French JHA vMinister Nunez to EF: European Cooperation v. Terror shields Strasbourg Christmas Market

*Strasbourg/Police Headquarters/Angelo Marcopolo/- The New French JHA Deputy Minister, experienced former Head of the Intelligence service (DGSI), Laurent Nunez, replying to an "Eurofora"'s Question, ensured that European and even International Cooperation is a constant and developing Key for the Protection of emblematic Popular Events, as that of Strasbourg's "Christmas Market", from remaining eventual Terrorist threats, as he said while reviewing on the spot the Security Mechanism of the City which Hosts the PanEuropean CoE, EU Parliament's full Plenary Sessions, ECHR, EU-Ombudsman, EUROCORPS, Shengen's Secretariat, etc., near Germany.

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Strasbourg has Recently become also Capital of the New, Big Region of "Great East", which Links the Borders of 5 EU Countries at the Core of Europe : France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium, (i.e. practicaly Linking UN European HQ at Geneva with Strasbourg and Luxembourg EU[+CoE] Quarters, up to Brussels' EU Council and Commission, as well as NATO's HQ+, etc).

The move Timely comes just a few Days after the Inauguration of the New Headquarters, here, of the European Agency for Information Systems "EU-Lisa", (which includes, inter alia, also Shengen's, Movement, Visa +Asylum systems' Secretariat, etc), whose Experienced CEO, Krum GARKOV, has already been Interviewed by "Eurofora" 3 Times, (inside CoE, the French Prefecture, and EU Parliament : See, f.ex., http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/shengendirectoronsmartborders.html , http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euitheadgarkovonantiterrorismnewtools.html, etc).

New French JHA vice-Minister's brief but topical INTW with "Eurofora" Today, follows a Long Series of similar Press Exhanges that we already had in the Past with Many among his Predecessors at the Leadership of the Ministry of Interior, including, among others, also : Gerard Collomb (f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchministercollombandschaubleonprotestantecumenism.html, etc), Bertrand Cazeneuve (f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchinteriorministeronfrancogermancooperationagainstterrorism.html,  http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchjhaministeroneubordersandfightvterrorism.html, etc), Manuel Valls (f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/parisattackonciviliansanditaly.html, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchprimeministeroninnovationprojects.html, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchprimeministervallsonhightechfunding.html, etc), Claude Gueant (f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/gueantoneuidentityfuture.html, etc), Brice Hortefeux (f.ex.:  http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/regionalelections.html, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/sarkozyxristofias.html, etc), Michele Alliot-Marie (f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/mamjustice.html, etc).

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  - "Eurofora" asked Laurent Nunez, at his Press-point in Strasbourg, whether, "concerning the (Islamist) Terrorist Risks" there are "useful Cooperationq with (his) collegues in (nearby) Germany and other European Countries".

- "Of course !", immediately responded the New French JHA v.Minister to the above mentioned "Eurofora"s Question, spontaneously.

- Indeed, "we are Working", specially, " in order to Prevent the Threat of Terrorism", he specified, (clearly Upgrading that issue from "Risk" up to "Threat", according to the precise Wording that chose carefully the experienced Author of the recent Book : "We need new Words", published in 2018).

- In fact, "there is a Very Close Cooperation, at the level of All Services", in this regard, he firmly confirmed.

 - But this is going on "particularly, you know, as far as it concerns the Intelligence" services, specified Nunez, (who has, notoriously, a Wide personal Experience, covering Both Intelligence, as former Head of the French Intelligence "DST", and Police, etc., aiming to valorize their Synergy).

- "Therefore, I will develop further this (International) cooperation", he anounced.

- It will be done "Together with (JHA Minister) Mr. (Philip) Castaner", (former Government's Press Spokesman), pointed out Nunez (who is generaly considerd as more "Operational" in Police/Intelligence's Practice, compared to Castaner's more "Political" profile).

- And this concerns, in principle, not only some EU Member States, but, More Widely, "All the Countries of the World", he stressed, ambitiously.  

