EUParliament: UNSG Ban Ki Moon urges EU to Fight ISIL Terror, beyond G7 Russia Exclusion controvercy

*Brussels/- Speaking at EU Parliament the eve of an important "G 7" Summit in Germany, UNO's Secretary General Ban Ki Moon stressed from the outset that the No 1 Global Priority, among three Topical Issues , is to adequately address the Tragic Challenge against Humanity at large, (unprecedented, at least during the 70 Years of life of the New York based International Organisation, that it will celebrate on September 2015), recently raised by the Horrible Massacres, even of Civilians, (Women, Children and Elders included), by the extremist Islamist Terrorism of ISIL's atrocious BeHeaders, etc., followed by the remaining Worlwide Problems of Migration and Climate, (etc), concluding with a vibrant appeal for the EU to "Work Together" with the UN into finding urgently needed, efficient solutions.

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 - Among "3" Global "Challenges" Today,  which  need "greater Collective Attention", "the First" is to Face "Violent Extremism", followed by "Migration" and "sustainable Development" stressed Ban Ki Moon from the outset, while also observing that, in, fact, they are "InterLinked" between them.

 - "First" of all, the recent "growth of Violent Extremism is a Grave Threat to International Peace and Security", UNO's Secretary General warned EU Parliament, just before it debates on the forthcoming "G7" Summit, and speaking shortly after a recent "BRICS"' meeting, where this obviously Topical Dramatic problem was raised.

  - In this regard, he Strongly Denounced "the Unspeakable wave of Brutality against Civilians being perpetrated by Extremist groups", as "a direct Challenge to the universal Values of Peace, Justice, Tolerance and Human Dignity", as well as an "Afront to our Common Humanity", including "the wanton Destruction of Cultural Heritage", as he pointed out, while ISIL's Extremist Islamic Terrorists had just Invaded even Syria's most Important Archeological site, that of Palmyra, just after Massacrating several Hundreds of Civilians, reportedly including even Women and Children, where they pushed the Tragic Provocation to the point to even Murder about 20 defenseless People inside an Ancient Theater Today...

 - Fustigating the "Violent Extremism" which appears "in the Atrocities committed by Da’esh (ISIL), Boko Haram, Al Shabaab and other sectarian and Terrorist groups", he also Warned that "we Need to reflect on What Motivates" Youngsters  "to become so Alienated and Radicalised that they are prepared to Inflict Harm on others and even End their own Lives in the process".

 - For that purpose, Ban Ki Moon anounced that he "will present a comprehensive U.N. Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism", on September 2015, during UNO's  General Assembly gathering at New York, when the International Organisation, "Born on the Ashes of the 2nd World War", (since which, EU's "Peace and Prosperity offer a concrete Symbol of what can be achieved, even after the greatest Devastation"), is due to celebrate its 70th Anniversary, 1945-2015.  Thus, Today, UNO is "fully Committed" to "Working with Europe" to "Address this Challenge" No 1,  against Terrorism and Violent Extremism.

 - In this regard, "Upholding Human Rights and the rule of Law are Essential", because "we must ... Avoid Responses to Terrorism and Violent Extremism that make the Problems Worse", he Warned,  while, also,  a "Long-term Response needs to Focus on on fostering Inclusive Governance" and "Accountability", "Respect for universal Values" and "Dialogue among communities", promote "Young Men and Women" as well as "Leaders from Cultural, Religious and Educational spheres", as he said, Concluding by "Urging" the EU "to pull the World from Ahead, and to push the world from behind with your strong Engine Power", as "a Locomotive" which is "among the Guardians of the Promisse" that "we live" not only "in a Complex and Troubled World", "but.. also in a World of Possibility", where, EU and UNO, by Cooperating "Together, we can prevail in providing a more Just World, for this and Future Generations". Becausen "we are Stronger and Better when we Work Together", UNO's Chief stressed in Europe Today, on this occasion.

