International Peace Bureau SG Archer to EuroFora on Ukraine deadly conflict: Federal solution urgent

    *Strasbourg/"Lieu d'Europe" (European House)/Angelo Marcopolo/- According to the CEO of the Oldest Global Organisation for Peace, the prestigious Geneva-based "International Peace Bureau" (IPB), founded  as early as since back on 1891, gathering more than 10 Nobel Peace Prizes during its 123 Years of existence, its experienced Secretary General Colin Archer, the Tragic Ukranian Conflict which reached a Dangerous stage for all Europe after Yesterday's Deadly Attacks by Army Tanks and para-military pro-Government Extremists against South-East Areas' Dissident People defending their Cities with makeshift arms and/or Mass Demonstrations, from  Slavoniask up to Odessa, etc., spontaneously suggested an Urgent collective Initiative for Peace, which could be found in a Compromise for a Federal solution :

    A suggested Idea might be for an OSCE/CoE and/or International Independent Initiative to be soon organized, for this purpose, in Strasbourg, Urgently, given the currently Fast-Growing Risks of Escalation, as he told Today "EuroFora", (See Infra).

    Significantly, Archer was speaking in Strasbourg, after the inauguration of the Symbolic "European House" ("Lieu d'Europe") premisses, a renovated Historical Building (initially designed by the 1st Director of Strasbourg's Newspaper "Alsace's latest News":  DNA, more than a Century ago, German Kayserguth) with a large Garden, located at a Crossroads between the PanEuropean CoE and EU Parliament, just in front of the European Court of Human Rights, during which, both the new French Minister for EU Affairs and former MEP, Harlem Desir, and the Mayor of Strasbourg, Senator Roland Ries, as well as Alsace Region's President, former Minister, Philippe Richert, and Lower Rhine Departent's Head, Dominique Kennel (that rumours project as possible new Head of more ambitious Franco-German "Euro-District" due to be forged by developing Strasbourg's links with nearby Kehl and other neigbouring Cities at the German side of the River Rhine, united by the "Europa Bridge"), where all keynote participants strongly stressed the Historic but also Contemporary Importance of a European edification, which proved, until now, able to guarantee Peace, based on certain key Concrete Realisations and declared respect for elementary Democracy/Human Rights' values, that the current Dramatic Clashes at Neighbouring Countries as Ukraine clearly underline Today a contrario, as they said.

    But, in fact, both the recent Conflict at Ukraine's Capital Kiev itself, particularly during the Deadly Clashes triggered by some still unidentified "Snipers", which toppled an EU-brokered Compromise Agreement between former President Yanukovich and the then Opposition Leaders, resulting to a unilateral Power-shift not recognized by neighbouring Russia nor by most of Ukranian South-Eastern Region's Russian-speaking Population, as well as the present and still evolving Clashes, after a recent spread of multifacet Dissidence throughout many South-Eastern areas of the Country, and mainly since yesterday's controversial and Deadly Military Attacks involving even numerous Tanks, Army Helicopters and other Heavy Weapons, or para-military pro-Government Extremists, including by provoking atrocious mass-Killings of Dissident People by brutaly chassing them inside a Public Building at Odessa which was set on Fire, until more than 40 Persons died by suffocation or were burned alive, obliged to jumb from the windows, etc., inevitably raise Now Challenging Questions about Europe's ability to really Safeguard Peace from obvious Threats of a much wider destabilisation, Tension and Confrontation, just at the eve of the forthcoming EU Elections of May 22-25, for which, (as many Speakers regretted),  Polls predict not only the persistence of a large Abstention since 1999, but even a possible landslide for various Political Movements, more or less strongly Critical of the current European policies and structures, spreading allover both the Far Left and (particularly) the Far Right side of the Political spectrum, while also emerging, sometimes, even amog certain mainstream politicians, in various ways, for the 1st time in EU's History, and while PanEuropean CoE will celebrate its 65th Anniversary Next Week both in Strasbourg and at an apparently Crucial Foreign Ministerial session in Vienna, on May 6.

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In particular, Questioned by "EuroFora", about the Interational Peace Bureau's views after Yesterday's Tragic  Incidents at South/Eastern Ukraine, which obviously risk to make things "Harder for Europe and the World", as we noted, Archer agreed, as far as the Seriousness of the current Situation and ithe Risks it provokes against Peace, are concerned : - Indeed, " ... The bets (prospects) are Terrible, for Civil War. It looks as if it's going to worsen... ", he acknowledged.

  =>  - "The Answer has to be some form of Federalism", IPB's Head stressed from the outset.

I.e. In order "to allow Local Communities to have their own Autonomy", while also "retaining the National Framework", Archer explained.

