newsitems

 

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- There is No Dialogue with a Gun on the Table and War Threats, and the Reason for which there is Tension in Eastern Mediterranean's Energy Resources' Hotspot Nowadays, is Turkey's abuse of Military Force, Instead of Peaceful Negotiations, clearly Denounced CoE's President-in-office and Greek Minister for European Affairs, Miltiades Varvitsiotis, who was invited as Keynote Speaker at the PanEuropean Organisation of Strasbourg Assembly's Standing Committee, (of Equivalent Status as its Plenary), in Reply to Critical Questions raised by Turkish MPs.

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 - At First, the rotating Chairman of CoE's Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law (for the Period of 7 to 11/2020), Observed the Fact that, as a matter of General Principle ,"CoE is Not Dealing with Eastern Mediterranean Tensions".

 + Moreover, "there are Other Fora where we can Discuss that": F.ex., "We Expressed Our Views", Together "With Turkish Foreign Minister Mr. Cavusoglou, at EU Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Last Week" in Brussels, he noted, (pointing at a Meeting where Many MEPs appeared quite Critical vis a vis the Turkish MFA in this case).

- However, "Although" that's true, "I'd like to Reply to the Question (raised by a Turkish MP Today) on those Tensions", he Accepted.

>>> -In Fact, "the Tensions in Eastern Mediterranen are Not Provoked by Peaceful Events", Varvitsiotis observed. On the Contrary, "They are Provoked by the use of Military Force !"

  - "And", particularly, "the Presence of a Great part of Turkish Naval Fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean, Escorting an (Oil/Gas) Exploratory Vessel", (Often, Notoriously, inside EU Members Cyprus or Greece's EEZ) "is, definitively, Not a Sign of promoting Stability, Security and a Peaceful Way of Negotiating with Partners in Good Will...", he Criticized.

- On the Contrary, -"We have Urged (Ankara) to Refrain from Unilateral Acts, in Areas that are Contested", (as, f.ex., illegal Search and/or Drilliing for Gas/Oil in Non-Delimitated Zones, Revendicated by Other Countries, which is tantamount with Violating the International Law of the Sea), "and to Go Back to the Table of Dialogue", Varvitsiotis invited.

- "This will remain Greece's Position, throughout this whole Period, Because We Believe that, with Partners and Neighbours, we Have to Discuss, and Not to Go at outrage...

- So that, Turkey "CanNot come Back to the Table of Discussion by having ...a fully Loaded Gun on the Table, and a Premisse, from the Other Side, that Either You Agree with Me, Or we Go into War !"   

 - "This is Not the Kind of Dialogue that We Expect. We Expect a Dialogue that comes With a Refrain from using a Beligerant Tone, and, Definitively, From using Military Means, as a way To Push for the Outcome that the Other Partner Wants".

- "Therefore, we Welcome all the Initiatives, from the EU, from Member States like Germany, from the USA, (etc) that Search for DesEscalation, and Return on a Table of Discussions", he Concluded.

Turkey has Already Chassed, by Bullying Threats from its WarShips, an Italian Drilling Ship of ENI, which Peacefully acted in Agreement with Cyprus' Government, inside that EU Member's EEZ, located Between the Southern Coasts of the Island and Egypt, one of the Countries with which Cyprus has Signed relevant Sea Zones' Delimitation Treaties, (as, inter alia, Also an Explicit Video, Audio-Registrations, and Ships' Movements' capture by Satellites, Clearly Showed earlier, During an EU Heads of State/Government Summit in Brussels).

But, Ankara, on the Contrary, did Not Dare make Any such Military Bullying Attempt vis a vis ...USA's or France's Drilling Ships there, which Operated also in Agreement with the legitimate Government of Cyprus...

But it has, Many Times, attempted to Block and/or Threatend with "NAFTEX" for Turkish WarShips so-called "Military Exercises", various Parts of EU Member Cyprus' EEZ, (near which it has Already Started to Find Important Energy Resources, as well as Egypt and Israel, etc., With whom Nicosia has Signed relevant Delimitation Agreements).

In Addition, Turkey has Notoriously Send, Numerous Times, its own Drilling Ships provocatively Inside EU Members' Greece and Cyprus' EEZ, escorted by a Heavy presence of Turkish WarShips and Military Planes, Both at the Mediterranean and in the Aegean Sea.