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    But this obviously appeared at Dissonance vis  a vis Dutch Socialist EU Commissioner Timmerman's and some MEPs' remarks, immediately afterwards, whch focused rather on the controversy about the Exclusion, or not, of Russia from the forthcoming and subsequent "G 7" Summits, (as they were re-named the usual "G 8" Summits, since the 2014 Ukranian issue), to the point that several other MEPs had to intervene in order to Support UNO Secretary General's call for the Urgent Need to Fight ISIL's InHuman Terrorism and/or, for that purpose, to Cooperate with Russia, as well as with China and other Key Global Players for adequate action according to International Law...

    Curiously, indeed, despite a recent appeal by Historic German former long-time Chancellor Helmut Kohl, (current Angie Merkel Chancellor's political sponsor), on the occasion of the Publication of his latest Book, ("......"), in the presence of new EU Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker, to Rectify asap. what he called as  "Error" made by exclusing Russia from the former "G 8" gathering of Global Governance's biggest leaders, and, regardless of the recent Progress made in the Ukranian issue, thanks to the February 2015 "Minsk" Agreements on a sustainable Cease-Fire and subsequent Steps towards a Political Solution, nevertheless, Dutch vice-President of EU Commission, in charge of Inter-Institutional Relations, Frans Timmermans, a Socialist Former Foreign Minister, apparently prefered to Attack, in priority, ... Russia, instead of ISIL !

    Indeed, Timmermans, - who exceptionaly replaced Today EU Commission's President, long-time former Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker, long time former Prime Minister of Luxembourg and a ChristianDemocrat, reportedly obliged to leave earlier for the EU - Japan Summit in Tokyo, because of Brussels' Airports' current problems, while EU's High Representative for External Action, former Foreign Minister of Italy, Federica Mogherini was busy in opening a Donors' Coordination Group Meeting on Palestine, meeting the Tynisian Prime Minister and OFAM's leadership, (almost as it had happened also last week in Strasbourg, in a Debate in which Timmermans had accused the Brillantly re-Elected, supported  3 times in a row by  Crystal-clear Absolute Majority of People, both in the 2010 and April 2014 National Elections as well as at EU Parliament's May 2014 Election, Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, a ChristianDemocrat, to "Caricature" one EU Commissioner's view on a Highly Controversial point in EU Immigration policy, that Orban has presented at a Public Consultation of Citizens) - while introducing into an EU Parliament's Debate on the forthcoming G7 Summit in Germany, he  said almost Nothing about ISIL, while, on the contrary, he had some very Sharp Words to say against Russia :

    -  Timmermans said that this G7 would focus on "a number of traditional" and only "some relatively new" issues, while also "exchang(ing) views and seek(ing) common ground on the most pressing Foreign Policy Challenges", without even naming ISIL's Extremist Islamic Terrorism ! For the rest, he evoked "Global Economy", "Trade", "Bilateral" affairs, EU Investment, Energy and/or Migration policies, Development, Climate and Marine Environment, Antibiotics and Ebola, Labour/Health/Safety Standards, Africa, "Womens' economic participation and enterpeneurship", "Food security and nutrition", etc.

    Thus, he Concluded, "last but not least", as he said,  by finding "Inevitable" that for "a 2nd" time in a row, this G7 Summit will be "without Russia", on pretext of the Ukraine issue, claiming that "Russia",  has "clearly Not yet" "Changed course", (compared to 2014, Nor "the environment came back to a situation where the G8 would be able to have a meaningful discussion", so that, "a Return to the G8 Format is Not on the Agenda", as he said.

