newsitems

Ankara's notorious difficulties to find enough oil/gas to transport through old plans of too long, expensive and risky Turkish pipelines doesn't seem to disturb at all Albanian Minister Ferdinand Poni, forthcoming CoE Chairman-in-office from May, as he confirmed to "EuroFora" that the TAP pipeline project due to link Greece and Italy via Albania will advance at any case, while Cyprus has just anounced that Israeli plans to transport Oil/Gas Energy from the South-Eastern Mediterranean to the EU via an underwater pipe line and/or Electricity Cable through Cyprus and Greece are among 5 possible projects curently studied on how to use recent Energy Findings at Deep Sea.

He was visiting Strasbourg in order to present to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) "Future Priorities and objectives" of the forthcoming Albanian rotating Presidency of the PanEuropean CoE's Top Political body, the Committee of Ministers, from May up to November 2012.

=> - "Now, we are ready to have a very Big and Strategic Business, which may be this Pipeline project :  the TAP (for "Trans-Adriatic-Pipeline") to bring Gas to Europe",  Poni stressed.

He said that, despite Turkey's notorious difficulties to find enough Gas "from Caucasus", which already led to the colapse of an older, much more expensive and controversial "Nabucco" pipeline old project.

A  Solution to the obvious Enigma could naturally be anOther Origin for the Energy to be transported to the EU through the Greek - Albanian - Italian link, as various observers have already suggested. TAP seems reportedly "Open" to discussions about "alternative" oil/gas "Supply sources".      

Just starting to be discovered by USA "Noble" (Texas) deep off shore drilling company, huge Oil/Gas resources in South-Eastern Mediterranean, between Egypt, Israel and EU Member Cyprus, might be as important as those of the Gulf of Mexico, (estimated 52% of USA's needs), due also to similarities in the Geological structure of these two regions, experienced observers have noted since many years.

Energy imports' rising costs is practically the only "darkspot" in €urozone's otherwise steadily ameliorating Foreign Trade Balance, (where, otherwise, Exports have started to overcome Imports).

EU Member Cyprus reportedly plans to transport Energy resources towards the European continent in cooperation with Israel, either by Liquefied Natural Gas' Ship transport, or by Transforming Gas to Electricity on the spot, in order to transmit it by a 2.000 m. deep undersea Electricity Grid through Greece and Italy, another option being an undersea Pipeline with the same route. 

One among the obvious comparative Advantages, in addition to the fact that these seem to be he most Direct, Faster and Cheaper Energy Transport pathways, is that, if any such link was connected (as it would be natural) with an Albania - Italy component (See MAP), then, considering also all Western Balkans' vocation to become, sooner or later EU Members, EU could become able to thoroughly control the total Energy Transport line, avoiding the Risk of any kind of (otherwise possible) Blackmail, Conflict, etc. by a 3rd, Foreign, Non-European transit country, (f.ex. Turkey, etc). 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
=> Thus, when "EuroFora" asked the Albanian Minister if there "might be various Directions" concerning this Pipeline, he replied apparently positively, by saying that this "May be"..

- As our founding fathers said : "The Sun comes from the West !" Our Horizon is the Western Family : i.e. the EU", Poni stressed, (probably stressing even more Albania's strategic location and GeoPolitical Stratergy's will to become really  Independent from any eventual attempt of influence from Turkey a.o. at the East.
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Many Years since Slovenia's EU (and even €urozone) Membership, after recent EU decisions to accept Croatia's imminent Accession and to give a "Candidate" Status to Serbia, while also Montenegro, FYROM and Bosnia's prospects were debated last week by EU Parliament in Strasbourg, - "Albania is also Ready to Move towards becoming an official part of the EU, why not ?", reacted Fernando Poni.           

- This should be done by fullfiling the Standards of Democracy and having a High Level of Economy, respecting Human Rights, and any other Normal Standard of the EU".

- The Time Horizon can be related to Albanian "Prime Minister's ambition for a Developed Country at Mid-term period", he added.

In this regard a Key-role will notoriously be played also by the way that the Government in Tirana will treat  the Greek origin Minority traditonally living in the South, he acknowledged : - "They are part of the Albanian Reality, they are already Useful, and they are respected, as Normal People with Full Rights, as (it's also done) in other (EU) Countries", he replied to a "EuroFora"s question on their possible role in the Future as a "Bridge" towards the EU.

Fernando Poni's statements on those issues are so more important as he's the competent vice Minsister of the Interior.

- Meanwhile "we are Cooperating with Italy and Greece, as part of our aim to fullfil EU's Standards before going for (EU) Membership", as he said.

For the moment, all this advances by "ameliorating the Climate of doing Business in Albania, so that we are Now attracting the Interest of Thousands of EU Businesses for Albania", he claimed.

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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as it was already sent  to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors earlier. A more accurate and full, Final Version is due asap).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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*"Strasbourg Days 2012"/ACM/- Even if it's obvious that Turkey doesn't yet meet the Conditions for eventual EU Accession, on the contrary, it's not excluded that Ankara might enter inside the EU at any point in the Future, nor that some Technocrats won't, suddenly, claim that Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law criteria would have been met by the Turkish Authorities, even if this would be in blatant contradiction with the Facts, as back on 1999-2004, if we judge by the Replies that "Socialist" Candidate Hollande gave to "EuroFora"s Questions today ;

- "EuroFora" initially started by asking Hollande "what is really (his) position on EU's Enlargement".