    - Otherwise, "if you start to break the Country up, then, really, it's a recipy for Disaster", he warned

     - "And with NATO making very Aggressive Moves "(f.ex. USA WarShips send to the Black Sea, Military Airplanes/Helicopters and Soldiers sent to Baltic Countries, High-profile Political Visits of some Key Western Countries at Russia's borders in Georgia, etc), "and the Russians making Agressive Moves, both Sides making Aggressive Noises, the level of Rhetoric is far Too High", while, on the Contrary, "we don't hear enough of the Peace message", he criticized.

    =>  - "That's why we (IPB) want the Peace Question to be articulate" better, Archer pointed out.

     - In this regard, "We have to Find a Common Ground between the East and the West".  

    - And, for that purpose, (TransAtlantic) "OSCE and the (PanEuropean) CoE are about the Best that we have", as things stand Today, he observed. - "But they are Not Strong enough", IPB's Head regretted.

     - Meanwhile, "the Question of Economic Sanctions is something which is got to be Discussed by everyone, so that it doesn't affect the ordinary People". Even if, "in a way, I prefer Sanctions to War".

    >>> "But, it ought to be Possible to have a Solution put forward", IPB's SG prefered.

     - This could be done, "may be by a Consortium of International bodies, including Academics, Religious bodies and the whole variety, they could get Together", he suggested.

     - "If we (IPB) had more Capacity, we could try to Organize it, but we are a tiny Bureau and don't have (sufficient) Resources" in order to do that alone, unless, "may be, some Moral Power, perhaps", in such matters (as Peace-building), he agreed with "EuroFora".

    => - Therefore, "I am Thinking ....if there might be an Initiative, which might be put Together : May be a Meeting in Strasbourg, perhaps Hosted by OSCE, but with Other Players" which would really have some Clout, it would be a Good Idea", IPB's Head suggested in practice, speaking less than a Year after the present,  OSCE's Chairman for the whole Year 2014, Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter (Liberal), had visited Strasbourg's PanEuropean CoE Assembly, already replying to an "EuroFora"s Question precisely on his forthcoming then 2014 OSCE Presidency's main Aims. , (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/swissoscepresidency.html ).

     - Naturally, "Geneva could be the Other player", and, indeed, "they Tried it", (at the recent, April 17, USA-EU-Russia Foreign Ministers' meeting with the Ukranian authorities of Kiev). "But, it's Not achieving the right kind of Calming the Spirits", he observed, given the on-going tension and even conflicts in Ukraine nowadays, (particularly since the Military Attacks and the clashes with pro-Government Extremists unleashed Yesterday, Tragicaly revealed. Comp. : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/ukrainedissidentsattackedbymilitaryandextremists.html )

("Die Welt.de" : -"They gave us 5 Minutes, before opening Fire !")... 

      - So that, as things go until now, "we may be Too Late", since "the Fire is already Beginning to Burn !", the experienced International Peace Bureau's Head warned, speaking at the Middle of the 2nd Day of Kiev's Military Offensive against the Revolted Populations, which is reportedly making a Fast Growing Number of Victims, specially among Dissidents defending their Cities with makeshift arms while facing Tanks and other Heavy Weapons by Kiev's Army, but also after the Atrocious Massacer of at least 45 People Killed and some 200 Wounded by the Fire set by pro-Government Extremists at a High Rise Building in Odessa, where many Dissidents had been obliged to seek Refuge in an attempt to avoid more Street Clashes and Attacks by para-military Extremists : Comp. relevant Documents published Yesterday Night, ibid).

    - "So, I don't come" (in Strasbourg) with some Good Recipes. If i had a really Good Recipy, I would be CoE's Secretary General by now", he joked, pointing indirectly at Thornbjorn Jagland, at he eve of CoE's Foreign Ministerial session Next Week in Vienna, (Headquarters of the OSCE), for the Conclusion of the current Austrian rotating Chairmanship, and the beginning of the forthcoming Chair by Azerbaidjan; for the period of May - November 2014).