Last, but not least, various Ankara Government's Top Officials have Often abused of Multiple Provocations, Beligerant Rhetorics, and Even Brutal War Threats, especially Against Greece, in this same regard, (one of the Latest being, f.ex., the Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar's reported Call for "Greece to Shut Up", or, "Otherwise, ...Become a <<Mezes>> (be Eaten as Meat) !"

While, almost at the Same Time, just Last Week-End, Turkish President Tayip Erdogan "Warned" the French President Emmanuel Macron, "Not to Search Quarell with Turkey" (sic !), Accusing France for alleged "Massacres", and Even Approaching Dangerously ISIL's Deadly Terrorists' Propaganda accross Africa's Sahel, by Slandering a French and EU Anti-Islamist Terrorism presence at "Mali", since 2013...

They were Both Reacting Against a Call, by a joint Declaration of "MED-7" Summit's Heads of State/Governments (all EU Member States, linked to the Mediterranean), these Days at Corsica, (See : ..., etc), to "Reply to Turkey's Aggressions in the Mediterranean with All adequate Means of the EU", Unless it Really Commits to a Peaceful Dialogue and Legal ways to settle such Issues.

That "MED-7" Move came at the Eve of EU's Forthcoming Exceptional 27 Heads of State/Governmet Summit on September 24-25 in Brussels, mainly due to deal with Turkey's Behavior in Eastern Mediterranean, Aegan Sea and elsewhere vis a vis European interests, on the Occasion of which, Ankara has been Repeatedly Warned of Sanctions, unless it Sincerely Engages in a really Peaceful Dialogue for Solutions according also to International Law, (See:http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/med7summitincorsica.html).

- Meanwhile, in Parallel, the President of EU Parliament's Biggest Group, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Manfred Weber from Germany, stressed Today, that "We Stand with Greece and Cyprus ! Europe should stay United and keep the Pressure on Erdogan in the EasternMediterranean. We will Not be Blackmailed at the the Border, we will Not be Provoked at Sea. We doN't want Conflict, But We will Not Back Away".

(../..)

("Draft-News")

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*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- A Key Heads of State/Government Summit with All 7 Mediterranean European Countries, Hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Island of Corsica, Historic BirthPlace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Calls to "Reply to Turkey's Aggressive acts with All adequate Measures available to the EU", after Ankara's recent Illegal Drillings in EU Members Greece and Cyprus' EEZ, closely Followed by WarShips' and Military Planes' Threats, concerning Energy Resources of Eastern Mediterranean which are of Strategic Importance for Europe, Arms' Smuggling and Military Interference in Libya, added to Provocations against All involved, even EU in general.   

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 - The Leaders of France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus and Malta, in a "Joint Declaration",  Confirmed their "Full Support and integral Solidarity" with FrontLine EU Members "Cyprus and Greece, Facing the Repeated Infringements to their Sovereignity and Sovereign Rights, as Also the Aggressive Measures taken by Turkey".

+ In this regard, they "Ask ... to Respect International Law, Particularly the International Law of the Sea, Ecouraging... to Settle Differences via Dialogue and Negotiation". "Saluting the Mediation Efforts" of EU's "High Representative and Vice President" of the EU, Josep Borrel, "as well as of Germany", with Chancellor Angie Merkel, "Aiming to allow a Resumption of Dialogue between Greece and Turkey, on the Issue of Maritime Zones", the 7 Meditteranean EU Countries, Also "Welcome Favorably the Invitation, by the Goverment of Cyprus, to Negotiate with Turkey, by observing that the Delimitation of Exclusive Economic Zones and of the Continental Shelf Must be treated via Good Faith Dialogue and Negotiation, in Full Respect of International Law, and according  to the Principle of Good Neighborhood Relations".

- However, "at the Aftermath of the Recent Conclusions by the European Council" during 2019-2020, (See, f.ex.: ..., etc), the 7 Key EU Countries "Regret that Turkey has Not Responded to EU's Repeated Calls to End its Unilateral et illegal Acts in Eastern Mediterranean and to the Aegean Sea". In Consequence, they "Confirm" their "Determination to Use All adequate Means at EU's Disposal, in order to Reply to these Aggressive Actions". In this regard, (and "Following the Last Informal ["Gymnich"] Meeting of EU's Foreign Ministers" in Berlin), they "Agree to Accelerate the  work concerning Supplementary Iscriptions at the List of Sanctions, Already at the Table, in view of their Rapid Adoption", and they Warn that, Moreover, "If Turkey makes No Progress on the road to Dialogue, and does Not put an End to its Unilateral Acts, (then), the EU is Ready to dress a List of Supplementary Restrictive Measures, that could be discussed at the European Council of 24-25 September 2020".

