya's murder at least 2 suspects are judged, and a 3rd one "wanted".

On the contrary, on Adali's murder case, the Turkish authorities simply claim that "it had not been possible to obtain new .. information .. on the basis of which criminal charges could be brought against ANY person" !...

Moreover,  a LETTER sent by Turkey ...2 Years after CoE's 2006 call to re-investigate anew Adali's murder case, is totally EMPTY of Facts ! As Cypus' Delegation denounced earlier, Turkey's Letter ONLY CLAIMS that a "New Investigation" was made without any result, but does NOT even cite ANY FACT to prove it :

F.ex.,on the crucial issue of the "MOTIVATIONS" behind Adali's murder, noted by ECHR, Turkey MERELY CLAIMS that "all allegations  were investigated; without result", but OMITS ANY FACT TO PROVE IT !..(It doesn't even remind which were these "allegations").. .

+ On ECHR's astonishment that the Turkish Occupation regime didn't produce any "BALLISTIC REPORT" on the Shots which murdered Adali, Turkey again repeats, 12 years later, that, still, even until now, "it  was not possible to obtain the BalisticReport"...

- As for the astonishing absence of key-WITNESSES' Testimonies, denounced by ECHR, Turkey agains repeats various pretexts avoiding to reveal anything, (Fex. that a person "left" the Occupied Territories  "on 2002", or that another witness was heard, but without revealing nothing of what he said, etc).

Turkey obviously "FAILS TO MEET THE CRITICISM made BY THE COURT" for lack of any efficient Investigation in Adali's case, concluded Cyprus' Government.
---------------------------------------------
Replying to our Question which COMPARED these 3 outstanding cases of "JOURNALISTS MURDERS", Adali, Gongadze and Politkovskaya, in order to avoid "Double Standards" by asking from Ukraine and Russia more than what is asked EU candidate Turkey, many European personalities were critical /

They criticised Ankara's recent claim at the CoE to stop investigating, because it would be "impossible to find anyone" responsible for the 5 bullet shots which killed Kutlu ADALI in front of his Family Home, contrary to the other two Journalists' murders, where Ukraine and Russia at least arrested the executants, searching now for the instigators :
----------------------------------

imag0103_400

    - "Where was that ? In Turkish Occupied Cyprus ? WITHOUT ANY DOUBT : Any murder of Journalist should be investigated in full ! All these Murders must be investigated !", replied the famous SAKHAROV's wife, Elena BONNER to our question on Adali's case, compared to Gongadze and Politofskaya.

    Elena Bonner spoke us EXCLUSIVELY shortly after being honored by the President
of EU Parliament on the occasion of 20 Years of her husband's SAKHAROV Prize.

    A strong personality, Sakharov's wife even had to struggle against an anonymous EU staffer who, astonishingly, tried to stop her speaking when h heard our question on "Turkey" (!) : - "Please, let me translate, she continues
speaking, don't stop us !", had to cry Sakharov's daughter, (a Journalist
herself), who was translating her mothers' reply, (obliged to speak louder to
make her voice heard despite the harassment).. (= + Audio Proof !)

    Earlier, Elena Bonner also fustigated "Double Standards" at another case, on
Western countries' attitude vis a vis Kosovo and the Kurds : -F.ex. "You have
recognized a few 400.000 Kosovars as an "independent" country, but you still
deny that to 30 millions of Kurds in Turkey !", she denounced.
-----------------------------
    - "This (ADALI's murder) is an issue which should be pursued by the Committee
for Human Rights. That's why we have one, and it's its duty to examine cases of
Journalists' murders as the one you referred to. You should bring the case in
front of that Committee", suggested in reply to our question on Adali, EU
Parliament's President, German MEP Hans Gert POETTERING.

    - "It's impossible  to achieve goals of PEACE, if HUMAN RIGHTS are left out :
in fact, Peace and Human Rights are intrinsequaly linked", added POETTERING.
--------------------------------------
    + "For us (European/International Federation of Journalists) it's clear :
Whenever a Journalist is Murdered, the Investigation should continue until
those Responsible are found !", replied earlier to another question on ADALI
EFJ/IFJ's Secretary General, Aidan WHITE.

    Speaking as a matter of General Principle, White asked us for "concrete data"
on the execution of ECHR's judgement on Adali case, in order to "look at it in
depth" and "make a formal statement", in comparison with the other Murdered
Journalist case, also pending at CoE's  Ministers for completing its execution,
on Ukranian Gongadze.
----------------------------------------------------
     From EU Rapporteur on Human Rights, vice-President of EU Parliament Liberties' Committee, MEP Giusto CATANIA, we were told that, since there is an ECHR judgement in both Adali and Gongadge's cases, "Turkey must naturally execute the judgement and make a full and efficient investigation, until those responsible for the Journalist's murder are found and punished".

    Even if "we (Catania's "EuroLeft" Group) support Turkey's EU perspectives, this does not mean that Ankara should not behave properly. On the contrary, it means that they have to meet tough conditions, particularly on Human Rights", was added on the occasion of Adali's murder case.

    Moreover, "since you raise the issue of Mr. Adali's muder as a part of a Series of Journalist's murders, including fex. Gongadze, Politkovskaya, ao., tthen we (EU) could also act together with CoE's Commissioner on Human Rights, Thomas HAMMARBERG, it was suggested.

    - "We (EU) must step up efforts against the problem of IMPUNITY : Real Peace cannot exist without Justice",  stressed also this week at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, French Minister on Human Rights, Mrs Rama YADE.
------------------------
                     

Polls

2009 EU Elections were won by Parties against Technocracy and Turkey's controversial EU bid, while the 1999-2004 Majority Abstention trend decelerated. What should be done in 2009-2014 ?

Mostrados

SMF Recent Topics SA

Copyright (c) 2007-2009 EIW/SENAS - EuroFora.net. All rights reserved. ISSN 1969-6361.
Powered by Elxis - Open Source CMS.