newsitems CoE Deplores Turkish Refusal to Cooperate v. Human Rights Violations ECHR found in Occupied Cyprus
CoE Deplores Turkish Refusal to Cooperate v. Human Rights Violations ECHR found in Occupied Cyprus
*Stuttgart(Germany: on the Road from EU's Salzburg Summit [Austria] back to Strasbourg [France]*)/Angelo Marcopolo/- The PanEuropean, 47 Member States-strong (including Russia, etc), Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law's (CoE) Highest Political body, that of its Committee of Ministers, officially declared Today, that it "Deplores" Turkey's Refusal to "Cooperate" in pending issues of Massive and Continuing Violations of Human Rights of Refugees and/or "Missing" Persons, (for which Ankara has been repeatedly Condemned by ECHR) in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, still controlled by Ankara's Military since the 1974 Bloody Invasion by its Foreign Troops.
+Moreover, it appears Proven, now on 2018, that Turkey hasn't set up Any efficient means at all in order to Prevent "UnLawful Sales or Exploitation" of Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDPs' usurpated "Homes and Properties" located in the Occupied Territories controlled by Ankara's Army since the 1974 Military Invasion (See infra), that it may, therefore, have been Abusing for 54 Years, and still persist to do so, with the "Complicity" of those who Cover up such Crimes, (See Facts Infra)...
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>>> It's the 1st Time in the soon 70 Years-old History of the CoE, (whose 1949-2019 Anniversary is due to be celebrated Next Year), that a State dares so Bluntly Defy the PanEuropean landmark Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights, which is Widely considered as the Best among all those currently existing in various Continents accross the World, particularly because of a Pioneer Case-Law (thanks also to its key Judgements on Cyprus' Refugees/Displaced persons and "Missing" People) as well as its Legaly-Binding character.
=> Indeed, CoE's Statute clearly makes it an Obligation for all its Member States to abide by the Judgements of the (Pan)European Court of Human Rights.
Turkey is the Only Non-European Member State of the CoE, since an Exceptional Situation, during the "Cold War" and even the Korea War, when Greece had faced a Civil War, and USA's Western Allies had been Anxious to Stop an eventual Extension of the "Socialist" Block (which included then all Northern Neighbours of Greece : Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, etc) in South-Eastern Europe until Deep into the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, facing the Middle East and Suez Channel.
In order to do so, CoE even suddenly Abandoned, then, its Initial Plans to adopt a European Flag including not just a Circle of 12 Golden Stars at a Blue Background, but also, at its Center, a Globe with a Christian Cross, (Identical to Famous Coudenhoven-Kallergis' Historic Symbol for "PanEuropa"), and Replaced it with Only that Circle but Empty inside, (See, f.ex. : ..., etc).
However, during the 1960ies, CoE's then Director for Human Rights and Democracy had reportedly Urged to Oust Turkey, as InCompatible with such European Values, when the Elected Turkish Prime Minister Menderes was Brutally Lynched by a Mob and His Government replaced by a Military regime's cronies. But his voice wasn't heard then by the majority of politicians, and, paradoxically, Ankara remained still a Member, (Contrary to what happened, just a few time later, with the Colonels' regime even in a European Country : Greece, which was, notoriously, Obliged to briefly Leave the CoE somewhere during that Exceptional Period of 1996-2004).
+ Nowadays, the Main Problem is even Greater for Turkey, Because CoE's Membership is, in real practice, a sine-qua-non, Necessary Condition for any 3rd Country wishing to become a fully-fledged Candidate for EU Accession, (with all the Financial and Legal various Advantages that such an official Status gives). Indeed, EU's famous "Copenhagen Criteria", are practically the Same with what became CoE's main Focus of Action, (i.e. Human Rights, Democracy, Rule of Law, etc). And Turkey's Controversial and UnPopular EU Candidate Status wasn't fully given and didn't lead to the Beginning of Accession Negotiations with the EU, but Only After a (very much Contested) CoE's Report claimed on 2004 that Ankara's Government would have met, then, at least a Minimum Threshhold of those CoE's Standards.
So that Cyprus' President, Nicos Anastassiades', bilateral Meetings during EU's Heads of State/Government's Summit in Salzburg, (Austria), the 19th and particularly the 20th of September 2018, (i.e. Yesterday, when it had reportedly become Obvious in Strasbourg that Turkey was Obstinated into Refusing to Cooperate at all with the CoE in the Implementation of ECHR's Judgementw which have Condemned Ankara's Government for Massive Violations of Human Rights in the Occupîed Part of Cyprus, (Comp. Supra + Infra), should, logically, have offered a Timely Opportunity to Include, also, Possibly, most or all of that Negative Behavior by Turkey.