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  + Advancing well Beyond a clear "Support to Greece and Cyprus" EU Countries, with "Solidarity ...Facing the Unilateral Provocations, illegal Drillings, and Moves Threatening the Sovereignity of European States", Macron stressed, in a collective Press Conference, the need "to Make (Turkey) Respect the European Sovereignity, the International Law, and ease Desescalation".

The move was partly Prepared, Also, "during This Summer", in "a Common Agenda, Together with the German Chancellor", Angie Merkel, (who currently Chairs the EU, until December 2020, and Recently Visited Macron at Bergancon Castle, at the end of August, in the Middlle of the Northern Mediterranean Coast), he revealed.

- EU "Wants to engage in a Responsible Dialogue" with Turkey, withOut Ignoring its "Difficulty", "Neither being Naive", "But Requiring that Principles are Respected". "Because No Dialogue is possible if it is based on Abandoning Sovereignity, or a Guilty Weekness", the French President Warned.

=> Therefore, in order "to restore Normal Relations, allowing Stability, with Turkey", there Must be "a Stop of Unilateral Actions, ...Obviousy the End of (illegal) Drillings, a Full Respect of the (International) Embargo on Arms for all Powers at Libya's area, and to Accept that Existing DisAgreements ... would be Settled by Negotiations, and in front of International Instances, concerning Legal Debates", he underlined.

+ Speaking, in Wider terms, "25 Years after the Barcelona Declaration" and "more than 10 Years since the Creation of the Union for the Mediterranean", as Today's "MED-7" Joint Declaration Reminds, (Comp. "Eurofora" Co-Founder's NewsReports, from Paris' 7/2008 Summit at the "Grand Palais", organized by former President and then EU-Chair Sarkozy, Published +at "Cyprus Weekly". Comp. also: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eu2013marseillecultureorbarbary.html,  etc), the French President, Also Stressed that, "Our Responsibility, as EU Member States and Mediterranean States, is to Find Ways and Means", Nowadays, "for a Constructive Policy in the Mediterranean, to Build that "Pax Mediterranea" for Us All, which Will Allow Harmonious Exchanges, while, at the same time, making Respect the European Sovereignity in the Region".

=> In this regard, Macron spoke also of "a Positive Euro-Mediterranean Agenda, ..of Cooperation between the 2 Shores of the Mediterranean", concerning "Knowledge, ... Energy, BioDiversty and Climate", particularly "in areas of Health, Education, Training, University, Culture and Heritage", etc., "as well as the Big Regional Issues", such as "Liban, Syria, etc".  While the MED-7's "Joint Declaration" adds "Cyprus" and the "Middle-East", but also "Sahel" and the "Fight Against Terrorism" or "Human Trafficking", in Parallel with "the Aim to Renovate the Meridional Partnership", mainly "by Strengthening the Union for the Mediterranean, and the Dialogue 5+5", "Focused on Developing Concrete Cooperations on Joint Interest Issues, defined Together with Our Southern Partners : Reforms and Democratic Governance, as well as Civil Society Resilience, Climate and Environment, with Ecological Transition, Trade and Investemnts, with Energy, Culture and Heritage Protection, Migration and Mobility, Youth autonomisation and Digital program", etc., and "Particularly the Access to Natural Resources and their Sustainable Management".  In this regard are Citted, f.ex., Events such as "the 1 Planet Summit at Marseille, on January 2021", "the Union for the Mediteranean's Ministerial Conference on sustainable Blue Economy, Later that same year", the "Boost" of Earth Observation, Space "services Copernicus" (EU), "working Together with Our Southern Partners", the "West Med. Initiative, for the ...Blue Economy in Western Mediterranean", "the COP26 and CCNUCC with Associated Events organized in Italy", as well as "the Heads of State/Government Meeting in Greece ... on Cultural and Natural Heritage's Protection from Clmate Change effects", etc