    Even after "listening" to several MEPs' Disagreements on these key points, Commissioner Timmermans only Complained to "have more Difficulty in Understanding the Message (of MEPs'), frankly, with regard to Russia" :

    - Criticizing Russia for "a Flagrant Violation of International Law, if you simply take away part of another country's territory", as he said on the occasion of "Annexation" (called by Russia a.o. : "ReUnification") of Crimea peninsula, "there has to be a Reaction", he stressed, considering that, still Today, there would be " No Other Option" than "to maintain" the Exclusion of Russia and the Backtracking from "G8" down to "G7" only Summits, even further ahead : "I believe that the Onus here is very much on the Russian Federation", Timmermans said, finding the Opposite Views expressed by several "Members of this House" (EU Parliament), as "Surprising", "Forgetful", "Inconsistent", "Ideological" (BIS !!),  "Anti- EU", etc.

    - Accusing those Dissident MEPs to "prefer the Model of (Russian) President Putin", and to "go... towards an Authoritarian Path", instead of, what is "the Most Succesful Peace Project in European History" and "has brought Freedom and Prosperity to so many People", as he said for the "EU", despite "a Terrible Crisis", making "Many of our Young People .. Unemployed Today", something which is, "yes, ... Unacceptable", "driving them to Radicalisation" and to "Lose Trust in the Future", as he said.

     - Since it's, therefore, obvious that "we Need" a "Solution for this Problem", "it is our collective Task to Create Realistic Prospects of Reform, of Inclusion, of Democracy and Openess", "for our Younger Generaton and for our Future", EU Commissioner Timmermans simply concluded in fine, speaking in quite abstract terms, without saying anything concrete about UN SG Ban Ki Moon's above mentioned Call to Urgently face, in a practically efficient way, as No 1 Priority, the Fast Growing ISIL's Deadly Terrorism's Challenge, (Comp. Supra)...

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    - Speaking, during EU Parliament's Debate, on behalf of the greatest Group of MEPs, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, its President, German CSU MEP Manfred Weber, even if he was led to confort at least the 1st part of Timmerman's accusations versus Russia, nevertheless, he clearly understood the Need to Add, also, in relation with UNO's Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's appeal to act against the wide-Spreading ISIL's Horrible Terrorism, that, concerning "Security issues", the G7 Summit should Fight against the Risks of "Radicalisation" of certain "People", including, also, by addressing its "Root Causes", particularly since such Dangers emerge "even Here, inside Europe", as he Warned, indirectly but surely pointing  at the recent appearance of a growing number of "Jihadists" accross certain EU Member States particularly affected by Mass Migration from 3rd Countries, (but without yet explaining how probable Contradictions between these two points, might be succesfully overcome by the EU).

    - Matthias Groote, another German MEP, but from the Socialist Group, also pointed from the outset, during the G7 Debate, at the "3 Issues, which UNO Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has spoken of", (i.e. Terrorism/Violent Extremism, Migration, and Development : Comp. Supra), reminding that "they are inter-Linked", in one way or another, (even if he didn't go further, afterwards, than focus mainly on Economy and Climate).

    + The forthcoming Summit of "G7 must find a way to Challenge the Threat of the so-called "Islamic State"", strongly stressed, Speaking on behalf of the Euro-Conservatives/Reformists, (where belong also the Governing British Party of David Cameron, who has just Won UK's General Election for the period of 2015 - 2020), Danish MEP Morten Messerschimdt, focusing mainly on the No 1 Global  "Challenge" against "our Security, Independence and Values", as UNO's SG Ban Ki Moon has just said, (Comp. Supra).

     - "I would agree with what Mr. Timmermans .. said on Russia, But, we (Europeans) have also to face Problems and Challenges .. in relation to the Terrorists, both in our own Countries, and also Externally, who are gaining ground",  Conservative Group's representative Warned critically, (obviously referring to the Socialist Dutch Commissioner's above-mentioned Attack against Russia, but Total Ommission of any mention of ISIL Terrorism's Threats, while, on the Contrary, the Winner of the recent British Elections, Conservatives' Leader, David Cameron, has included even in his "Manifesto" the promisse to, at least, Protect Christian Minorities who are persecuted in the Middle East)....