Among those Anastasiades' Interlocutors in Salzburg, were apparently Included, f.ex., the New EU's Chairman-in-office, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, EU Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Council's President, Donald Tusk, and even the current CoE's President-in-office Andreij Plenkovic, Croatia's Prime Minister, as well as the French President Emmanuel Macron, who is due to Chair the CoE on 2019, (etc).
Meanwhile, in Strasbourg, at CoE's HeadQuarters, during this Autumn 2018's Session of the PanEuropean Organisation's Highest Body, its Committee of Ministers, entitled to Supervise the Execution of ECHR's Judgements by Member States, was Examining the current Situation concerning many Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons, (a Total of more than 190.000 People, i.e. about 2O% of the legal Population of the Island), as far as it regards their Rights to Access their Family Homes and/or other Private Properties and Ancestral Land located in the Territories of Cyprus still under Foreign Military Occupation by Ankara's Troops since the 1974 bloody Turkish Invasion, (that they had been Obliged to Flee), as well as the situation of Prolonged but Fruitless Queries on What really Happened to around 1.950 "Missing" People, and Find and Punish those Responsible for their EnForced Disappearances, according to a well-established ECHR's case-law.
Turkey has just put Nowadays into real practice, for the 1st Time, its earlier Threat, (reportedly made already as early as since July 2017), to Stop Participating in CoE's Committee of Ministers' supervision of the Implementation of ECHR's Judgements by the Condemned States, particularly as far as it concerns the Deadly Turkish Military Invasion and still persisting Occupation of the Northern Territories of Cyprus.
The ECHR has repeatedly Judged, (after also a landmark Public Hearing held in Strasbourg as early as, already since 1994 : See "Eurofora" co-Founder's NewsReport, Published then, inter alia, also at CNAgency, PIO, etc, followed by various Convergent Decisions of 1996, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, etc), that the Turkish Government, whose Military Troops still Control that Occupied Area of Cyprus, is Responsible for Many Continuing Violations of Greek Cypriot Refugees' Human Rights to Access their Family Homes, other Private Properties and Ancestral Land, in addition to those "Missing" Persons' Rights to Life and Liberty, as well as of the Victims' Families' Right to Know what happened to their beloved ones, provoking situations tantamount to Inhuman and Degrading Treatments, etc.
Those ECHR's Judgements on Cyprus' cases are among the First and Most Important in the World, concerning the Protection of the Human Rights of Refugees/Displaced People, as well as of "Missing" Persons, etc., and have been repeatedly Published, Analysed, cited, Quoted and Used all over across the Planet, (including by various UNO's Reports, Official Booklets, etc: F.ex., the Famous "Pinheiro Principles", on Refugees/DPIs' Rights to Return and for Restoration of their goods, etc), as Historic and World-wide Landmark Examples of what must be done in such Tragic Cases in order to Defend an elementary Human Dignity.
>>> So that, by Threatening to seriously Undermine and/or Belittle them, if not Brutaly and Massively Dismiss them, under any Hollow Pretext or even withOut really one, would be no only a Crime committed against the Victims who Suffered from manifold Violations of their basic Human Rights, but also, practically tantamount into Depriving Europe from some among its most Important core Values, and the whole World from a Key Part of its Sources of Hope for Truth and Justice.
F.ex., among various others, It's not for nothing that ECHR's Great Chamber clearly Warned, on 2014, against anyone might, eventually make such Attempts to "Illegaly Sell or Exploit" the Family Homes and/or other Private Properties of Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced Persons in the Turkish-Occupied Territories of Cyprus, and/or those who might attempt to Cover up such persistent Wrong-doing, i.e., practically behaving as "Accomplices", (according to ECHR's Judgement's own original Wording)...
=> Therefore, in the Resolutions adopted Yesterday and published Today by CoE's Highest Body, its Committee of Ministers officially "Called on Turkey to Cooperate" on the collective supervision of ECHR's Judgements' execution, and "Deeply Regretted the Decision of Turkey Not to Participate in the Discussion" held inside the PanEuropean Organization for Human Rights.