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++ Concerning "the Issue of Stability in Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey's role", "for the Escalation of Tension, the Provocative Behaviors, the way that Turkey Contests the Sovereign Rights of 2 EU Member States, even Persisting to illegaly Occupy Territories of one of them : Cyprus", "while it Openly, now, Leaves Away from Any Effort of Sincere Concertation", "the Results of (this) 7th Summit of (EU's) Southern Countries, Send, Today, a very Clear Mesage", stressed embattled Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, (who is due to Host the Next "MD-7" Summit, in Creta Island, on 2021 - Comp. Mitsotakis' Replies to "Eurofora" Questions in European Summits at Brussels, Austria, etc. f.ex. at : ... + ..., etc) :

- In particular, MED-7 Summit's Joint Declaration "Show(s) to Turkey the Road" to take. If Turkey really Wants a Sincere Dialogue with Greece, Cyprus, and the EU, it Must Prove it in Practice. By Stopping Immediately Unilateral Actions, Giving Credible Indications that it Respects, WithOut Exceptions and Not Selectively, the International Rules". "As far as we are concerned, what we've alrady said before, is still valid : I.e., - "End of Provocations, and Start of Dicussions !", he resumed, inviting.  

- "Mediterranean is a Vital Area for European Security in general", which "canNot be Left to Third Parties", since "it's about "Mare Nostrum", Our own Sea, the European Sea, as President Macron has also said", Mitsotakis stressed, as a matter of General Principle. So that, "Support to Greece and Cyprus is Not merely an expressiion of Solidarity", But Also "the Recognition of the Fact that, here, there are Strategic Interests for Europe itself at Stake !", the EU's FrontLiner rightfully pointed out, (Referring, [on this well-known "Eurofora"s stance : inter alia, See, f.ex., also  ... + ..., etc] to Interviews he's Just Published at 3 Big European Newspapers : "Times", "FAZ", and "Le Monde", in the UK, Germany and France, respectively).

- "There is a Clear Choice",  he said at these Interviews : - "Turkey can Cooperate, and Find a Common Ground, or it can Persist Behaving as an Aggressor, Playing Games for Show off at Europe's Outer surroundings, so that it will Pay an Important Economic Price for that Behavior. It can Choose Whether Greece will be Bridge or Obstacle to Partnership (with the EU) and Progress", he Warned, (Reminding, also, that Eleftherios Venizelos, former Greek Prime Minister, who had Signed a Peace Treaty with Attaturk, Back on 1930, was an Oncle of his Father). ... "If Turkey chose the Bridge, I think that President Erdogan would have a Chance to get an Ambitious, Long-Term Agreement with the EU, for the Interest of All". ..."The Solution is Simple : - "We Sit down. We Discuss our Different. And Try to Reach a Deal. If we doN't manage to do it, then, we let the International Court (of Hague) to Judge", he proposed. "When Berlin offered to Mediate, we ...managed even to reach a "Written Agreement". But, the Result was for Turkey to Finaly Withdraw, Revealing Informal, Secret Talks". So that "the Hopes that I Still have for a Dialogue, do Not Hide the Realities : We Need Dialogue, But Not Under Blackmail !", he stressed.

- "Lately, Turkey looks Less as a Partner, But as a Provocator". F.ex., "at the End of Last Year (2019), President Erdogan signed a n illegal Deal of Delimitation of Maritime Borders with one of the 2 Sides at the Bloody Civil War in Libya. Given that Turkey and Libya have No Adjacent SeaCoasts, that Deal was declared Null from the Greatest part of the International Community, ...and was considered as Violating Sovereign Rights of 3rd Countries, including Greece", (for Not Taking into Account its Islands, including Creta, etc). On March (2020) Turkey ...Incited and Facilitated Attempts of Desperate Migrants to Tresspass Greek Borders" (at Evros' River), "that we Defended, with the Support of Our EU Partners", since "Greece's Borders are also EU's Borders". ... "This Summer (2020), Reacting to the Signature of a Long-Term, Legal, and Internationaly Recognized Agreement for the Delimitatio of Sea Borders between Greece an Egypt, (Turkish) President Erdogan send his Military Navy to Back an Attempt to Search Gas in an Area of Eastern Mediterranean where Both Greece and Turkey Revendicate Rights, and has Not Yet been Delimitated. According to UNO's Treaty on Maritime Law, this was an Unilateral Action, Violating International Law", he Criticized. So that, "an Initially Unpleasant Policy of Impressions, UnDeniably Evolved into a Threatening stance, during the Last Weeks : Every Day, the Turkish Government presents a New False Claim or circulates a New Lie. Warlike Wording, Nationalist Propaganda, Aggressive Militarism, Purchase of Russian Arm Systems which are a Threat for NATO, Transformation of World Heritage (UNESCO) Monuments into Mosque, illegal Maritime Activities, and Threats of War", he Denounced.