    - ". It is Appalling" to see how ISIL's Extremist Islamic Terrorists' "dark ideology Conquers one city after another, in Syria, Iraq, etc., Imposes ideology and virtually gets No Resistance". On the Contrary, the free world should take the Initiative to Curb that Terrorist Movement", he Urged. - "Here in the EU, we could at least do more to find and Punish those who ....Support the Sick Ideology that the "Islamic State" propagates with Violence and Weapons. It is Intolerable to see the many Civilian Victims of the many Massacres, ...the Cultural Treasures, which are in Danger of being Destroyed. It is Unacceptable that the "Islamic State" can find, even in our own (EU) countries,  Supporters ready to Fight" to impose with Violence their views, he denounced.

    - Even if "I understand and accept the reasons for which that is a G7 and Not a G8 Summit", as Commissioner Timmermans underlined on, Russia's exclusion, (Comp. Supra), nevertheless,  "in terms of the Public Opinion's Expectations, for the People, this is a Global Forum to debate Issues of Global Importance, where Vision is sought, and Concrete Solutions tabled", Warned, on behalf of the Liberal Group, Czech MEP Pavel Telicka. These "are not just European issues, neither an issue only of Syria, Libya, Iraq, Eritrea or the Middle East. It's about International issues. Today it might be Libya, Syria, Eritrea", or "countries such as ..Italy or France,  but also Germany", etc. "And Tomorrow it might be something completely Different".  But "it's about Serious Issues", such as Foreign Policy, Migration, Poverty and Developmain Aid, etc., which "lie at the Heart of the Problems" and are "inter-linked", as UNO's SG Ban Ki Moon himself pointed out. Above all, "it's about an International issue, and unless we (EU) treat it as such, we won't succeed", he Warned.
    
    - "We heard Ban Ki Moon's Speach, where he spoke, twive, about (EU) "Leadership" and "Ambition". Sorry, but when we look, Today, at the Policies adopted by the Commissioner and some Member States, ... we see that, more and more, we Lack of Ambition and Leadership in Europe" , Criticized, on the G7 Summit Debate, French MEP Philippe Lambert, on behalf of the "Greens" Group, while also adding that he "Agrees with (ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group President's), "Manfred Weber''s denonciation against "Violence", but would like to add also something against "All Forms of Violence", including, "f.ex. that which is exerted against several Millions of Poor People who are Excluded from Medical Security and Condemned to Die, particularly if they get sick from Cancer, etc", as he said, extending further the scope of that key Issue.

    - Speaking on behalf of the exceptionaly Numerous Group of "Independent" or "Non Aligned" MEPs elected in the latest, May 2014, EU Parliament's Elections, Polish MEP Janusz Korwin-Mikke,  (an experienced but controversial, long-time Liberal-Conservative Politician who had cooperated with Walesa and Milton Friedman), warned of the Risk for "ISIL, which abuses of Violence, to Win at the End, if we (EU) totally renounce to any Violence : Only Idiots don't use any violent mean to defend themselves, when they face Violent Attacks", he Criticized, apparently pointing, indirectly but surely, to the Need also for a Military European Response to the Fast-Spreading Extremist Islamic Terrorists' Deadly Aggressions...

    - One of the few MEPs who explicitly agreed entirely with Commissioner Timmermans' above mentioned controversial focus on Excluding Russia, Latvian MEP Krišjānis Kariņš (EPP), characteristically limited himself into merely Accusing Moscow for ... "Military Aggression", and, moreover, "not only in Ukraine", as he added, in order to try to justify an Extension of its Exclusion from the "formely known as G8 meeting, but currently only G7", as he reminded, as well as to fustigate what he called "EU's Dependency on Energy Imports" from (Neighbouring)  Russia, proposing, instead, for the EU to ... "import" "Shale Oil and Gas ... from the (faraway) USA" !...