(Pro kiev regime Extremists set Fire at Federalist Dissidents' Tents and Refuge in Odessa's Trade Unions building, provoking Massacre)

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    + Meanwhile, the ECHR, (using Art. 39 of its Rules of procedure, for the 1st time at an Inter-State affaire, concerning Ukraine and Russia), has notoriously launched an Appeal to "Both Sides" involved at the Conflict to prevent serious Violations of People's Human Rights to Life, personal Liberty, Free Speech, prohibition of Torture and Inhuman/Degrading Treatment, etc., "EuroFora" reminded to Archer, on this occasion, who immediately reacted positively in this regard :

     - "Absolutely, absolutely, yeah !", he enthousiastically agreed, speaking at a  location with an Important Symbolism : Right in front of ECHR, (where IPB's landmark Exhibition about "Making Peace", realised by Ashley Woods to celebrate a Century of Nobel Peace award to IPB itself, and opened earlier at its Geneva Headquarters, was Inaugurated, just earlier this Morning, at the entrance of the "Lieu d'Europe" (European House)'s Garden, with the participation of new French Minister for EU Affairs, Harlem Desir, the former long-time ECHR President, and currently President of the International Foundation for Human Rights "René Cassin", Professor Jean-Paul Costa, (etc).                            

    - This (elementary Human Rights' respect) really looks now Urgently Necessary not only for the credibility of the PanEUropean Human Rights' Protection Mechanism, but aso "In order for the People not to be Marked Negatively". Since, "Otherwise, it might Push them and/or others in some Bad Reactions", "EuroFora" warned, on the occasion of another Question about Ukraine to IPB's Head.

     - "There is always a Temptation, and the Temptation to Intervene, on Both Sides is Strong : Each one wants to protect its "Protégés.. So, a lot of Mistakes have been made in the Last Months, even Years before", IPB's CEO denounced. I.e., apparently, at leas since the unidentified yet Deadly "Snipers" Fire against both Maidan Demonstrators and Policemen, which notoriously triggered Violent Clashes toppling an EU sponsored Compromise Agreement reached between former Ukranian President Yanukovich and the then Opposition Leaders, followed, later-on, by a comparatively Peaceful ReUnification of Crrimea with Russia after a controversial but clear Popular Referendum, and the by Popular Uprisings and Demonstrations in various other South-Eastern Ukraine regions. To which the current Kiev regime reacted by 3 successive Waves of Deadly Attacks against South-Eastern dissident Cities : On Easters Night (3 Killed), a few Days later (+ 5 Killed), and particularly since May 2, using the Army and a lot of Tanks, Airplanes, Military Helicopters, Heavy Weapons, etc., at the Same time that para-military pro-Government Extremists provoking and brutaly aggressing Dissident Demonstrators at Odessa, including by obliging them to flee in a Building that they set on Fire, resulting in more than 60 Killed and about 300 Wounded, in a fast-rising series of Tragic Human Casualties...

    But,  meanwhile, ECHR also found another opportunity to indirectly remind its recent case-law, (on he occasion of a previous Clash f.ex. between Lithuanian Police and Farmers demonstrating against a fixed Price of Milk), that any CoE Member State's action by its Security Forces in order to Lift Road Blockades, etc., set up by Demonstrators, have to Respect a Principle of Proportionality between the Measures used in practice according to the degree of their Necessity in order to attaign their Legal Aim. Otherwise, the PanEuropean Strasbourg's Court would Condemn any State which might take Excessive Measures against opposed Demonstrators' Human Rights, if they went Beyond what is strictly Necessary for that purpose.

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    + The recently brokered EU/USA/Ukraine/Russia Foreign Ministerial Geneva Agreement of April 17, asked mainly for "a broad National Dialogue, with outreach to all ... Regions and Political constituencies", for  an "Inclusive, transparent, and Accountable" "Constitutional process", allowing the "Consideration of Public Comments and ... Amendmens", in exchange of Disarminng "All Armed Groups", (i.e. from pro-Government f.ex. "Right Sector" Extremists up to Eastern Ukranian Cities' revolted Population who have notoriously seized many Public Buildings, decided to defend their own areas, asking for Popular Referenda and Negotiations with Kiev on Political Reforms, etc), and lifting all road blockades throughout the whole Country, (i.e. from Kiev's Maidan square up to Slaviansk, etc), while, at the same time, "All sides (i.e. including the Army of those who seized Power at Kiev after the February 2014 Deadly incidents : Comp. Supra) must Refrain from any Violence", as well as from "Intimidation or Provocative Actions"/ Meanwhile "Amnesty will be granted to Protesters", except from "those found guilty of Capital Crimes", but "All expressions of Extremism" are ""strongly condemned" and" rejected", according to Last Month's Compromise Text, which remained until now Unimplemented.

    The April 2017 Geneva Agreement also points at "OSCE"'s "Special Monitoring Mission"for Ukraine, assigning to it "a Leading Role" concerning the "Implementation of these De-Escalation Measures" by "the Ukranian Authorities and Local Communities" (which Complained for their Non-Participation to the QuadriPartite Geneva Meeting until now), with the "Support" of "the US, EU and Russia".