+ Moreover, CoE's Highest body, "Also Regretted" that "the Turkish Authorities" have "Not Replied" yet to a Recent Question, raised by the CoE since "December 2017", "as regards the Issue of Property Rights of Displaced Persons" in Cyprus, and concerning the "Existing" ways "to Address the Issue of possible UNLAWFUL SALE AND EXPLOITATION" of Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDPs Properties located in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus :
- Turkey, in fact, had initially Claimed that such Ways to Address that Problem would already Exist there, But, when CoE asked Ankara "to present ...INFORMATION on their PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION", in order "to ASSESS the EFFECTIVENESS" of such Tools, Suddenly, the Turkish Government, (instead of providing any concrete Statistics, etc, on the Contrary), Started to ...Threaten to Stop Cooperating, (from June 2018), and, finally, Now, it really Stopped !
=> In other words, as the Facts cited by the CoE Reveal, Turkey's Behavior shows that Ankara had done practically NOTHING serious TO AVOID ILLEGAL "SALES" AND "EXPLOITATION" of Greek Cypriot Refuges/IDPs' "HOMES and PROPERTIES" in the Territories of Cyprus still Occupied by the Turkish Army...
Therefore, the Risk of "COMPLICITY in any UnLawful Sale and Exploitation of Greek Cypriot Homes and Property" in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, existed, still Today, for "Any possible Permission, Participation, (or)Acquiescence", by anyone in such acts, as the ECHR had already Warned since 2014...
Cyprus' Government said it was "Gravely Concerned about Turkey’s continued ...Attempts to create an irreversible de facto situation permanently Obstructing the Return of Greek Cypriots to their properties in the Occupied Areas of Cyprus", (i.e. perpetuating the Division of the Island, Contrary to a Peaceful ReUnification via a Solution of Cyprus' Political Issue).
Therefore, it asked CoE to Confirm that the Transfert or Use of Greek Cypriots' Properties, withOut Consent of Lawful Owner, is a Violation of Property Rights, and, therefore, should be Prevented, and Not Promoted.
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+ But it's even on Tragic Cases of "Missing" People in Cyprus, that Turkey now Started to Refuse to "Participate" in CoE's meetings on ECHR Judgements' Implementation, obliging Today the CoE's Ministers to officialy "Deply Regret" that, and to "Call on Turkey to Cooperate with the(ir) Committee", also in the Famous "Varnava and Others" cases.
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(../..)
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***
(*NDLR : A Series of UnPrecedented Blockades in the German Train from Salzburg's EU Summit in Austria back to our Base in Strasbourg, surprizingly Hindered a Timely Return back Home, obliging to Complete our Reporting -which had Started earlier this Week inside the CoE in Strasbourg- Later than initialy expected and by using also various Phone Calls, EMails, etc).
***
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3 EU Parliament votes to boost EuroGroup !
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After EuroZone Paris Summit's succes, Sarkozy calls to "think anew how to re-construct Europe !
"EuroZone and EU Institutional debates pave the way to 2009 discussions on EU Future, including Enlargment, Turkey etc. ?
23 October 2008
After EU Parliament strongly suppported in 3 successive Votes this week in Strasbourg French EU Chairmanship's move to boost Euro-Group at EU's core, while ideas on EU Institutional problems are awaited on December, "it's an open Question now" if this may lead to a debate on EU's Future, or not, told us French President, Nicolas Sarkozy''s Spokesman, Pierre-Jerome Henin.
MEPs voted on Thursday fresh Funds to support EuroGroup, after adopting on Wednesday a Resolution asking a "further Evolution" to "the 1st ever meeting of Heads of State and of Government of the Euro-Zone, taking decisions in that capacity", while earlier this week a Report asked "a stronger Institutional setting" for "EuroGroup", extended from "competitiveness/industry" to "environment, employment and education", with "increased powers for Political decision-making", according to a text drafted by French MEP Francoise Beres and German MEP Werner Langen, "10 Years after the creation of Euro" (1999 - 2009).
- Brussels' subsequent "EU Council ..(simply)..ratified the measures decided by EuroGroup on October 12" in Paris, which "were necessary to contain the current Financial Crisis", Resolution observes, expressing also support to the new process succesfully initiated by Sarkozy and due to be completed by agreements with USA and other countries at a Global level.
From now on, it's between two differend but parallel moves : EU's delay, and EuroZone's acceleration, that Enlargement and particularly Turkey's controversial EU bid, will have to search its way :
Indeed, EU's 27 expect a "Roadmap on how to deal with the Irish problem" on Lisbon Treaty ratification after December, risking to pass even 2009 Elections and next Commission with the old Nice Treaty of 2000, out-dated and unfit even for 2004's Enlargement...
