

Abbas' warning not to cut Gaza from a Palestinian State stirs EU's 2Gs concerns deeper than thought
EU chair, Czech Prime Minister Topolanek, may have guessed better than he thought when he recently said here that his "presidency (1 to 6/2009) will be marked by the 2 Gs : Gaza and Gas", revealed Abbas' and other Gaza debates and contacts in EU Parliament in Strasbourg...
The risk for Gaza to be cut off from a future Palestinian State was highlighted during Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas' visit, as well as at other debates on the sidelines, which focused on the dramatic Human victims on the spot, on how to create a new Palestinian Unity coalition and how to address Israel's Security concerns.
- All this "aims at separating Gaza from the other Palestinian lands", Abbas warned from the outset, asking "not to allow the Division of our People", and of "its Geographic Unity", but to act "against any attempt for Separation". Gaza must not be divided from the rest of our Palestinian Homeland, he stressed.
This was echoed also at another Gaza debate which linked together 2 key MEPs in Strasbourg and 2 Palestinian representatives in Gaza, from Fatah and Hamas, thanks to EU Parliament's TV-TeleConference links :

- "The problem, in Gaza is that Abbas has no control there", observed pro-Israeli MEP Goffrey Van Orden, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. And "we aren't speaking of 3 States, but of 2 States' solution", he reminded.
- "If there is no peace progress, but settlers and other occupation incidents continue, even West Bank could become like Gaza", warned a Fatah representative, receiving van Orden's agreement as far as settlements are concerned.
Nobody contested that Thousands of innocent Civilians killed, including many Children and Women, many Homes and half of the economic infrastructure destroyed in Gaza was "appalling". As well as that rockets fired earlier by Hamas against Israel were an error.
But views diverged mainly on responsibilities (was it Hamas' rockets or Israeli Army's "disproportionate" reaction ?), and in certain key parts of the solution to bring.
Noone mentioned the fact that both the break-up of Oslo Peace proces back in 2000 and the recent 2007-2009 Gaza upheavals, occured shortly after findings that huge Gas deposits at Gulf of Mexico's deap Sea, similar to Eastern Mediteranean's geology, might be retrieved by modern methods...

This obviously made of Gaza's Sea Coast a huge Energy stake. Geologists in a European/International Conference in Strasbourg since 2002, revealed to "EuroFora" that recent research (from 1998-2000), pointed towards probable big Gas findings allover from Egypt's coasts to Gaza, Israel, Lebanon and Cyprus' southern coast, from 1 to 2 km deep. And in 2006, former US President George Bush anounced that Gulf of Mexico's deep sea Gas findings (of similar geologic nature) would cover America's 50% energy needs
But it was yet unclear who might have manipulated whom, in the Middle East complex mig-mar, (added to the even larger complexity of GeoPolitical games played over Energy sources all over the World), and for what precise aims, in order to eventually provoke dramatic clashes hindering peaceful cooperation and sharing of new natural resources, (which might have facilitated a political solution). .
Thus, chair of EU - Palestinian Legislative Council delegation, MEP Kyriakos Triantafyllides, focused on possibilities for a settlement through Palestinian Reconciliation, and a Government of National Unity able to agree with Israel on a renewed Peace proces, to bring the occupation towards an end, with many Arab countries ready to recognize Israel.
Echoeing EU Commissioner Michel, he also observed that EU raxpayers' money should not be spend for buildings risking to be destroyed again at a next clash. From now on, well beyond the urgent need for Humanitarian aid to arrive on the spot, the necessary Reconstruction should be linked to steps towards Peace.
"Hamas is open to speak" and "should not be pushed to a corner", said a former Hamas' spokesman, who claimed, however, that Fatah "got nothing" after recognizing Israel, apparently preferring to keep that move as a last card to play. He also expected "from the Obama Administration to be more productive"."
Of course Hamas can play a role in the future when it stands up to a peaceful proces. But there is no justification for the rockets fired at Israel", said EU Parliament's President, Hans Gert Poettering.
Van Orden, speaking to "EuroFora" stressed that a key was to find a guarantee for Israel's "Security concerns", mainly weapons smuglling and rockets.
Abbas (as well as Hamas) supported EU playing also a Political role, and asked to "send International forces to protect our People", even if an EU-led International Peace force was not yet explicitly mentioned.
Since the 2006 Lebanon crisis, an International Peace-keeping force led by France, including a Maritime fleet headed by Germany and headquarted in Cyprus, keep an efficient presence at the surrounding area.
EU Parliament's President, Hans Gert Poettering, reminded interesting political talks he had with Syrian President Assad Jr. and others "on July" 2008, "in Paris"' EU - Mediterranean Summit.
Meanwhile, the Diplomatic organizer of Paris' Mediterranean Summit, French President Sarkozy's former councellor, Alain Le Roy, became the new UN under-Secretary General in charge of International Peace keeping operations all over the World..
A Turkish Media attempt to push Ankara in the already complicated and dramatic scene at the former Ottoman Empire area, by exploiting a verbal exchange between Turkish prime minister Erdogan and Israeli president Peres at Davos luxurius Holiday ressort, was rather downplayed by Abbas, apparently focused more towards the Future than to the Past :

