EUParliament Socialist Group Chief Pittella to EuroFora on Ukraine Amendments on CeaseFire+Civilians

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Both the New President of the SocialDemocrat Group in EU Parliament, MEP Gianni Pittella from Italy, the current EU Chair, replying to a Question raised by "EuroFora" during his Press Conference in Strasbourg, and a series of various subsequent Amendments to a Joint Draft Resolution on Ukraine, aknowledged, in substance, the Urgent Need to Protect Civilian People, including evenWomen, Elders, Children, etc., atrociously Killed, in addition to many Family Homes, Industries, etc. Destroyed, (etc), by Months of Kiev Military Attacks against Dissidents (Federalists, Autonomists, etc) at the Eastern Regions of Ukraine.

The crucial Vote on that Draft Resolution for Ukraine by the New EU Parliament issues by the May 2014 EU Elections, is scheduled for Tomorrow, Thursday Noon, and is normaly expected to play an important role for possible relevant Decisions by a forthcoming, Exceptional EU Heads of State/Government Summit, just decided in Brussels (as "EuroFora" had warned yesterday : See f.ex. : ......), on August 30.

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 - "Concerning the Debate and the Resolution on Ukraine developments, that are scheduled in the Plenary" this week, "independently of the Political aspects, which are naturally very important, there are also certain Humanitarian aspects, because even Civilians are affected, initially at Kiev (Maidan Square), but recently in South-Eastern areas, (where Kiev's Army notoriously persists to launch many Military Attacks), while Ukraine is an unquestionably European Country, culturally, Historically and geographically", "EuroFora" observed from the outset.

- "Don't you think, Mr President, that, as a matter of Principle,  EU Parliament should try to Stop the Deaths and serious Woundings of Civilian People in Ukraine, f.ex. by Calling for a Cease Fire, or, at least, to Sagefuard the Lives of Civilian People ?", we asked the new Head of the 2nd biggest EU Parliament's group of MEPs.
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 - "The Amendments that we are looking for, will be written in the Resolution that will pass in the Plenary", where "we would be asking for a lasting Cease-Fire, for Protection of Civilians, for a Stabilisation of the process of Democratisation in Ukraine", and "we'll be calling for more Responsibility from all players, including Russia", etc.

  + Moreover, indeed, - "We think that what Juncker said this (Yesterday) Morning, about Ukraine being a European Country, which was a Statement with a Strong Cultural and Political Force, and we'll be working along these lines", he guaranteed.

 - In particular, "we won't be seeking to create a Dispute with Russia", because "we want to bring Russia to Dialogue and Cooperation, so that Ukraine can Consolidate its Democratisation process, and become a Country that will be libing in Good Relations with Russia, and Excellent relations with the EU", he concluded for the foreseable Future Horizon.

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=> The relevant points in a "Joint" Draft Resolution officially tabled at the EU Parliament by several Groups of MEPs, meanwhile, include, among others, also, f.ex. :

 - It notes from the outset the fact that, while "the Ukranian Army has regained Control of several Cities in Eastern Ukraine", after notorious Military Clashes and even Civilian casualties, nevertheless, Deadly "Violence still Continues" there.

 - Recently elected President Poroshenko, at Kiev, raises now "3 Conditions" for an eventual "Ceasefire", which becomes, then, clearly "Conditional" and hypothetic...

- Even if it "reiterates that the international community Supports the unity,sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine", nevertheless, it doesn't exclude explicitly a Federalisation, and, at any case, the Resolution "Underlines the Need for a Political (i.e. Not Military) Solution to the Crisis".

- Meanwhile, EU Parliament "Condemns the ongoing Violence, and daily Loss of Lives in Eastern Ukraine, the Destruction of Homes and properties, and the flight of many Thousand Civilians from Conflict areas to Safe havens", according to the tabled Resolution.
 
=> It also "Calls for an independent and impartial Investigation of All the Deadly events and Crimes

against Humanity, that have taken place in All parts of Ukraine ..., with the CoE", so that all "those Responsible to be brought to Justice". Because EU Parliament "is convinced that only the Effective Investigation of these Crimes will help Ukrainian society and the Families and Friends of the Victims (to) recover Trust in the institutions".

- Something particularly Important, when, In addition, "Urgently Needed", "Domestic, Economicaly and Political Reforms", "should be Based on Solid Popular Support", as the Draft Resolution points out.

In particular, "it is of the utmost Importance to Start a gradual process of DeCentralising central powers to Regional and Municipal administrations".

>>> Therefore, it "Recalls the necessity of Ending the systematic and structural Curtailment of Human Rights, the Bad Governance, the widespread Corruption, and the colossal Shadow economy in Ukraine"; stresses the importance of the ongoing process of Constitutional Reform, and the importance of supporting the development of Civil society in achieving a true Participatory Democracy which promotes and protects Human rights, ensuring Justice and Good Governance for All People in all Regions of the country".  

 - But, for the moment, EU Parliament "expresses deep Concern over the Worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in Eastern Ukraine" in particular. -----------------

=> In order to urgently Stop Deadly Military Violence, EU Parliament's Draft Resolution "Calls for a new meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on the Settlement in south-eastern Ukraine, and supports New forms of Communication between the Parties", (i.e. Tele-Conferences, etc).

In this regard, the Draft Resolution "Calls on the (EU) Commission's Vice-President/EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and on the European External Action Service (EEAS) to have  a Stronger presence and greater Visibility in the Dialogue mechanisms established with a view to Resolving the Crisis, including the Contact Group".