- "To which Country ?", Hollande asked.

- "Obviously for the most controversial question : That of Turkey, considering, in particular the problems it raises for the EU, also on Human Rights, Democracy, and other issues", we pointed out.

 - "I think that, for Turkey, the Conditions (to EU Enlargement) are not fullfilled", Hollande replied.

+ "And in the foreseable Future ?", asked, in an obviously necessary complementary question, "Eurofora" in addition.

- Today, "there is a Process, which must be respected", started to reply Hollande, pointing to the controversial and unpopular Turkey - EU Negotiations, that some persist still to call "Accession" Talks, (despite the Democratic mandate given by a Majority of EU Citizens to French and German, but also Austrian, Dutch, Belgian, Bulgarian and other Governments and/or Election Winner Parties, as well as to the biggest EU Parliament's 2009 Elections' EPP Group of MEPs, to Stop Ankara's EU claims), while others have started to name "Open Ended" Talks, (i.e. able to lead also to an eventual "Strategic Partnership", not to Full Accession), according also to Official EU Council's Decisions since 2006. This same "process" also serves, in practice, as a Legal and Political pretext in order to start Funding the Turkish Government, since 2001 with a growing, Big amount of Money, now near to 1 Billion € each Year in Grants, (i.e. the equivalent to some 400 Billions € in Loans), from EU Taxpayers'Money (including the Poor who pay VAT), equal to... EU's most important Space program for High-Tech Innovative Infrastructures on "Global Monitoring for Environment and Security", alias GMES, which is notoriously threatened recently, because of lack of available EU Funds, ... (See relevant, recent "EuroFora"s NewsReports).

+ "But the conditions (for Turkey's EU Accession) are not fulfilled..." yet, he reiterated carefully.

- "... for the Moment", as the 2012 "Socialist" Party's candidate for the forthcoming French Presidential Elections, chosing carefully his words, concluded, by adding a Crucial point which obviously Changes everything...

=> I.e., to put it in a nutshell, for Hollande, only the present (i.e. up to the late April - early May 2012 Vote) situation is certain, (because of Turkey's blatant reluctance to fulfill EU Conditions, particularly on Democracy - Human Rights), while, on the contary, ... anything may happen afterwards !

Including, last but not least, for French and other EU Citizens to have to face, sooner or later, at some "Other Moment" during the 2012-2017 period, eventually, a "Socialist" Government in Paris  and/or elsewhere inside the EU, suddenly claiming, anew, that the notoriously undemocratic, oppressive and aggressive Turkish Government would have "fulfilled far enough" the EU Conditions, even if, in fact, it would not have done so at all, except from a few cover-up, "Publicity" attempts to Mislead the Public Opinion with False Appearances or even Grossly Erroneous Claims by some astonishingly stuborn proponents of Ankara's controversial  EU bid, probably most driven by some shady, in fact Anti-European Networks notoriously searching a way to undermine Europe through Turkey's unpopular attempts to enter into the EU, which would obviously Exclude any European Identity, Destroy Social Cohesion, Dangerously Expose Europe to Iraqi, Syrian and Irani Borders, empty EU's Budget, grossly violate Modern Europe's Values on Human Rights and Democracy, practically throwing EU Citizen's Rights to the WasteBasket, inundate the EU with Mass Immigration from Asia notoriously unwilling to integrate so that EU Countries would be infiltrated by "Ghettos" monitored from Abroad by "remote control",  while also giving a Right to Vote in immediately forthcoming Local/Regional Elections in France (2013-2014) to Non-European Immigrants, so that a recent Massive Turkish Immigration, rejected by Switzerland and/or Germany/Austria, penetrates even more in N/E France, (according to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's 2010 call in Paris), to take the formal "Papers" needed in order to start Manipulating several French Votes by its, Externaly Monitored, non-integrated Ghetto-Lobbying (comp. supra)....

Already, EU's 1999 and CoE's 2004 decisions, to, respectively, accept Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU "Candidacy", as well as to claim that Turkish Authorities would have fullfilled almost all Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law commitments vis a vis the CoE, so that the famous "Copenhagen Criteria" would have been, reportedly, already met, allowing Ankara to start lucrative EU Accession Negotiations (costing more than 850.000 € each Year) from 2005, notoriously astonished and revolted many People, resulting to the three "No" to EuroReferenda since 2005 in France and the Netherlands, followed by Ireland, etc., after the sudden emergence of rapidly growing, unprecedented Majority Abstentions in EU Parliament's Elections, precisely, from 1999-2004. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
    => Such a Dangerous Ambiguity about the Future, particularly on a so Crucial issue as that of Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, (Comp. "EuroFora"s 2nd, complementary Question to Hollande and his Reply : Supra),

    cannot but aggravate precisely what the "Socialist" candidate himself had denounced, earlier today himself, as "a Feeling of Deprivation and a Disillusion,...in European Politics", "when a Sovereign People feels that it has no more of the capacity to decide itself on its own Fate", and when appears "a growing distance between Promisses and Acts, and a growing Gap between the Expression of Political Will, and the Heavy Obstacles which might oppose progress" ...

