
newsitems
EURapporteur on WhistleBlowers French MEP Roziere to EF: Assange should be Protected !

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- In Principle, Assange should be given an Asylum in Europe, from Extradition to the US, Replied bis to an "Eurofora"s Question the EU Parliament's Rapporteur on WhistleBlowers' Protection, Virginie Roziere, French Radical/Socialist (Center-Left) MEP.
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- "According to Press Reports, the New French State Secretary on EU Affairs, (Amélie de Montchalin), would have declared that it should be considered whether to give Assange an Asylum in Europe, in case of Extradition demand. Even if this may not be foreseen yet by the current EU Law on WhistleBlowers (which, for the moment, limits Protection in cases of Natural Environment, Corruption, etc), de lege lata, at least, "de lege ferenda", and from a Political (principles') point of view, according to your Experience, (also as EU Parliament's Rapporteur on WhistleBowers' Protection), what do you honestly think that should be done in this case ? Should there be any Protection from a European side, or should he be Extradited ?", we asked.
+ Taking also into account the Fact that, "in this case, it's a very Particular affair, because it's not only about someone who reveals a truth, or not, but also about Helping, in addition, Others to reveal" certain truths : "It has a Double Aspect", (from the WhistleBlowers' point of view), "Eurofora" observed, as far as "Wikileaks" Founder and Editor is concerned.
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- Indeed, "if we Focus on the Spirit, and the Political Aim of the Law (EU Directive) that we (EU Parliament) Voted Today, Julien Assange should be Protected !", EU Parliament's Rapporteur on WhistleBlowers clearly Replied positively to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s question.
- This "should be done by some (EU) Member States, because Asylum is given by States, not by the EU itself", she technically reminded in this egard.
- "Perhaps, the EU should Find a Member State to give Asylum to Julian Assange, while being Supported by many Others" (EU Countries+), she practically suggested. "Because, in such kind of issues, often individual States Hesitate to indispose alone such an important international partner as the USA".
- Thus, at any case, "Yes, I think that, indeed, We Should effectively give him an Asylum, regarding USA's demand for Extradition !", EU Parliament's Rapporteur on WhistleBlowers positively Confirmed, in her reply to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s Question.
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- However, "I'd give a Different Opinion on Sweden's demand, which is a European Country, and well Advanced on WhistleBlowers' Protection, so that it's not so much Suspected from this point of view, and, for Sweden, the point is about (alleged) Rape and Sexual Relation, and even WhistleBlowers should have to Reply to Justice vis a vis such kind of Accusations, so that I find normal for Assange to Explain himself vis a vis the Swedish Courts", she added, from a Different point of view.
- "But, there, we are Far Away from the issues of (EU's Directive on) WhistleBlowers, and we are facing issues of Ordinary Law", she concluded.
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+ Asking and Receiving by EU's Rapporteur the chance to Add an Observation, as far as the Main thrust about Asylum from Extradition to the US was concerned, "Eurofora" noted the Fact that, "also in the USA, there is a Debate about Assange, where Contradictions exist at all political sides, even inside the Governing political family.
>>> Indeed, f.ex., at the mainstream Conservative NewsMedia "Fox News", the popular Journalist, (allegedly Favorite also of new US President Don Trump), Tucker Carlson, stressed, in a Special Edition focused on "Wikileaks"' Founder, that, in fact, ""Assange’s real sin was preventing Hillary Clinton from becoming President", (when she was Candidate of the "Socialists"/Democrats, back on 2016)...
=> Therefore, eventual "Suspicions" (of eventual Political bias) may obviously exist also vis a vis the Swedish "Socialist" current Goverment, (considering, in addition, the fact that former US President Barack Hussein Obama, had notoriusly used tha Swedish pretext as a way to Trap "Wikileaks"' Founder, since he was afraid that Freedom of Speech principles might Oppose a Condemnation in the US)...
At any case, Assange's UK Lawyer reportedly promised that he would accept to give thorough explanations and reply to eventual questions, if Sweden decided to re-open a closed procedure of the Past.
That affair reportedly concerned short relations, withOut any Violence at all, (but focusing on alleged Preventive Health protection matters, particular to the Swedish Law), at an exceptional moment, when Assange's Credit Cards had been Blocked by Obama's US Administration, so that, while visitng Sweden for Public Conferences, he found himself Deprived even from spare Money to Pay Hotels of his choice, and practically obliged to accept the Invitations of 2 Swedish women, who allegedly assaulted him, and one even Boasted, afterwards, to a friend, that she had managed to "Get" Assange...
Later-on, the Swedish Authorities had Stopped any Procedure against Assange, while UNO's Human Rights bodies, at nearby Geneva, have notoriously Judged that the Forced Refuge at Ecuador's Embassy in London, (precisely in order to Escape fro Sweden's demand of extradition, Behind which "Wiileaks" suspected that was Hidden Obama's USA : Comp. Supra), during Many Years, was a blatant Violation of his basic Human Rights, and had already started to Harm his own Health, after being obliged to live in reclusion, without any Freedom to move, during so many Years.
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EUParliament Socialist Group Chair Bullmann to EF on Dialogue with Citizens before Decision: Careful

