Hollande to EuroFora+after meeting Tunisia President:Africans to take over in Mali+help fight Terror

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to Journalists in Strasbourg, including "EuroFora", just after meeting with Tunisian President Mazourki, French President Francois Hollande clearly anounced that now the time has come for Africans to take over themselves on Mali, during a forthcoming Reconciliation stage, but that cooperation with interested Countries facing Terrorism threats should be carefully organized, at the same time with an adequate EU Development Aid, particularly to Mali, as he hadd earlier pointed out in EU Parliament's Debates with Top MEPs (comp. other "EuroFora"'s DraftNews on various Topical EU issues, already sent earlier to Subscribers/Donors).

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Joining 3 "Firsts", new French President François Hollande, in his 1st official visit to Strasbourg since his election, for his 1st Speech at EU Parliament in that capacity, met for the 1st time with Tunisian President Moncef Mazourki, (a well known former University Student and Medical Doctor who has worked at the Hospital of Strasbourg where he also lived with his Family),  before speaking also at a special ceremony in the City Hall.

In statements made immediately afterwards to Journalists present at the Prefectoral palace,including "EuroFora", Hollande told us that he "had a Friendly Discussion" with Tunisian President Moncef Mazourki, one day before his own speech, Tomorrow (Wednesday) in EU Parliament in Strasbourg, reminding the key South Mediterranean country's Pioneer role in the pro-Democracy "Arab Spring" of 2012, expressing the wish that it will finally find its way forward to a stable Future, advancing "stage by stage", as well his "support to the (Tunisian) President's efforts to broker a final, sustainable conclusion to political conflicts in that area.

 He also anounced that Mazourki invited him to visit Tunisia "on May".

 - "As far as Mali is concerned", the French President mainly warned that that "we have to be Careful", particularly during a transition stage, and "Help each other in facing Terrorist threats", saying that he was very well disposed to work together in a spirit of cooperation in this regard.

- But, Now that we have achieved the main aims of our Mission, => Today, Africans must take over the relay, the French President stressed, after having received EU Parliament's quasi-unanimous support for the action undertaken to face Extremist Islamic Terrorism etc. at the Northern part of the Country, which was reportedly threatening to spread even towards the Capital City, Bamako, at the South.

+ In particular, as it was recently anounced, the Mali Authorities should engage, now, a process of Reconciliation and reconstruction, as well as for Elections, Hollande advised. 

However, in the area, there are Security issues, particularly at the South (towards the SubSaharian area) which should be addressed by all concerned.

+ Meanwhile, "EuroFora" learned from Tunisian sources close to President Bazourki, that "together with Algeria, Libya, a.o., Tunisia currently cooperate in controlling the Borderline areas throughout Sahara.

Speaking earlier at EU Parliament's Plenary, Hollande also added that, in order to succeed, a forthcoming Reconciliation period in Mali should also be supported by the EU by an adequate Aide to Development.

Shortly afterwards, French Foreign Minster Laurent Fabius, who was accompagnying President Hollande at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, together with EU Affairs Minister Bernadr Cazeneuve, reportedly anounced that, if things go as schedulled, French Military Forces should start to withdraw progressively "from March", i.e. in almost one Month.

Just a few Days earlier, experienced Envoy of Russian President Putin to Africa, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Federal Council, and former long-time MEP at CoE's PanEuropean Assembly in Strsbourg, Mikhail Margelov, visited the African Union and many relevant Countries of the region, reportedly expressing support to a Collective contribution by African Countries to Mali's a.o. Security Problems, to which Moscow had earlier anounced a concrete operational help, (mainly via Aircraft Transport and staff), in parallel with the French Army, in the framework of a UN Mandate.(comp. various previous Statements by Margelov to "EuroFora"+, f.ex. on Libya, Cyprus, Turkey, etc).

(../..)

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(+ Fast Translation from the Original, partly in French)


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 (NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send earlier to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version might be published asap).

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