- Naturally, "Including in the Relations that we (France) have with our German Friends", Laurent Nunez added in fine, speaking in Strasbourg, i.e. Near the Franco-German Borders at the Rhine river, and, therefore, making a Special Mention to the relevant Cooperation with Germany.         

In this regard, among various other Facts, nobody can forget, f.ex., that the Mass Murderer who cowardly Targetted, Attacked and Murdered many innocent Civilian People at Berlin's 2016 Christmas Market, had, Afterwards, crossed, throughout France, into neighbouring Italy, where he was reportedly Shot Dead by the Police, (which had been, previously, Warned).          

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+ Furthermore, the New French JHA v.Minister also underlined the current existence of "a Context in which the (Islamist) Terrorist Threat remains very High", stimulating, therefore, the French State's will to "ensure that this Christmas Market will take place in the Best Conditions of Security", as he promised.

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- That's why "I was here (in Strasbourg) in order to see how the Security Mechanism is being set up", during this Christmas Market, "which durates until the End of December" 2018, he explained, shortly after Completing a Series of Fast-Track but Comprehensive Briefings and Exchanges with the Leadership of the Police, other Security services and local Political Leaders, here.                            

- Indeed, during an Initial and "dense" working Visit at Strasbourg's Police HeadQuarters, including its impressive "Command Center" with "Video-Surveillance", etc, already used for NATO's 2009 Summit, (Comp. "Eurofora"s relevant NewsReports then, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/mamnato.html, etc), followed by a Brief but Active Walk through the Christmas Market Stands downtown, 

Laurent Nunez reviewed "an Important Mechanism, which involves Many Agents of National Police, as well as of the Municipal Police, and even Soldiers, but also Private Security services, etc, in a Security Co-Production", as he described it, during his Press-point with Strasbourg's Journalists, including "Eurofora".

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More than + 500 Security Agents (including Policemen and Soldiers, etc) are due to protect Strasbourg's Traditional, 450th Christmas Market of 2018, with about 300 Stands in a specially Fortified Downtown, which expects to Welcome Visitors from all over the World during more than a Month, generating almost 250 Millions all € in all, after over-Tripling Security Expenditure from 300.000 up to 1 Million €, (a few Years after the 2015 Attacks on Paris and Brussels, followed by those at Berlin, London, Nice, Barcelona, etc. on 2016/2017).

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+ "Eurofora" witnessed, afterwards, on the spot, that this 2018 Strasbourg's Christmas Market, includes, for the 1st Time, also a Large "Finnish Village" of various Stands set up by the Government of Finland, on the occasion of its Presidency of the CoE, (November 2018 - May 2019), that has just Started with a PanEuropean Summit of its Committee of Ministers, the Day Before Yesterday (on November 21, 2018), during which, the Foreign Minister of that Country, Timo Soini, (Comp. also his Statements to "Eurofora", at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/finlandcoechairsoinionechrdecisionsexecution.html ), proudly reminded that, according to the Legend, ..."Santa Claus lives in Finland !"

More Practical, Strasbourg City's vice-Mayor for European/International Relations, Nawel Rafik-Elmrini, pointed, during a Flag-raising Ceremony at the City's Republic Square, that same Day, that the "Finnish Village" includes a Tasty Flamed-Salmon, which, as we personaly saw Today, (November 23, 2018), at the Inauguration of this Year's Christmas Market, appeared to be particularly appreciated by Many Visitors.

As well as Helsinki's Good Idea to exceptionaly add also a Wooden Finnish mini-House, a lot of Spacy, illuminated Tables, and even a Huge, rustic Village Tent, with Wooden Seats, Furs and a Camp Fire to keep People Warm during these Cold Winter evenings, which soon became very Popular, filled by a lot of visiting Families with Kids, in a Sympathetic Human Ambiance, at Gutemberg Square, with view to Strasbourg's Historic Cathedral...