On the contrary, EU's core launches a real "Economic Governance for EuroZone at the highest level of Heads of State/Government" of the 15, which started in Paris on October 12 and was strongly supported this week in Strasbourg by Sarkozy and EU Parliament.
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- "It's a good idea, to launch such a debate ("on EU's Future") in EU Parliament in view of 2009 Euro-Election : Perhaps some MEPs will seize an opportunity", told us mainstream French MEP Alain Lamassoure, former EU Minister and EU Spokesman for France's governing party UMP.
- "All MEPs' debates on such EU Councils are also part of the larger debate on Europe's future : Now with EuroZone, and even more when, on December, Irish Prime Minister is due to table proposals in Strasbourg on how to deal with EU Treaty's ratification", replied earlier to our question EU Parliament's Press Director and Spokesman, Jaume Duch.
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Sarkozy has formally anounced his intention to open EU Debates on Economy, Identity/Enlargement (i.e. mainly Turkey), etc. both linked to a popular Political view of Europe, since his Historic speeches on EU in Strasbourg, on February and July 2007, when he stressed that "Europe needs a New Renaissance". At the beginning of the French EU Presidency, on July 2008, replying to a MEP, he suggested that EU Parliament takes an active part in Debates on EU's Future.
- Now, in 2008, "Crisis are an opportunity to re-think how to re-construct Europe", Sarkozy stressed. At any case, the Historic 1st EuroZone Summit of Heads of State/Government, which started replying to the Financial crisis,"is a Turning Point : After that, Europe cannot be governed as before, but differently" : People "like a Europe with Strong Will".
- "We must make the System move !", "Europe needs Innovation" and free political debates. EU "Elections are in a few Months", Sarkozy warned.
He invited EU Parliament to fully play its role as "the Democratic Heart of the Europe we want : United, Independent and Voluntarist, because the World needs Europe's voice".
- "It's no more possible for Euro-Zone to continue without an Economic Government" at the Highest Level of Heads of State/Government, who provide "Democratic Legitimity" and can take important decisions, he announced, strongly supported by EU Parliament's Economic Committee which just voted to boost the "Institutional" aspects of "EuroGroup".
Plasticity offered by the current absence of a special Treaty on EuroZone's Institutions "made it easy to adapt the organization of the 1st Summit with imagination, to efficiently meet urgent needs", he observed, on the occasion of Brittish Prime Minister's exceptionnal presence at the greatest part of EuroGroup's Paris Summit.
- "In EuroZone we have the same Bank, the same Money, and, thus, a same duty for Unity" : "By bringing together EuroGroup's 15 members States we suceeded to find a solution and prepare a Giant Plan of 1.800 Billion euros", Sarkozy reminded of Paris' 1st Historic EuroZone's Summit.
Afterwards, Brussels' EU Council followed the move, and USA's Paulson II Plan was inspired from that. "Europe must promote the idea of Global Economy's Refoundation", he stressed.
- "I was frankly astonished when I found, at the EU, a rigid system, where any New Idea was seen from the outset as a sacrilege, while, on the contrary, Europe needs Innovation !", he described.
F.ex. ,"'When we first spoke about the "Union for the Mediterranean", it was misunderstood as something extraordinary.. When later we had the Russia -Georgia crisis, it seemed against EU's custom to act "in the middle of August", instead of staying a passive spectator ! And when, in front of the Financial ciris, we gathered the 1st EuroZone Summit of the "15", some thought of it as a lese-majesté", he denounced.
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On Geo-Political Principles :
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- But, by moving resolutely, "EU obtained the ...withdrawal of Occupation Troops in 2 Months !", reminded Sarkozy, observing that Russia "fulfilled its commitments", in the Georgian crisis, where a "disroportionate reaction" from Moscow followed a "totally inappropriate action" from Tbilisi's troops. "It would be crazy to reply by military means : EU should not become accomplice of another Cold War, imposed by lack of cool heads".. as he said.
In future, "the creation of a common European Economic Area with EU and Russia, would also obtain a raprochment on our Human Rights and Democratic Values", added Sarkozy, in a statement which should logically be applied, a fortiori, to controversial EU "candidate" Turkey..