    Because it's simply scandalous to Threaten People even on 2012 with Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU entry demand, while crystal-clear Majorities have already Voted to exclude any such risk, repeatedly, since the 2005 "NO" to EuroReferenda in France and the Netherlands, particularly on 2007 French Elections, on 2009 in German and EU Parliament's Elections, etc. as well as in various other EU Countries between 2009-2011 !

    + Moreover, it's Incompatible with any wish to "help emerge a European Dream", as Hollande said that he wanted to do "though a French Dream", if anyone brought EU Citizens, on the contrary, face to face with the "Nightmare" of a notoriously undemocratic, Oppressive Turkish Government, with Thousands of even Elected MPs, Mayors or Journalists currently Jailed in Prisons, Press Liberties and Freedom of Expression  arbitrarily oppressed, Turkish Army occupying the Northern part of Cyprus, threatening Greece in the Aegean Sea, launching Deadly Attacks inside Iraq, blocking Armenian survivors of the 1st Genocide in Modern History, a scandalous Impunity of Torturers or Murderers, (often Turkish State's Agents), Hundreds of Thousands of Refugees still Hindered to return to their Family Homes and Ancestral Land from which they were Brutally expelled, still Disposessed of their usurpated Homes and private Properties contrary to ECHR's case-Law, Families of "Missing" Persons still ignoring what really happened to their beloved ones and who is Responsible for their Enforced Disappearance, with Archives and other vital information being kept Secret by the Turkish Authorities and Killers totally unpunished in blatant Violation of ECHR's judgements : A Dangerous Precedent full of obvious Risks also for the Future of Humankind, (etc)...  Particularly if such scandalously unpunished and dangerous Criminals and other Corrupted and Abusive Turkish State Agents, started even to ..circulate among EU Citizens' children, inside the EU, spending EU Taxpayers' Money, by consuming EU Funds equivalent to those from which is currently deprived even he biggest, High-Tech Space Program of the EU : the famous "Global Monitoring for Environment and Security" (GMES : See relevant "EuroFora"s recent NewsReports),..

Hollande, who had just finished, before speaking to "EuroFora", a Dialogue with a German Socialist Philosopher from nearby Karlsruhe, in Strasbourg's Opera, in the framework of a 3 Days-long Annual Political Debates event organized by "Socialist" Magazine "Nouvel Observateur" and the Association "Europa Nostra" (where his participation was anounced only at the last minute), except from ostensibly drinking a ..."Turkish coffee" earlier in a Suburb, (an apparently "innocent", pittoresque act), hasn't yet done anything, at least at our knowledge (which is,  however, rather limited as far as his Past activities are concerned), which might, eventually, lead to Doubt about his personal Objectivity and/or Honesty concerning key Facts on Turkey. But, given also the Fact that he's notoriously surrounded by other "Socialist" Politicians who unquestionably  have serious Responsibilities already for attributing to Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid the lucrative Status of "EU Accession Candidate" back on December 1999, (such as former PM. Jospin, former MInister for EU affaits Moscovici, and others), as well as the recent trend of most "Socialist" Parties to systematically accept and even push Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU Bid (at least since 1999-2000+), added to the Total Absence of Any Guarantee that, this time, any eventually Crucial Decision on EU-Turkey relations would be really taken on the basis of Objective Criteria, contrary to the Negative, obviously Arbitrary and/or Irrational Decisions taken on December 1999 and 2004 falsely claiming that Ankara would have fulfilled its Human Rights/Democracy and Rule of Law obligations (sic!), it's naturally very Difficult, if not totaly Impossible to Blindly Trust Now his Hypothetic "Bona Fides" alone, particularly in an issue with so High Stakes, even in Global GeoPolitics, as Turkey's EU relations.... 

 

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Hollande's approach on Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, as it was resumed today in his replies to "EuroFora"s question, (Comp. Supra) differs from that of President Sarkozy mainly on the following crucial points :

    1) - Hollande accepts that Turkey could become, one day, a full EU Member. On the contrary, Sarkozy believes that Turkey is not a European Country, and (as Merkel and others) rejects Ankara's EU bid as dangerous against the desired development, in the Future, of a Strong, Political Europe with an Historic and Cultural Identity able to attract a large Popular support.                                                                                                                                                                                                         
    2) - But, "for the moment" Hollande says that "Turkey does not fullfil the Conditions" for EU Accession, without, however, giving any idea about when this might be done :  F.ex. in the following few years up to 2014 or after 20 Years ? Obviously, this Fact inevitably provokes the Suspicion to be only a pre-Electoral truc, since he could  Change his mind at any moment afterwards...

On the contrary, Sarkozy (as well as Merkel and others) have a crystal-clear stance on this point, considering that Turkey, similar to other Neighbouring Countries, from Morocco (which had been already refused EU candidate status in the Past) through Ankara up to Russia, should better get a kind of "Privileged Partnership" solution, allowing "closer relations" with the EU, but not full entry inside the EU.