    - But French Center-Right MEP Marielle de Sarnez, from the Liberal Group, (apparently Surprized by Commissioner Timmerman's Strange Refusal to even mention ISIL Terrorists' growing Threat : Comp. Supra), strongly Criticized the Risk for the "G7 to meet without even saying anything on the Humanitarian Crisis currently taking place in Syria", Urging, on the Contrary, "the EU to remind, during the (forthcoming G7) Summit this .. Urgency" : - "Today, as it's well known", in addition to "Millions of Displaced People inside Syria" and more ("4 Millions") "obliged to live, mostly in Poverty, as Refugees in Neighbouring Countries", it's also "all Religious Minorities, Ismaeli or Christians, which will, most  probably, be seriously Affected by "Islamic States"' advancing attacks, in the areas where this (Terrorist) Group will now arrive", she Warned.

    => In consequence, "Millions of Syrians would be trying to Flee Syria, by any means, by Sea or by Land, risking to Lose their Lives", in what could become "the Worst Humanitarian Crisis of our Era, as UNO's SG just told us" : - "This Crisis should Trigger a Worldwide Mobilisation, and the mobilisation of All Europe" (i.e., apparently, also Russia, etc), Sarnez stressed, "Urging" the EU "to Act in this direction".

    - More oppenly Opposing Commissioner Timmermans' above mentioned Anti-Russia stance, (Comp. Supra), British MEP Peul Nuttal, from the "Freedom and Direct Democracy" Group, of the UKIP Party, (which has just Succeeded to Win about 14 % more Votes and become UK's 3rd Big Party, i.e., for the First Time in History, even more Popular than the Liberals, who were, until recently, in a Governing Coalition),  Urged the EU to "Engage constructively with BRIC powers (which include Russia, China, India, Brazil and South Africa), or Watch as more (even EU) countries flock towards the BRIC", as he Warned.

    => - Because, otherwise, i.e., " If we continue on the road we (EU) are on", (f.ex. with the recent Exclusion of Russia from the G7, etc), "I Fear that Greece might just be the First of Many" EU and/or other Countries, which may be attracted by the fact that, currently, "World Leadership is Shifting to the BRIC" :

    - In this regard, already, "the US delegation to the G7 has expressed Concern that Greece could Turn to Russia", he observed,     since, "When you look at a Country that has been Economically Martyred", ..., when you look at the Real Human Sufferings in Greece, when you look at Youth Unemployment, when you see Soup Kitchens, and Rocketing Suicide Rates, then Russia could seem like a Realistic Option", as he said, (apparently evoking f.ex. Russian President Vladimir Putin's Invitation to New Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, to eventualy join the recently established BRICS' Bank, etc). Indeed, "Russia and its partners China, India and Brazil, have set up the BRIC network, which is providing an important Alternative pillar of Political Leadership ....in comparison to the G7. F.ex., the BRIC Countries have Swept the oceans of Somalia almost entirely of Pirates; they have pioneered high-yield Crops in Africa; they have built Infrastructure projects in some of the world’s Poorest countries", the British MEP observed.

    - On the contrary, "meanwhile, the G7 Pontificates on the World’s problems". F.ex., all this is a reason for which, probably, "one of the main topics that will be Discussed at the G7, is Greece", he guessed.  But  "it is mostly Talk, and not walk. It is the Old World, versus the New, and the Old is Losing" : Because, f.ex., "if the best that we can come up with, is Threats against Greece, then, maybe, the "G7" Needs a ReThink !", he Warned.....

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    -  "The ... "Summit of America's Pals' Club" (as he called the former G8, changed back to G7, since Russia's Exclusion, from last year), will be held" at the Beginning of June 2015. - "But, does it make sense to discuss Global Issues without Russia, China, India, Bresil, South AFrica, etc ?", Wondered French Rightist MEP Jean-Luc Schafhauser, (Independent/Non Aligned : "FN").