Particularly when, the same week that EU Parliament voted 2009 EU Funds for Turkey's controversial EU bid, ECHR took a series of judgements condemning Turkey for grave Violations of Human Rights, such as : Torture, death of a political prisoner in unclear circumstances followed by failure to conduct a proper Investigation, "enforced Disappearance" of a youngster aged 17, Killing of a sepherd with Tank Shells, persecuting Journalists for articles on "Missing" People, even a former President of Human Rights' Association, (etc)
- "We (EU) can defend our ideas on respect of Sovereignity and territorial Integrity, on Human Rights and other differences ... without confrontation", Sarkozy stressed, on the occasion of Russian/Georgian conflict, reminding that : "we were only 2 steps from catastroph", when a Peace agreement brokered in Moscow prevented, at the last minute, Russian troops' advance towards Tbilisi.
An EU Parliament Resolution adopted Wednesday in Strasbourg on the occasion of Russia - Georgia conflict, outlines a set of Principle which apply elsewhere too, (particularly when EU Rapporteur for Russia and Turkey is one and same person ; Dutch MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijtanen !)
Clearly rejecting any "military solution to the conflicts", MEPs "condemn ..all those who resorted to force and violence". They denounce a "disproportionate military action", "as well as (an) unilateral decision to recognise the independence" of brekaway regions, "calling.. to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the concerned country, "and the inviolability of its borders recognised by all EU Member States". They warn that "EU must review its policy towards" a 3rd Country, "should .(it)...not comply with its commitments", and "stress that the withdrawal of.... troops from the areas ....is an essential additional step".
EU Parliament "calls for the safe and quick return of refugees, (accepted by Russian President Medvedev) accompanied by the deployment of EU observers on the ground", and "regrets ...that ..EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) is not allowed to enter the ...breakaway regions". Moreover, "It's important to ensure that persons and NGOs ..engaged in defending human and civil rights can operate". "Until ...all remaining issues (are) resolved..., and notably the continuing ...Military presence", "relations with the EU ..cannot be fully normalised", MEPS warned.
As nobody likes to be accused to practice "Double Standards", this should be regarded as "Principles" applicable to any Third Country at EU's Neighborhood.. No ?
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On Economy :
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- "When Financial crisis shook US and EU's Banks, without result from the 1st (American) Paulsen plan, it was the common reply of the 1st EuroZone's Summit, involving some 1800 Billion euros, which started a positive move in the markets, soon strengthened by the follow-up of the US Paulson 2 Plan, noted Sarkozy.
- "Europe should not be only on the defensive, but, if necessary, know also how to take an offensive", he said, brushing away hesitationsto act on Economy: - "I'm for a refondation of Capitaliism, but against Speculators, who betray its values" : "Lack of Rules was profitable to speculators, Not to businessmen !" We must make sure to prevent any such crisis in future". "We, the rest of the World, cannot continue to bear the deficits of the 1st World power without saying anything !", the French President said, applauded by EU Parliament. All this needs "a New Global Governance", on which EU Parliament must debate. That's why "we proposed together with USA, several Summits from mid-November", to which G-8, enlarged to China, India a.o. countries, should participate. UNO's SG; Ban Ki Moon, the IMF, etc.
Financial crisis lowered shares' prices even for healthy companies, sometimes to 1/3 of their initial price, so that strangers might buy EU industries for only a portion of their real value, and Europeans may wake up one day with their main industries sold out to foreigners !
That's one of the reasons for which EU should debate about creating "Golden Shares" for States to jointly take Strategic participations to help European Industries until the end of the Crisis, particularly against distording competition, he suggested, pointing at USA's 35 billion $ plan for American Car Industry."We shall struggle for Europe to be able to build Airplanes, Ships, Trains, Cars, because we need a strong Industry", he concluded.
"F.ex. as we did back in 2004, when as Finance Minister, we bought Alsthom's shares for 800.000 euros, and, after restructuring, we sold them for 2 Millions : Help a company and make money is not so bad"...
As for the UK, "when Ireland announced that it would guarantee only Irish Banks, London City emptied from liquidities in 24 hours : It's the EU which helped to restore the situation, Not the UK alone !", reminded Sarkozy to nationalist British MEP Nigel Farage.
On the contrary, in a last-minute attempt for the EU to catch-up with its Institutional delay "before the European Elections" of June 2009, MEPs simply voted a call for a "set of proposals" to be made for the "Irish public opinion" at the end of the year...
- "As long as Lisbon Treaty is not ratified by all 27 EU Member States, there is an unanimous decision to stop Enlargement, reminded Wednesday in Strasbourg the French Minister for EU affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet..
Added to an indirect but clear warning that, without Lisbon Treaty, all 27 EU Member Countries may not have a Commissioner in the 2009 resuffle, MEPS in the Constitutional/Foreign affairs Committees applauded hoping that this might motivate their Irish friends..