He only mentioned "Syria - Israel" negotiations with Turkey's mediation in this regard, and agreed that Turkey could play a role "as in the Past". As for Davos, he carefully referred "to Media sources", to find out what really happened.
Strasbourg contacts, including a Middle-East Committee meeting with Abbas and others, exceptionally behind closed doors "in camera", and a Cultural spectacle on a Palestinian Poet (curiously overburdened by local "Security" obstacles), paved the way to a series of EU steps in the forthcoming weeks, including a visit by EU Parliament's President, Hans Gert Poettering in Gaza, in close coordination with EU Council and Commissioner Ferrero Waldner's moves.
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(Note on the Middle East : "EuroFora"'s current editors acknowledge that they are not fluent in Middle East politics, which are extremely complex from the Political point of view, and tragic from a Humanitarian point of view. Thus, and at least for the moment, any mention or (involuntary) ommission of facts should not be perceived by any readers as an expression of taking one or another stance. "EuroFora"s aim is not at all to take any stance, but only to find and publish Topical News on Facts able to stimulate Public Debate.)
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Sarkozy and Merkel : June 2009 solution to May 2005 "NO" ?
- Will French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angie Merkel live up from June 2009 to their obvious Historic European mission to revitalize, and re-launch the "European Dream", after the series of 3 "NO" since May 2005 in France, the Netherlands and Ireland, by renewing, and changing the EU with fresh stimulus, big horizons, and values attractive for EU Citizens ?
Whatever views anyone might have, it's a Fact that, recently, EU's political spectrum didn't produce other more charismatic and popular EU leaders than Merkel and Sarkozy, starting from September 2005 and May 2007, respectively.
This trend was confirmed, in one way or another, both during the German EU presidency in 2007 (shared by Merkel with the SPD), and mainly during the French EU Presidency in 2008, (with Sarkozy "free" to move).
The positive 2009 EU Polls are a natural consequence :
- Both with 72% Sarkozy and Merkel are considered by EU Citizens to be "the most Influential" leaders in Europe, by far.
- They are the only EU political leaders to attract a Majority of "Positive" views by EU Citizens, (Merkel over 60%, Sarkozy over 50%, particularly in the continent).
- 60% of EU Citizens find the 2008 French EU Presidency "Good", (and the satisfaction grows up to 67,5% in continental Europe).
The Poll was made by "OpinionWay" in big EU countries as Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, (with the only exception of France), from 26 to 28 May 2009.