     - But now, as far as an obviously much needed New Peace Iitiative is concerned, IPB's Secretary General, concluded by carefuly observing to "EuroFora" that, "well, I'll have to think about it, really, because we put a lot of Hopes to the OSCE, but (even some among) its Monitors were captured", he regretted, ...after suddenly Learning, by "EuroFora" Today Morning's latest News about the Liberation of the 11 EU Countries' Military Experts used a parallel OSCE Mission in Ukraine, as it was anounced earlier at the embattled Slaviansk village, surrounded by Kiev's Army attacking pro-Federation Dissidents with Tanks and Heavy Weapons, which had reportedly provoked a Delay of a Liberation scheduled for earlier, but nevertheless, finaly achieved. Slavoniask's pro-Federation Dissidents had initialy wished to Exchange these Foreign Military Experts reportedly invited by the regime in power at Kiev, with some among their Political Friends currently Arrested and still held in Jail by Kiev's Authorities, but later agreed with Lukin to unilateraly set Free now the 7 Officers who had apparently surprized local People by strolling around the embattled Village's Defensive road-blocks in Civilian Clothes and without any Official Warning to the Local Population's Leadership, as it seems at an invitation of Kiev's current "Revolutionary" regime, "for whose Legitimacy we can have Doubts, for good reasons", as denounced later-on the vice-President of Germany's Christian-Social (CSU) Party, (a Key part of Chancelor Merkel's Governmental Coalition), MP Peter Gauweiler, who criticized Today the way that 4 Bundeswer's soldiers had been sent "in an area of Conflicts", "out of OSCE's explicitly Civil Mission", as he said, (even if new German Defense Minister Von der Leyen , later explained their special Task as having been to "find out how was the Military potential in Ukraine").

     - "Oh, I didn't Know", acknowledged a Surprised Archer, who had been all this Morning busy with no less than ... three (3) successive Inaugurations of various European/International projects in Strasbourg, from the CoE, the IPB's Photo Exhibition, etc, up to the "Lieu d'Europe" renovated Building's official opening, together with the new French Minister for EU Affairs, Harlem Desir, and other Officials, (comp. Supra).

    =>  - " That's a Wonderful Positive SIgn !", International Peace Bureau's Head spontaneously reacted, when he learned about the Succesful intermediation, for the Liberation of OSCE's Experts, by Russian President Putin's Envoy to South-Eastern Ukraine, Vladimir Lukin : An Experienced former Head of Russia's Parliamentary Delegation to CoE's PanEuropean Assembly, as well as to EU Parliament's Joint Inter-Parlamentary Committee in the Past, before getting his current role as Russia's Ombudsman (i.e. People's Defensor) for Human Rights, who is well known to Strasbourg and elsewhere in the EU, (Comp., Lukin's Statements to "EuroFora"'s co-Founder, at various occasions and moments in the Past, f.ex. at the CoE or EU Parliament in Strasbourg, after a Conference in Paris : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/orlov.html, etc), who was recently anounced also recently at an annual International Conference organized in the French National Assembly on April 24 by the Institute of International and Strategic Relations (IRIS), together with "MEDEF International"'s vice-President Thibaut de Silguy, an experienced former EU Commissioner with whom "EuroFora" had cooperated at EU Parliament since the 1990ies, and the participation of various Political and Civil Society personalities, (Top MEPs, MPs, CEO's of big Economic Organisations, Ambassadors, Heads of strategic Think Tanks, key Journalists, etc., including "EuroFora"' who shad been Invited and registered, but hindered at the last minute to attend, mainly because of various practical reasons here in Strasbourg), exceptionaly extending  this year (2014) also on "Ukraine in EU- Russia's Common Neighbourhood".

Signigficantly, the OSCE military observers "were handed by Lukin to CoE's Secretary General", Thornbjorn Jagland, from Norway, "this Morning ... at a checkpoint on the boundary" of the City of Slovyansk, "Mr Jagland and Mr Lukin had agreed to travel together ...in a joint Human Rights Mission to release the international military observers", said an official COE's Statement released Today in Strasbourg.

However, according to mainstream German a.o. Press Reports, the Kiev regime's Military Attack with Tanks, Army Helicopters and Heavy Weapons, against Slovyansk and other Dissident cities defended by the local population with makeshift arms, continued later Today and even intensified, as it results also from the fact that more than 15 Dissidents ("11 Civilians and 5 armed defensors") are reported to have been Killed only around Slovyansk until this evening, while even "Electricity, water and Gas-supply have been Cut off in the village of Andreevka (earlier attacked by Kiev's Military Tanks and by pro-Kiev regime Extremists), located in the vicinity of Slavyansk", according to its Mayor...