    - "Today, the World has Changed : ... None among the Issues on which UNO's Secretary General proposed us to reflect upon, (Comp. Supra), ... caN't find a Reply inside such a "Logic of (opposed) Blocks". Therefore, "Let's enter in anOther Logic : that of Cooperation between Nations, and Not at all Confrontationje, he advised.

    - -"Better take care, as my (Britishn EFDD Group's) Collegue have just tod us, that a "Logic of Clubs"  - "G7" from one side, "BRICS" from another- doesn't result at a "Logic of Blocks", i.e., "a Logic which prepares War !", he Denounced, (particularly as far as the current Exclusion of Russia, etc. is concerned). Because, if "this Parliament shoses One Side", f.ex., "by Demonising much More Russia, than USA", "Unfortunately, .. it won't be, no more, able to Favor Peace !", Schafhauser Warned.

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    -    Lithuanian MEP Zigmantas Balčytis, (ChristianDemocrat/EPP), acknowledged the Fact that, exceptionaly, "the forthcoming G7 meeting will take place in the context of an Extremely Challenging GeoPolitical situation, both in Europe and Worldwide" : Among the "3 Top Priorities, which must be properly addressed at the G7, 1st comes the ongoing crisis and military conflict in Ukraine, 2nd the spread of "ISIS" (Terrorism) and Destabilisation of the Middle East; and 3rd, ..., the Refugee crisis on European shores", as he Prioritairised them :

    - "The entire world is watching with Worry the situation in Ukraine", where " the "G7 must Objectively evaluate the Real Implementation of the Minsk Agreement" , as he reminded, (while also Criticizing Russia).

     + But, at the same time, there is an  "Urgency" by "the Global Threat posed by "ISIS" and the spread of Terrorism, both regionally and globally", Balcutis denounced :

- "Not a single Country in this World is free from the Danger of Terrorism, and so the security tension in the Middle East will continue to grow and will pose immeasurable threats to global security. We have to be realistic that Europe will not be able to cope with the continuous influx of Refugees and prevent Thousands of Deaths on its Shores, as long as the Crisis in the Middle East is not addressed in a global, coherent manner", the Lithuanian MEP concluded.

    - "The forthcoming G7 Summit reflects the Tricky  reality of Globalisation : The Agenda of the German Presidency, which includes "Common Values", as that of Security, Development, Environment Protection, and Support to African Countries in their Reform efforts, risks to be emptied from its Substance", because, in fact, "No Common Values can exist, without the Participation of Russia, fundamental GeoStrategic Partner of the EU", warned Greek Independent/Non Aligned MEP Eleftehrios Synodinos, ("GD"/NI), a former General.

     - We can't really have "Security", when Jihadists and their "Fighters" have practically Invaded, already, the European Territory !", he denounced. .. Or, "Environment Protection, when a G7 Member as USA, haven't even Signed the Kyoto Protocol", (etc). In fact, if things stay like this, "it's as if Decisions have been already taken, and the Summit is just for a Show, and for Photographers' Flashes...", Synodinos critocized.

            (Etc.+...)

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Meanwhile, earlier Today, ISIL Terrrorists reportedly pushed their Provocative Atrocities up to New Heights, by cowardly Murdering 20 defenseless Civilian People inside the Theater of one of the most Ancient Civilisations, that at Palmyra, in Syria, transforming a place of Ancient Art into bloody  Butcher's Shop).. ....

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    At any case, obviously, at least one thing counts, Today : EU's chance to play a useful role in Global, World-wide Issues via the forthcoming "G 7" Summit in Germany, on June, should not be wasted by some, apparently "European", but, in fact, deeply Anti-European networks :

    In other words, to put it in a nutshell,  "Schloss Elmau"'s Top Chance, must not be confused at all with "Budapest Hotel" tragi-comedy, a USA-promoted but partly European 2015 Film, Warning about the Risks of a PanEuropean area downgraded  by Conflicts and War, as before the 70 years of UNO's (and EU's) era...