This Democratically supported Franco-German stance, which has, in the meantime, won a clear Majority of EU Citizens, as not only France 2007 and Germany's 9/2009 Elections proved, but also People's Votes in EU Parliament's 7/2009 Elections, as well as in several other EU Countries since then, where it has started Spreading all around the EU : F.ex. in Austria, (even inside the UK in the 9/2009 Vote !), the Netherlands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Finland, etc. Despite Turkish Government's provocative attempts (and even threats, if not Blackmails !) to change this into a Cultural Conflict, claiming even to bring (real or artificial)"Terrorism" and other more or less Violent Clashes in Europe, nevertheless, the growing opposition to Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid appears as the only common point in recent political developments throughout all Europe between 2005-2012...  

        3) Meanwhile, Hollande openly supports a process of EU - Turkey's "Accession" Negotiations, (as most "Socialist" parties in the EU), which gives to Ankara's Government some 1 Billion € each Year in full Grants, i.e. the equivalent of about 40 Billions € in Loans each Year !!!!), costing in EU Taxpayers' money (including the Poorest, who are obliged  to pay VAT) as equally Expensive to EU's ... most important, High-Tech Space program GMES ("Monitoring for Environment and Security" : See recent "EuroFora"s NewsReports on MEP's protests and EU Parliament's Resolution denouncing the Lack of Money for the European Space Industry, while similar sums are currently wasted in Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid,  even in the present time of Global  Financial Crisis), scandalously, given the Democratically expressed opposal by a Majority of EU Citizens and several EU Governments (comp.  Supra), and falsely claiming (Comp. Hollande's 2nd Reply to "EuroFora"s Question) that EU would be legally obliged to continue doing so, even if Turkey still Refuses to respect its own Commitments that it officially undertook, precisely, since 2004, as a Condition for such EU - Turkey Negotiations to start ! (i.e. to Stop Discriminating against EU Member Cyprus' related Ships and Airplanes, etc., the failure to do so, normally, being enough in order to Suspend the Negotiation process, particularly considered in addition to many other Turkey's persisting Failures to respect also several more of its Obligations, f.ex. on Human Rights/Democracy, etc).

    On the contrary, Sarkozy, after initially promissing  to put a clear and unequivocal, full  Stop to EU - Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, was notoriously obliged (by EU Commission President Barroso and some former "Socialist" Governments' opposal back on August 2007, at the same moment that even his personal life was notoriously hit), to propose a Compromise (together with Prime Minister Fillon) consisting in 2 Conditions in order not to Block EU - Turkey's Negotiations : (a) Refusal to open 4 or 5 Negotiation Chapters which are considered as part of a Full EU Membership, (f.ex. participation to EU Institutions, Cohesion funds, EU Citizenship, Free Movement/Shengen, €uroArea, etc), and : (b) A call to start a serious, EU-wide Debate on Europe's Future, (which would include also the issues of EU's Political dimension,  Identity, Borders, etc).

Since then, as it is well known, the EU Commission was obliged to respect the 1st Condition, (which, of course, remains Valid, in practice, as long as ... Sarkozy will remain France's President, risking to "vanish" as hot air if things turned otherwise...
But it scandalously undermined the 2nd Condition, after a Bureaucratic manoeuver in Brussels' corridors scandalously "burried" the issue, by Excluding EU Citizens' Public Debates, and downgrading it only in a controversial small "Committee" Report on 2010, prepared by an appointed Secretariat directed by a certain "Dr. Türk", a Slovenian Expert in ... Computer issues, completely unknown to EU Citizens, and then hired only by ...Turkey's Instabul University for a part-time Job, as well as chaired by former "Socialist" Spanish P.M. Gonzalez, a notorious suppporter of Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid,  known for having formed a "Duo" with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan in a MultiCultural project, etc, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/colmarbrussels.html ),  so that the matter wasn't pursued at all until now.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
However, EU's Political 2012 Landscape is much Better and adequate now, than what it was back on August 2007, for the realization of that Sarkozy's idea, (a compromise deal with EU Commission's President Barroso : Comp. supra). Because, meanwhile,  Democratic Elections in many EU Countries allowed to the People, at least partly also inspired by France's 2007 example with Sarkozy, to Vote into power several Political Leaders and/or considerably strengethen New Political Parties, whose views on Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid are closer,  if not quasi - Identical to the French President's : F.ex. in Germany, Austria, Holland, Belgium, Hungary, Bulgaria,  Sweden, Finland, Greece, Ireland, etc., and even in the UK an unknown Party surprised by winning more MEPs than the Liberals and even than the then Governing Labor Party immediately after it entered the Vote with No 1 issue the "No to Turkey's entry in the EU", while also EU Parliament's 2009 Elections were largely won by Sarkozy's allies of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party both in France and Germany but also elsewhere throughout Europe.

Moreover, several experienced or new EuroPoliticians have already told "EuroFora" that they also feel that Time has come for such a Debate to start in Europe, by a potentialy interesting coincidence, at the same moment that Sarkozy anounced his intention to start using a "Referendum" method of reaching out to the People whenever "intermediaries" might eventually refuse to move on key issues, and the same year that "EU Citizens' Initiative" is expected to start working probably from April 2012, as informed EU sources told "EuroFora"...
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    => Could the "crossroads" issue of Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, (in fact, a meeting point of many crucial problems in Human Rights/Democracy/Rule of Law, EU Budget and Cohesion, European Culture, History and Identity, Europe's Borders and GeoPolitical games between EU and USA, etc.), became as crucial for 2012 French Elections as back on 2007, considering also wjat the experienced former Prime Minister, Michel Rocard, (PSoc.), said immediately after the Hollande's dialogue in Strasbourg's Opera to "EuroFora" ?