=> Today, "Our (EU's) Neighbouring Country, Turkey, has Still Time, Before the (forthcoming, September 24-25 EU's Brussels) Summit, to make a Step, and Trace itself the Road Out of this Crisis", he stressed at the MED-7 Press Conference : - "By Droping Naval and (Oil/Gas) Research in UnChartered (Not yet DeLimitated) Maritime Zones.  By withHolding Aggressive Rhetorics. By Returning Back to the Table of Exploratory Talks, concerning Relations with Greece, from where it (Ankara) Left on 2016. And if we caN't Agree, as (French) President Macron said, there is, Always, the Solution of Hague, that of the International Court", Mitsotakis pointed out.

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+++ Indeed, Referring to "the Obvious Risks of Peace and Security Disruption in the Mediterranean, as a Result of Escalating and Internationaly Condemned (Both by EU and USA, Russia, etc), EU's Eastern Mediterranean Strategic Island, Cyprus' President Nicos Anastassiades, (the Previous Host of "MED-7" Summit at Nicosia on 2019 -  Comp. Anastassiades' Replies to "Eurofora" Questions, f.ex, at : ..., in the CoE in Strasbourg, etc), Reminded "particularly, the Efforts that we make, through Internationaly Recognized Procedures, to Avoid the Danger of a Catastrophic Conflict, which will Affect Not Only the Involved Countries, But also the Wider Region, and even EU's Cohesion", since "it's well Known that Cyprus' and Greece's Borders aren't but Borders of te EU too", as he Warned.

- "Saluting the Unanimous Stance taken by All (EU MED-7) Leaders, and their Resolve, as it's expressed in Today's "Joint Declaration", for the Need to put an End to the UnLawful Acts of Ankara in Cyprus' and Greece's EEZ", (Comp. Supra), Anastassiades pointed at the "DIscussed and Agreed Need for a Common (EU) Strategy and Measures, since it's UnDeniable that those Activities of Ankara constitute a Violation of International Law, and of the Law of Sea, going Against the Sovereignity of 2 EU Members, and of the EU itself".

=> That's why, "with the Joint Declaration, We (EU-MED-7 Leaders) Agreed that we'll Use All Means at EU's disposal, in order to Face the Turkish D; Delinquency, Including, (even if we'd like not to have to do that), Additional Sanctions, against All those Involved into those illegal activities (by Ankara) in Cyprus, as well as that the Issue of EU-Turkey Relations, will be Further Discussed at the forthcoming European Council", (24-35/9.2020).

-  "Cyprus repeatedly Called Ankara to Respect the International Law and advance towards Negotiations for the Delimitation of Maritime Zones Between us (Turkey and EU Member Cyprus), Or, if they refuse, to Submit the whole Issue at the International Court of Hague", Anastassiades pointed out.  

=> - In Consequence, there is a "Need for a Unified, Consequent and Strong Reaction to the Turkish Provocations, If they doN't Respect the Initiatives of European Leaders (for Dialogue : Comp. Supra), Neither Abide by International Law", he Urged.    

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- "At the Same time", Anastassiades spoke at this MED-7 Summit "about the Efforts undertaken to ReStart Talks for a Comprehensive Solution of the Cyprus' Issue, in order to put an End to (the Foreign Turkish Military) Occupation, and to the Unacceptable Status Quo", "Stressing that Only the ReUnification" of the Island "would Create cricumstances for Full Security and Prosperity for All Cypriots, Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots, as well as greatly Contribute to establish Peace in the Wider Region".

- And he Welcomed the "Intention of Leaders of EU's Meditteranean Countries to use their Relations and Exert their Influence on Turkey, so that it would Understand that it must put an End to illegal actions, and Cooperate, through a Sincere and Comprehensive Dalogue, always Based on International Law, in order to Find Solutions which Will give Prosperity to our People", as he concluded.