+ Moreover, "the role of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission should be Strengthened, with increased material and financial means", it adds.
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 - That Text also observes the unusual "Fact that "some (EU) Member States are showing DisUnity", particularly by Refusing more Sanctions vis a vis Russia, and/or by Investing in its "South Stream" Project, (as f.ex. Bulgaria, etc), or by concluding Nuclear Energy Agreements with Moscow (as, f.e. Hungary, etc).

+ => Last but not least ; As far as it concerns the forseable Future, "a three-party consultation meeting between the EU, Ukraine and Russia, a " useful process that may overcome long-lasting different understandings, by explaining the benefits of the AA/DCFTA and taking into account all the legitimate concerns of all parties", on the main EU Association and Free Trade issues.

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+ Crucial  AMENDMENTS :
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But the most Important point, until now, is the fact that several Crucial Amendments have just been officially Tabled Today, in Addition to that Draft Resolution, particularly on Key "Hot" Issues concerning the sort of the Civilian Population :

 - Thus, f.ex., Amendment No 1, "Urges the Ukranian Security Forces to fully Respect International Humanitarian Law (IHT), and International Human Rights' Law (IHRL), when conducting so-called "Anti-Terrorist" Operations, (as Kiev's Authorities call their Military Attacks against Dissidents (Federalists, Autonomists, etc) predominant at the Eastern Regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, et), "and (in this regard, it) Stresses the Need to Protect the Civilian Population".

- Amendement 4 "expresses .. Firm Condemnation of the Abductions, Savage Beatings, Torture, Murders, Extra-Judicial Killings, and other Serious Abuses of Human Rights, and Breaches of Humanitarian Law, against Activists, Protesters, Journalists, and Many other Citizens .. that have occured over the last 3 Monhts", (i.e., practically during Kiev's Military Attacks on the Dissident Areas, since mid-April 2014). Therefore;, "All allegations of Abusive use of Force, ill-Treatment or Torture", as well as "Incidents of reported Abductions", must be "thoroughly and Impartialy Investigated".

=> Therefore; Amendment 8 "Urges All Sides to demonstrate Restraint, and Stick to a CEASEFIRE, which Needs to de Declared and strictly Implemented, asap".

>>> Particularly because EU Parliament is "Deeply Concerned about the Safety of ordinary People, who remain Trapped at the Donetsk and Luhansk (Dissident) areas", and "Deplores the Loss of Lives, and the fact that Children have been registered among the Victims". Therefore, EU Parliament "expresses its Condoleances to their Family members"; and "Condemns any Targeting of the Civilian Population", vis a vis, on the contrary, it "calls for Strict Compliance with International Humanitarian Law".

+ In this regard, Amendment 12 "notes with particular Concern, the Curtailement of Freedom of Expression, the Banning or Closing of TV Stations, (already Condemned also by COE's Assembly, earlier in Strasbourg : See ...), and Incidents of Harassement and Violence against Journalists working in Ukraine (f.ex. the Killings of 3 Russians and 1 Italian, after seriously wounding also a French Journalists, etc), especially in the East of the Country, (where, notoriously, an Oligarch imposed by Kiev has paid Groups of Armed Thugs to Attack Dissidents : See Kolodoi affair, etc).

=> That's one reason more, for which Amendment No 11 "underlines the Need for Confidence-Building between Various Communities .. and Calls for a sustainable ReConciliation process" : "Emphasizes .. the Importance of establishing an Inclusive National Dialogue (according to the April 17 Geneva Agreement between the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Ukraine, Russia and USA), "and of Avoiding Propaganda, Hate Speech and Rhetoric, which may further Aggravate the Conflict", as it warns.
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+Moreover, Amendment No 3, mainly expresses "Concern" for "NATO"s plans to "Raise levels of Defense Spending", because of Russia's supposed role in Ukraine, and even more for "USA President" Obama's "announcements concerning Investing some ... Billion of Dollars in Armaments in Eastern Europe", Strongly Denouncing that as "Part of a Dangerous and Irresponsible Zero-Sum Game, but also of an Arms-Race in the Making", which risks to "undermine and significantly weaken  a strong Civilian Approach by the EU".

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+ EFD Group's text on RCV :
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Last, but not least, the recently Strengthened "Freedom and Democracy Group" of MEPs in EU Parliament, (with Great Britain's UKIP, Italy's Bepe Grillo's "5 Stars Movement", etc.), which has Not participated yet in the on-going Deals around the above-mentioned Joint Draft Resolution, (as well as the particularly Numerous "Independents" - notoriously "pro-Russian", the "EuroLeft", etc), has reportedly asked to put on "Rol Call Vote" its own, Independent, Draft Resolution, which is one of the Most Critical vs a vis Kiev Military's Deadly and Destructive Attacks against the Civilian Population at the Dissident areas of the East.

- In this regard, EFD's Draft Resolution Warns from the outset that "the situation in Ukraine is reminiscent of the beginning of the Second World War, ... whereas Innocent Civilians and Children are Losing their Lives".

=> Therefore, it clearly expresses "Deep Concern about the on-going Military Operations in Eastern Ukraine, (by Kiev's Army attacks), "and Urges for a Solution to be found by Means of Negotiated Agreement".

- Thus, that text "Calls on All Actors to make Constructive Efforts to Reduce Tensions and Stabilize the situation", "thereby providing" a "possibility" to "concentrate immediately on Economic and Social Problems", while also "Expressing Concern about the potential impact and significance of the crisis situation in Ukraine as regards the security and Stability of the whole region,, and as regards Future relations between the EU and Russia"