     - Questioned in general about "European issues", Rocard replied that "EU matters,  recently appear rather risky and complicated, so that I think that the don't have a big importance right now".

    + " But I am convinced that it (Europe) can emerge anew, this time, during the confrontation... " at the 2012 French Presidential Election's campaign, Rocard speculated....
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    However, in this case, it doesn't seem that the far more Crucial issue of Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, which affects so many EU matters, (f.ex. Human Rights/Democracy, Europe's Borders, History and/or Identity, Social Cohesion, High-Tech. Development or Low level "services" and over-Exploitation, the well-known Dillema : "a weak Market, or a Strong Political Europe with Popular support ?", EU's message to the World, etc), might be overshadowed by the also important, but not  equaly crucial issue of Hollande's controversial wish to review the €uroArea Governance Treaty, (which, naturally sparked  a growing "Hot" debate recently) :

    -  "Do you need a Large ReNegociation for the Changes that you want on €uroArea (Governance) Treaty, about Economic issues ?", "EuroFora" asked later  Hollande.

- "Yes !", firmly stressed Hollande, without any hesitation, in reply to "EuroFora"s question if he meant "Big" Changes, or small.

- "In order to add also (something on) Growth", he went on to add, but wihout specifying at this moment. 

                                                                                                                                  Speaking shortly later in Strasbourg, in a Public Debate with former Greek Prime Minister Giorgos Papandreou, "Green" Group's vice-President, MEP Daniel Kohn-Bendit, initially tried to Minimize the scope of the Changes wished by Hollande in €uroArea Governance's Treaty :

    - He (Hollande) just wants to add 2 "simple" References : 1) on the aim of Growth, and 2) on CEB's role for that purpose, softly - softly said Mr. Kohn - Bendit with an unusually  ..."relaxing" tone..., as if it was nothing important, just a tiny, innocent butterfly flying in the woods...

    But, considering the fact that the Official EU Text already Signed by 25 Heads of State/Government, already has some References on "Growth", (comp. "EuroFora"s recent, relevant NewsReport), while Sarkozy, (in what looks as a kind of silent but efficient Deal with Merkel and Monti, etc.,  since End November - beginning of December 2011), has already managed to succesffully launch the European Central Bank's interventions in €uroArea's Financial Markets twice until now, (in both cases, with very Positive Results : December 2011 and Februar 2012),

and taking also into account even the notorious fact that .. Mr. Kohn-Bendit doesn't really use to speak so .. "Softly" (Comp. Supra),

=> we'd bet that, probably, Hollande's pals will soon anxiously try to Cover-up this starting 2012 Turkey, really "Hot" issue, with anything might excite and divert attention away from it, including, precisely, the €uro-Treaty Change Controversy, (as well as ANYTHING ELSE)....

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*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Both the new 2012-2014 President of EU Parliament's prestigious Committee competent to assess Scientific Options on Topical issues of Crucial importance for Modern Society, (from BioEthics and Energy to Institutions-building or Space Technology), etc., former Minister Antonio Correia de Campos (SD MEP from Portugal), and the experienced former President and now 1st vice-President, Austrian EPP MEP Paul Rübig, replying to "EuroFora"s Questions, invited "EuroFora"s co-Founder to actively contributr into relaying EU Citizens' concerns, queries or ideas, possibly expressed earlier in our Website's MultiLingual Forum, in the final public Discussions at STOA's Workshops together with specialized Experts.

They were speaking at a key moment in a Press Conference in EU Parliament in Strasbourg after a "Constitutive" meeting of the STOA (i.e. "Science-Technology Options Assessment Committee"), where Ruebig switched Today job with Campos, taking over STOA's 1st vice-Presidency, while STOA's other 2012-2014 vice-Presidents are Conservative MEPs Malcolm Harbour from the UK (Comp. Harbour's replies to "EuroFora"s questions in other issues, See previous NewsReports), and Oldrich Vlasak from the Czech Republic.

 

STOA's New President proposed to "EuroFora" to practically come to STOA's Meetings and Workshops in order to speak, during Discussions with the Panel of Experts, about Questions previously raised by EU Citizens  f.ex. in "EuroFora"s open public discussion Website, where the forthcoming Events would have been anounced to the Public early enough in order to collect People's main reactions. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         This was Campos' reaction to "EuroFora"s suggestion to be informed one or more Months before STOA's Workshops about the forthecoming Events in order to launch Public EU-wide Debates via our Internet MultiLingual Forum, where EU Citizens, other Experts, Businesses, Associations, Journalists, national a.o. Politicians, etc. who couldn't be always physically present at the prescribed Time in the precise location of a specific STOA Workshop.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            >>> - ... "Why don't you come with the Panel to do it yourself ?", STOA's new 2012-2914 President suggested to "EuroFora".