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++++ For Italian Prime Minister Conte, "Tensions in Eastern Mediterranean are Harting Us (EU) All", and "We Must Do Everything to Alleviate them". "There are Growing Concerns, But we must Set up a Positive Spiral of Dialogue for a Shared Solution".

- "However, the 1st thing to do is to express Our strong Solidarity, a Concrete Solidarity, with Our (MED-7) Friends of (EU Members) Cyprus and Greece, who Face the Unilateral Actions of Turkey", "We will Always do that", he Vowed

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+++++ Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Santcez, stressed that, "Certainly, we (MED-7) Must show Support to 2 EU Member States", (since) We Belong to the EU, and Share a lot of Pressure, (and) Hardships that they Face, Because of Turkey's Acts".

- In this direction, "the Message is "Dialogue", he pointed out, referring to EU's "High Representative" (Borrel, from Spain). the EU Council's President (Michel, of Belgium), and the (EU) Presidency by Germany (Chancelor Angie Merkel)".

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++++++ Portugal's Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, urged for Full Solidarity with Greece and Cyprus, and underlined the Importance of Michel and Borrel's initiatives, in order to take the Right Decisions at the forthcoming EU Summit of 24-25/9/2020, so that this Support would be not Only Theoretical;, But Also In Actu.

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+++++++ New Maltese Prime Minister, Robert Abela, referring to Turkey's illegal acts, expressed Solidarity to Cyprus and Greece, adding that "We closely Follow the Developments in Eastern Mediterranean, and Realize how Delicate is the Situation at this moment". ..."The Territorial Integrity and the Sovereign Rights of Each Country, Must be Preserved, according to International Law", he stressed. Particularly because "Peace, Security and Stability in Eastern Mediterranean is in the Interest of Us All, of All European Partners, and of the Overall Mediterranean Region". For that purpose, "Dialogue Must Prevail".

(../..)

("Draft-News")

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 *Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- The Most Surprizing Event in a well-attended CoE's Debate on the "Hot" Topical Issue of Belarus, was the UnExpected Refusal of Former Presidential Candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to give Any Direct Reply Now, (Contrary to a Top MEP Representing the Current Regime in Power at Minsk: Andrei Savinykh, President of Belarussian Assembly's International affairs Commission, who did reply immediately: See Infra), to the Questions raised and/or Proposals made by several MEPs, from Both Sides of that Political Conflict, in order to Find a Peaceful Solution.

Speaking in a Video-Conference, (as also Everybody else, because of the Virus' Infections, recently Sky-Rocketing here in France, which have just made the CoE Exceptionaly Push for Later, on Middle-End October, its Parliamentary Assembly's Plenary in Strasbourg for this Fall, and even to Cancel its Annual "World Democracy Forum" of the Year 2020, initialy Scheduled for November, which would be Replaced by some Web Events : See ... + ..., etc), Tikhanovskaya, at the Beginning of this Debate, made a Short Critical Presentation of her Views on the Situation in her Country, at a Fast and Dense Pace, Cutting even Short at the Time-slot Reserved by the CoE for her Intervention.

The Chairwoman of CoE Assembly's Political Affairs Committee, who Organized that Meeting, Brittish Conservative MEP Dame Cheryl Gillan, announced, at the Conclusion of Today's Debate, that Tikhanovskaya "had to Leave" Before that, but would "Respond by Writting or Orally, to the (CoE's) Secretariat, on Everybody's Questions", Later-on, at an UnDetermined Moment.

Nothing was said yet on Which, Eventualy UnExpected Events, Might, perhaps, have Hindered Tikhanovskaya, at the Last Minute, from Replying Now.

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 +On the Other Side, Andrei Savinykh (Comp. Supra), who did Reply Now to this CoE's Collective Exchange of Views with Many and Various MEPs, Spoke at his Long Concluding Remarks in his Native Language, which, Curiously, was ... Not Translated, at least at the Version received by "Eurofora"'s 2 different Journalists. And, Surprizingly, the Same Obstacle Hindered Also to be timely Informed Even on 3 Russian MEPs' Statements, (including Top MEPs Leonid Slutsky, President of Duma's International Affairs Committee, and Pyotr Tolstoi, vice-President of the Duma and vice-President of CoE's Assembly !), as all Translated Versions were Blocked, here, by a Strange "Error" Message, (See relevant Photos, attached).