But the most important is that both Franco-German leaders seem willing to, at last, really start serious business on EU's indispensable renovation and Renaissance from 2009 : Year of crucial EU and German Elections.
Therefore, this time, the joint European move by Sarkozy and Merkel, which just published a common Franco-German Manifesto, aims to stimulate aspirations and action not only in their respective countries, but also in many other EU "partners", as they say.
Both on EU economy, social values and scientifico-technologic research, as well as on Turkey's controversial EU bid, obviously incompatible with a popular Political Europe, whose Citizens can find a collective Identity and popular Values, they have already started to magnetize various growing voices accross the European landscape :
"Today, more than ever, it' time for action", they stress from the outset.
Facing "an unprecedented Global financial and economic Crisis", "Europeans must get resolutely involved if they want for the World which is being built to meet their Values of Liberty, Solidarity and Justice".
"That's what we want" and "propose to our Partners" :
* "A strong Europe, able to protect us" :
- "We refuse a Bureaucratic EU, which mecanically applies burdensome rules and is afraid of change. We want a European Union which listens what Citizens have to say, which innovates, stimulates".
- "We want a strong and united EU in the World, while also respecting its Member States' Diversity", which "brings Courageous Replies to the Questions of our Times, ensuring our Prosperity :
This implies to "favor Research and Innovation", "Economic Coordination", to "develop real Policies on Immigrationn, Energy, Defence, and modernise common policies, particularly Agriculture".
* "EU must bring immediate replies to the Global Crisis".
- "Lawless liberalism failed". "The Model we want is that of a Responsible Market Economy, which favors Enterpreneurs and Workers, above Speculators ; Long-term Investment, over immediate profiits".
- "We appeal upon the EU to take, from June, the first decisions to ensure a real European Regulation of Financial Markets, based on coordination and cooperation". "On speculative funds, on fiscal heavens, CEO's and financial operators' earnings, EU must give the example".
- "We call to change the rules of accounts, which are important for our Economy's revival : The competent normative authorities must take action". "The issue of a sufficient Credit offer is of central importance for our Economy". "We don't accept that, during this Financial Crisis, the European Banks' capacity to lend money might be unjustly reduced by Capital's requirements and accountant's rules
* "During the German and French Presidencies, EU has resoçlutely prepared itself for the fight against Global Warming... EU is the 1st and only area in the World to have adopted a package of ambitious and legally binding rules to comply with International Aims"
- "We have now to convince our Friends and Partners, to get involved, in order to atteint, next December at Copenhagen, a Global Agreement worthy of whay is at stake. Our closer ally, the US, but also other big industrial countries, must commit themselves with the same force as the Europeans".
"Green Growth is a Chance ... and an opportunity to create jobs turned towards the Future. Europe must be a leader".
- But, at the same time, we must ensure that our companies remain competitive in the World. The ambitious European involvements on Climat must not lead into a position where EU industry might become a Victim of Unfair Competition. Climat protection and Competitvity must go together. If our International partners refuse to associate themselves to our efforts, we are determined to take measures to protect European Industry"
* "Europe must be more ambitious for its Industry" : "It must favor the emergence of strong European enterprises at a Global level".
- "As long as an International mechanism" to "monitor Public Aids at WTO level, and hinder 3rd Countries to give abusive subsidies to their enterprises, provoking unfair competition", is "not yet set up, we must consider Transitory European Solutions".
* "The current Public Debt is too heavy... We must head anew towards sound public finance, as soon as we'd have passed the crucial stage in this crisis".
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* Last, but not least : "Europe must play a top-level role in the World"
- "For that purpose, it needs efficient Institutions. That's why we need Lisbon Treaty". "The 27 Member States decided, last December (2008) that the Treaty should enter into force before the end of this year (2009)". To obtain that, June EU Council must agree "on the Guarantees for Ireland".
- But, "to be able to act, EU needs Borders. An Enlargment without Limits is not possible", Sarkozy and Merkel stressed in an obvious reference to Turkey, etc.
- "In order to be strong, Europe must assume its Values and its Identity". "Human Rights .. are at the basis of our commitment for a Peaceful Development accross the World".
- "For that purpose, we shall strengthen our common Defence and Security policy".
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* "We are ready to contribute to activate the EU towards the realisation of these aims, with our EU Partners".
"In order to succeed", Europe "needs the active involvment of all, starting by Citizens themselves. That's why the June 7 rendez-vous is important", and "we are calling all Europeans to vote".
"We are convinced that, if Europe wants, Europe can", they conclude.
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Precisely : - What can better forge "Europe's Will" than a "European Consciousness" emerging from political, democratic struggles to face Global Challenges, and open big New Horizons, including by crystal-clear Public Debates, with active EU Citizens' involvement, before the most important EU Decisions affecting People's lives ?
Precisely what "EuroFora"s project warns since 1997-2007, and unprecedented Majority Abstentions, since 1999-2004, added to 3 "NO" to EU Referenda in 2005 and 2007, proved meanwhile..
Let's hope that the Time wasted by some scandalous anti-European and anti-Democratic obstacles of the Past, will stimulate faster, simplified but substantial and persistent, efficient action.-