    - "Because most of us (MEPs) are not specialists", so that "I don't know if it's feasible" for us (MEPs) to react to EU Citizens' questions or suggestions on STOA Workshops' issues, he carefully warned. Precisely, "because we don't know, we are asking Civil Society and Specialists. We (STOA's MEPs) are Facilitators So, we cannot answer (personaly) questions" on the STOA Workshops' Scientific/Technological matters , Campos explained.

     - Thus, "we (STOA MEPs), by definition, have not any opinion. The Opinions are from those who are in the Workshop's Panel. "We just need to be sure that they are Respected Members of the Scientific Community, that's all. But they can bring in their own Opinions. We have nothing to say about that".

    =>  In consequence, "the Best Way is for you to come to (STOA's) Meetings or at the end in the Workshops, and Ask Questions at an Open Time for Discussion", he proposed.  "In all (STOA's) Meetings this Possibility exists" for Journalists or other Civil Society members to raise topical questions to the Scientists/Researchers who form each STOA Workshop's Panel", President Campos guaranteed.

    = "Thanking" for "EuroFora"s input in "that Crucial question", the experienced STOA's 1st Vice-President, Austrian EPP MEP Paul Rübig, added that, indeed, "it's very Important for us (STOA) that we'll have Closer Contacts with the Science Community", as wel as "with the Society at large", as adds an Official Communiqué published Today, to which he pointed out.

    => "And (for that purpose) we use All Possibilities in this House", (EU Parliament), " in order to be, as much as possible, Present in the Official Life", as Rübig replied to "EuroFora", obviously including Innovative Methods as our Internet MultiLingual Forum suggestion, close to the "e - Democracy" Tools that a STOA Report had explored under his presidency in 2011 (See Infra).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  --------------------------------

-+ "EuroFora"  had initially raised to STOA's Leaders  2 specific Questions, during their Press Conference :

-  "As you know very well, there is a New (8th) Research Framework Program on the pipeline, and  the Pluri-Annual  Funding framework, where there are many Choices to be made on Scientific Issues, that are also Topical Issues". In this regard, "is there any Roadmap that you have prepared on the Main Issues that you think that they should be dealt by the STOA" during 2012-2014 ?

+ Moreover,  "in some issues, not only BioEthics but also on other points, as you know very well, the Legal Principle of Precaution has been accused, sometimes, by certain parties, to excessively block research mauy , while, on the contrary, other parties, sometimes consider that it's not always efficient, or not enough."=> "As a matter of General Principle, and taking into account your Experience on various issues, don't you think that the Precaution principle could also Stimulate and Justify (Scientific and Technological) Research, just in order to be sure that some Technological Choices are Safe ? So that it could also be "Research-Friendly" ?, we asked.
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 - "Thank you for the Questions : You mentioned 2 Important issues, (including also) BioEthics and the Principle of Precaution, in order to have a "Friendly" liaison with Science", STOA's New President De Campos started to reply to "EuroFora" :

- But, "the better way to say what we (STOA) are, is to say what we are not :- We are not Science Makers, we don't do research : we are not researchers. We are not Science Managers : the only manager here is the (EU) Commission. "So, we do not take Decisions on these Difficult Science issues".

- "We are simply Facilitators : Our Legitimacy comes out from our Panels : 5 (EU Parliament's) Commissions that elected our Members and appointed us to run this project'. I.e., "we help to inform Decision makers, for doing themselves the decision. We Enlarge the Discussion, we make the Information more Transparent, we Inform our Collegues (MEPs) for the Options, But we (STOA) never take decisions" (on he substance of the Issues raised), he explained.

 - Thus, "we are running Workshops without any Connexion between these Workshops and our (personal) Opinions" : - "For instance, we are going to have a Workshop on (the highly Controversial issue of) "Human Enhancement", on (Bio-)Ethics, with the European Council of Churches. Many Churches are represented there, (but) neither from us (MEPs) is taking a position there. We (simply) think that it's Worthwhile to have this Panel of Different Opinions", De Campos observed.

- 'Our Duty is to inform collegues (MEPs) about such issues", after hearing all invited Speakers : Scientists, Businesses, Government agents, Associations, Journalists, other Politicians, etc., he concluded.
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- Indeed, "our 1st and central Priority is our Duty to inform and Help Collegues (MEPs) on the Decision-Making Process" in ordrer "to help them on Options", i.e. "to make the (Scientific and Technological) Options as Easy, as Intelligent, as Transparent as possible, in order to share the Technicalities and the Difficulties in interpretation, to bring this in  a Smooth, Transparent, and Easy way, for all of us (Euro-Politicians) to make Decisions", as Campos explained earlier.

So, "We don't decide ourselves, we decide through Others, but... >>> - "Here, on Science, because it takes Options that are very Important for Society, we need to be very Conscious of what these Options are : That's our Duty", he stresssed, apparently in relation to the "BioEthical"/"Precaution Principle" Question, initially raised by "EuroFora" (Comp. supra).
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 -  "That's a Crucial question, thank you", started to reply to "EuroFora" also the Experienced out-going STOA's 2009-2012 President, and New 1st Vice-President, Austrian EPP MEP Paul Rübig.