WithOut Yet Knowing, at this moment, whether it was a Scandalously "Targetted" Cyber-Attack against "Eurofora"'s Internet Connexions specialy, or a Wider UnExpected Problem, Belaying CoE's Officially Published promise that this Public Debate would be Translated, "Streamed Live  in English, French, German, Italian and Russian"...

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In Fact, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya had Multiplied, Recently, various Public Declarations, (including, among others, also at EU Parliament and to EU Council, at the UNO, etc., added to MainStream Medias' Interviews, etc.), But this PanEuropean CoE's Public Debate, Today, was Unique in having, in Principle, a Larger, quite Pluralist and Polyphonic Nature, by Associating Both Sides of Belarus' Political Conflict, as well as Russian MEPs, etc.

Therefore, Any kind of Blocking the promised Translations inevitably Undermined that Crucial Democratic Added Value of CoE Assembly's Exchanges ! But, at least for the Time being, in Addition to CoE's own Streamlined "Live" Version, the Only Video of that CoE's Debate Published at the Web, is that of "RUPTLY" in "Youtube", which has Only the "Original" Language version, thus, Still Hindering to Know Timely what were the Arguments of Both Sides : Currently, Only the Notoriously Critical vis a vis President Lukashenko's Government MEPs from some Neighbouring Countries and the UK, etc., appeared Accessible in Immediate Translations received at our Office Computers, (Comp. Supra).

These Obstacles, Unfortunately Limit the Scope to a Narrow Conflict Between merely Accusing Belarus' Government to be "Oppressive" and Based on "Fraud", or merely Accusing such Opposition to "Provoke Violence" and be Based on "Foreign Interferences from Outside", (etc), withOut a Real Freedom to Timely Examine and Compare key Facts...

Such Negative Circumstances, Obviously are so more Regrettable, that PanEuropean CoE Assembly's main Official Aim seems to Focus, precisely, on the Claim to Organise a promised "inclusive Democratic Debate" in Belarus, about necessary Agreed Changes,, which, Naturally, Requires a Credible basic Pluralism...

This is, indeed, Reflected, inter alia, Even at 2 Different (even if, Eventualy, Open to some Combinations) Proposals for Motions of Resolutions and/or Reports, currently Tabled at CoE's Assembly, where the 1st, (originaly presented by the Chairwoman of its Political Affairs Committee, Brittish Conservative MEP Dame Cheryl Gillan), Focuses on a "National Dialogue", co-Signed by a Large Number of Various Important MEPs, and anOther, (presented by a Different UK Conservative MEP : Lord Blencathra), Focusing on what it calls an "Urgent Need" to Change the way that Belarus' President is Elected, (co-Signed Only by a quite Smaller Number of MEPs, Politicaly more Narrow).

=> In Such Conditions, at least for the Time Being, (f.ex. as long as "Eurofora" -and, perhaps, even Other People- might be Still Hindered to Clearly Know all the main Facts and Arguments presented by Both Sides in Belarus' Political Conflict, since, at the Present Moment, for the reasons Denounced Supra, it's almost Only the Views of mainly very Critical MEPs from some Neighbouring Countries that Minsk's Government has notoriously Denounced, which are Accessible, from the Start, with Web Translations during the Initial Streamed version, (Comp. Supra), while, on the Contrary, almost All Lukashenko-Friendly MEPs are Largely Excluded from Translation in the Video versions that we (and may-be also others) were allowed to see Until Now, "Eurofora" is Obliged, by obvious Elementary Press Deontology Reasons, to at least Postpone "sine die" Any Publication on the Substance of that Issue, which might be Hindered to have a Timely Balanced Access to Both Sides' Full Claims.

(../..)

("Draft-News")

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*Strasbourg/EuroFair2020/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to "Eurofora" at a Press-point after Inaugurating Strasbourg's EuroFair on 4/9/2020, ("the 1st in France, since the Virus' Crisis", as she noted), New Mayor Jeanne Barseghian ensured that everything was Ready for EU Parliament's Plenary to Return Back to Strasbourg in Health Safety and Good Work Conditions for MEPs, as well as Helpful to a stronger Press Impact, and to Better Relations with EU Citizens, for the sake of European Democracy, (See Infra).