In this regard, - "I think that it's very Important for us (STOA) that we'll have Closer Contacts with the Science", " it's quite Essential to bring Together the Science area with the Politics level", he pointed out.  "This can bring a Better Undestanding of what is needed from the Political side, and what is needed from the Science - Research side".  Indeed, "It brings not only a Study. It also Builds Personal Relations", with a lot of ideas on how to cooperate in the most important areas of Science and to built Personal Contacts with these People, because I think that this is the road to Succes", Rubig added earlier.

=> That's why, "we (STOA) decided to have a "Pairing Scheme"  (where) MEPs should meet with Scientists Twice in a Year. Once in EU Parliament, another time at a Workplace of the Scientific Researchers". While "we (STOA) are also in relation with the World Science Conference in Japan which is  the biggest in the World, as well as the European Science' Conference in Budapest, and we plan to bring one also in the EU Parliament, by presenting the World Science Conference", he anounced.
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    - About the "RoadMap" asked by "EuroFora" (See supra), Rubig reminded, earlier, concerning the recent Past (2009-2012)n that, - "during the Last 3 Years, we (ST0A) focused on 3 Items" : (a) Eco-Mobility (i.e. when World Population grows from 2 to 10 Billions of People during our Lifetime, which Options can we offer world-wide for a good Mobility situation, as f.ex. in the program "Eco-Efficient Transport", etc.;  (b) Sustainable Resources,  (when we have Rare Resourcess around the world, here also we wanted to show the Options available for the Political level, for the Business level, with experience from the Science area : A Priority for the Long-track, where we must still look how to become more efficient);  (c) Social Networks and E-Goverment, (f.ex. this New Technology of Back up which is quite important for efficiency, but we have to see where we can be Transparent, and where we must keep Privacy, so that there is an InFight between these two Principles, which will go on in Future", (etc), as he said.
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    + Now,  concerning "what the Principles for the Future will be", while "we (STOA) are looking about what Technology Options we have for the Future", the outgoing STOA President, (and new 1st Vice-President), limited himself into simply referring to a Press Release (See Infra), while also giving the speech to his successor, De Campos :

    -  Of course the "Innovation" topic is on board on all Issues, and not only in our Universities, especially in the comming Horizon 2020 project", for the New EU Pluri-Annual Research Program, "which is the Biggest EU ever had", stressed from the outset the in-coming, New STOA President.  - Indeed, EU's 8th RST Framework Program 2013-2020 "is improving from 50 to 80 Millions €, it's important, and we hope that it will help Reduce the Gap of Development which exists between Societies"?

    + "We (STOA) are also concerned with Basic Science, and that's why we organize our big Science event at the CERM, on November of this year, in earby Geneva), which is a Huge Laboratory which has produced already 16 Nobel Prizes", Coreia de Campos anounced.

    -Finally, "if we look at Sciences that can materialize easily, we shall look also to Social Sciences, in order to see how we can keep, here in Europe, our so succesful for 60 Years Social Model, in order to be Happy enough to produce more Science in the Future", as he said.
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     + Concerning Future projects, "EuroFora" also reminded Campos that he had personaly chaired (together with MEP La Via, EPP from Italy), a Pioneer Workshop on "CO2: Future Fuel ?", which aimed to start exploring a Pioneer Idea, strongly supported by Strasbourg-based "European Materials Research Society" (EMRS), to use CO2 as an Alternative Fuel in the Horizon of 2050, last March 2010 in Brussels, (Comp. relevant earlier "EuroFora"s NewsReports).

    - "This is going to be Changing a lot", immediately reacted the New STOA's 2012-2014 President, even he carefully acknowledged that he "doesn't know" yet how far might go, in this regard, the consequences of the 2010 Fukusima Disaster, which notoriously provoked even Germany's decision to drop Nuclear Energy, thereby augmenting the need for New Energy Sources, given Oil - Gas' currently growing Prices and External EU's dependency, as well as Renewables' too Slow development. Topically, STOA's New "Initiatives"" for the "Coming Years", anounced Today (See infra), include, precisely, such "Alternative Fuels"        
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    + Rübig, after consulting Campos on "EuroFora"s 1st Question, (See supra) pointed at a Press Release published Today,  which not only anounces that "in the Coming Years" STOA's "scheduled Iniiatives" target (1) "Cloud Computing, Science Metrics, Alternative Fuels, and Technology Options for Feeding 10 Billions of People", as well as (2) "the use of new Mobile Media" to inform all MEPs, but also officially confirms that "STOA will further continue to organise, pro-actively and in response to ongoing developments, Information Events, relevant-to (EU) Parliament's Work and to (EU) Citizens' Expectations and Concerns in every area where Science and Technology assessment will  be required".

    -"Visibility ..is Vital for the accomplishment of STOA's Mission, which requires active Knowledge-Sharing with MEPs, the (overall) Schientific Community and the Society at large", today's Document indicated by Ruebig also stresses from the outset.