       With its Forthcoming Plenary Session scheduled in principle, for Next Week in Strasbourg, to be Followed by 2 Plenaries on October, EU Parliament had Faced, since the Virus' Crisis from March, initially a Lock Down, Followed by various Video-Conferences, and 2 Exceptional Plenaries in Brussels, until now, (See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/merkel5pointsforeurevival.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/nonorchestrateddialoguewitheucitizens.html, etc).

    - "For the European Parliament, since I took over my duties, I contacted President Sassoli, who is well intented, and Everybody in Strasbourg City are fully Mobilized, in concertation with the French State, in order to Provide Guarantees in terms of Sanitary (Health) Prevention, and prove that MEPs can be Welcomed in very Good Conditions at our region", she stressed, in Reply to a relevant "Eurofora"s Question.  

    - So, "Today, we are Ready, and we've just set up a fully-fledged Sanitary Protocol, which has been Completed !", Barseghian Firmly Announced Now.

    - F.ex., inter alia, "when MEPs arrive, they will have at their disposal a Sanitary Protocol, that will Inform them Where and Whom can they Ask for what they might Need", while "Hotels have been Labelized by the ARS" (the Health Administration of the Region, which depends from the National State), she added, among various Practical points.

    + In Fact, as a matter of Principle, in Wider terms, "there is a Strong Collective Will" to Effectively succeed to hold Important, Key Events in Strasbourg, "with All the due Precautions for Public Health of All involved", f.ex. from "this Euro-Fair" of 4-14 September 2020, "up to the (Traditionaly very Popular) Christmas Market, from November 27", which, at this occasion, "would be ReNovated" in its formula, etc., Barseghian also said, earlier.

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    The Voluntaristic, but Careful Moves, came Despite a Higher then Expected Number of Infections in France these Latest Days, going from 6.800 up to 8.960 Cases, towards a "Reversal" Phenomenon (Compared to March-April's Peak) observed in certain Countries (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/hastydecofinementflop.html, etc). However, f.ex. Germany has Recently Issued "Travel Warnings" for Paris, Marseille and Brussels, But Not yet Strasbourg...

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       At any case, by a Coincidence, the Inauguration of this Strasbourg's "Euro-Fair" took place the ...Same Day that China Inaugurated also its 1st International Fair of the Year, at Pekin, with President Xi, precisely on 4/9/2020... 

        With the Difference that this China's International Services Fair took place Inside a Big but 100% Confined Space, while Strasbourg's Euro-Fair has Also OutDoors Areas, (as, f.ex., its Agricultural Space, etc), with Healthy Fresh Oxygen, similar to EU Parliament's Strasbourg Building adjacent Secure "Green Areas", (including at the Ground -and Biggest- Floor of its Press-Room)... 

     The New Strasbourg's atypical "Green" Mayor is, by the way, Herself a concrete Symbol for Resilience of Human Health against the Pandemic, since she has notoriously Survived the Virus recently, with Strong Natural Immune System AntiCorps, (which, according to USA President's Don Trump and FDA's Director, are due to Become asap the 1st and Best Modern Cure, via Plasma New Tech.)... [See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/strasbourgvotesarmeniangreenmayor.html, etc]

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    + On this Event's Occasion, Barseghian Agreed with "Eurofora" that MEPs, (who often risk in Brussels to be OverShadowed or ByPassed in the Medias by EU Council and/or EU Commission, while, in Strasbourg, they Could be the Main Focus of All Medias' Attention), may have a much Better Press Impact, particularly if Public Debates with EU Citizens on Topical Issues were Regularly Organized Before Final Decisions due to be taken at the Plenary Sessions, since that could Create Topical Interactions on "Hot" Issues, Attracting More Journalists' interest, according to "Eurofora"s Project, (Recently Twice Endorsed by Barseghian : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/greencandidatemayorokseuroforaproject.html, etc).

    - "Indeed, We need a Great European Strategy, with a Part on EU Citizenship, which Allows for EU Citizens to Express their Views on Topical EU Debates, and on Europe's Future" she stressed. In this regard, "at any case, Strasbourg intends to Fully take its Part in a revived European Democracy", the EuroMetropolitan City's Mayor ensured in Reply to "Eurofora", (while, Also, Making a Topical Reference to the Forthcoming "Conference on Europe's Future", which is, Notoriously, due to Give a More Important Role to EU Citizens' relations with MEPs, See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/renewheadoneuregorm.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/nonorchestrateddialoguewitheucitizens.html +  http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentoncitizensforeufuture.html, etc).