    => One of STOA's recent Reports (2011) even builds upon "EuroFora" co-Founder's original 1997-2007 idea, (as officially proposed, while Heading a Team of experienced European Journalists from various EU Countries, Universitarians, etc. for an Innovative EU Commission's project since as early as 1997, whose Timely adoption would certainly have contributed into Preventing the notoriously Negative 1999-2004 period of sharply growing Majority Abstentions in EU Parliament's Elections, followed by 3 "No" to EuroReferenda in France, the Netherlands and Ireland, etc. from 2005), to invent new ways, using the Modern Tools of Tele-Communication (including Interet, etc), of systematically associating all genuinly interested EU Citizens' participation in Public Debates and Dialogue before EU Institutions take important Decisisons affecting their Lives....  

    + It topically includes, in the same framework, also Lisbon Treaty's EU "Citizens Initiatives", on which "EuroFora" has already pubished many Original NewsReports with INTWs and replies of main actors to  our Questions, (f.ex. EU Parliament's Rapporteur, former Minister for EU affairs, Alain Lamassoure, EU Commission'q vice-President Maros Sfcovic, new EU Parliament's President Martin Schulz, etc. : See relevant earlier "EuroFora"s NewsReports).  and which is due to start working, as informed EU sources recently confirmed us, from April 1st.
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*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- A Final UNO Report on serious Human Rights Violations committed these Months in Syria, where Deadly troubles persist, is imminent during the next Few Days, and even the International Criminal Court might be activated, particularly if UNO's Security Council agrees, in the absence, until now, of an International Peace Keeping Force or Humanitarian Coridors, at least to prosecute those responsible for massive Deadly violence, replied in substance UNO General Assembly's President, Nassir Abdulah sEl-Nasser to an "EuroFora" question,  during a Press Conference at EU Parliament held together with the President of its Foreign Affairs Committee, the experienced, mainstream German ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Elmar Brok, before crucial "Special" meetings with UNO's GA during the forthcoming weeks, including on May.

El-Nassser was timely speaking to "EuroFora" only one day after discussing the issue with UNO Envoy on Syria, former long-time UN S.G. Koffi Annan, and just after French President Sarkozy stressed, in a public meeting at Villepinte (Northern Paris), that, "we want to stand by the Syrian People, for Massacers to Stop, and we ask for Humanitarian corridors top open". But, one thing is clear :  "Murderers will havez to respond for their acts" , sooner or later in the near future, as he warned.

Underlying the Exceptional character of the events, as well as Europe's growing role in the World, El-Nasser observed, while addressing later tonight EU Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee in Strasbourg, where he replied to MEPs' questions, that "It's the 1st time in History that a President of UNO's General Assembly visits the European Parliament".  

    - "The UNO's General Assembly has (always) suppported the International Criminal Court, and, given that there are many alleged Human Rights Violations in Syria, do you think that there might be any Hope to use it" in this case, "or, perhaps, Syria might have not ratified its statute, as some other countries, f.ex. (neighbouring) Turkey, etc ? '", "EuroFora asked the President of UNO's Assembly.

    - "On your Questions (about) the ICC and the Arab Ligue : - "My understanding is that almost all Arab States are Members of the ICC", (that, on the contrary, Turkey still refuses to recognize), replied El-Nasser to "EuroFora".

    + Moreover "there is a mecanism for Cooperation with other Organizations", he pointed out.

    ++ In relation to that, "now, we (UNO's GA) are waiting for the Final Report about Human Rights in Syria, from the President of (UNO's) Council of Human Rights", (UNO's Rights watchdog, established by a special Summit of Heads of State/Government at its Headquarters in New York on 2005 : Comp. "EuroFora" co-founder's NewsReports from the spot), he added.

    - "I suppose to receive it, may be, in a few Days time", El-Naser revealed.

    => - "We have to look at that (anjd): I willl circulate it to all (UNO's) Member States, to see what's next", he anounced. 

 

                                                                                                                                                                - However,  "you know, ICC.... ", he started, before adding that "we need (UNO's) Security Council to deal with that".

    -"But there is pressure on Time", given the Urgency, El-Nasser acknowledged.

    -"Until Today, they (UN SC Permanent Members) are not agreeing in dealing with the Syrian issue as ONE Council, also to be very frank", the President of UNO's General Parliamentary Assembly criticized.

     - "But, I will see to maintain the same Pressure, until something good will happen", he promissed, "thank(ing) so much" "EuroFora" for that question. (On another, differenhd, GeoPolitical aspect of the Syrian drama, Comp. also another "EuroFora"s question to UNO's GA President, herewith).
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    Russia and mainly China were reluctant, until now, to accept in UNO's SC a Resolution for an International Peace keeping Force in Syria, and, reportedly pushed aside, at least for the time being, a proposal to protect Humanitarian Corrridors.

    But they don't have yet refused to ask the ICC to prosecute any individual who could be held responsible for grave crimes against the Syrian Peuple, and there are already examples of former political leaders and/or Top Officials prosecuted for such crimes.

    ICC prosecutes Individuals,  its statute entered into force since 2002, and can exercise its jurisdiction when national courts are unwilling or unable to investigate or prosecute such crimes.

    Syria, unlike Turkey (who still refuses any recognition of ICC) has, indeed, already signed its Statute, but has not yet ratified it. However, even when the accused might not be nationals of State Parties, and the alleged Crimes might not have taken place on the territory of a State Party, nevertheless, ICC can act, if a case is referred to it by the UNO's Security Council.
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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already sent earlier to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full, Final Version might be published asap).

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