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora"s Question at an EU Parliament's Press Conference, the President of the Socialist Group of MEPs, Udo Bullmann from Germany, appeared Open, but Careful on the prospect of Web Dialogue with Citizens Before EU Decisions, and he Explained why.
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- "As you know, currently there is a big Problem with Citizens' relations to traditional Political Institutions, not only in Europe, but also in the USA and other Countries in the World", "Eurofora" reminded from the outset.

+ "But there is also a Potential, which has not yet been used : F.ex, EU's Lisbon Treaty provides, inter alia, also for "Regular Dialogue" between Civil Society and EU Institutions on their Activities", we observed.

=> "Do you think that it could be interesting to Start Using such Possibilities, (in order to take the Pulse of the People on "Hot" Topical Issues, but also Speak with them, Explain, Reply to their Concerns, etc), in the Easiest and most practical, Not Costly way, f.ex. via Internet, etc, with Regular Debates between MEPs and Citizens Before Decisions are taken in the Plenary, during the New Period (of 2019-2024) ?", we asked.
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- "You are Right : Democracy is More than just Parliaments", President Bullmann Started in his Reply to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s Question.
- "Parliamentary Democracy has clear cut Rules on Who, at the very End, takes Responsible Decisions, that should not be put into Question", he, However, reminded.
- "But, the Way in which we Prepare ourselves (MEPs), of course, it's Changing : According to Citizens' wishes, to the Preferences of Civil Society, of course, also, to the Stage of Technology" : F.ex. "Dialogue with Citizens before the Internet is something Different than After the Internet, etc"., he observed.

- "And this should Lead up to these New Capacities, that Representatives have (Nowadays) to enter into Dialogue with Civic Communities and the Citizens in general", Bullmann admitted.
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- "But, Please, also, be Aware that we are Entering into New Civic Spaces, which are Not Empty : They are Structured", he Warned.
- Already, "you know that from the Old System of Lobbies, which is a very interesting question for many of you (Journalists), for us (MEPs) as well. Lobbies exist as long as Parliaments' exist. Very rudimental forms of lobbying have always existed", he pointed out.
- "But, the Power Structure in these Lobbies' System is very UnEqual !", he criticized.
- F.ex., "So, I always Welcome European Trade Unions, But I Know that there are Stronger Forces out there... You go to the Big Operations, to the Big Business, to the Big Money, to the City of London, when you are doing Financial Regulations, then, you know where the Influential Voices are".
+ And, at the Internet, you also have a Structured Room : It's not an Empty Room, where Everybody has Equal Opportunities, Equal Capacities, and, sometimes, you have also Splits included in the Public Opinion :"
- F.ex, "If I may Remind you, in the .... (CopyRight ?) Question, then, you saw that the whole Internet Community had a Different Opinion than many Journalists, Creators or Publishers."
=> - "Then, at the very end, this Parliament, and Parliamentarians, have to come to Responsible Decisions (on) Whom they have to Talk to, to Listen to, and How to Act Responsibly", he advised.
>>> In fact, "this role, is Not Taken Away, by whatever Digital Revolution, or any Medias' Revolution : At the very End, it's about People Taking Responsibility and Justifying ourselves in front of our Constituencies", he Concluded.
- "And that should Not Change !", President Bullmann stressed, clearly taking an argumented Stance in favour of being Careful, in these matters, (Comp. Supra).

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Armenia Prime Minister Pashinyan to EF for PanEuropean area of EU and Russia+: = Hope !
*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- The new Armenian Prime Minister, Nicol Pashinyan, speaking to "Eurofora" at his 1st Visit to the CoE, vowed to go Straight Ahead with Erevan's original stance on seeking a similar position vis a vis Russia's Free Trade Area and EU's Common Markert, stressing his Hope that such a Strategic Policy will prove to be Succesfull, and well Conscious of the Fact that, in such a case, the move could have a much Wider, PanEuropean impact in the foreseable Future (See Infra).
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Pashinyan spoke to "Eurofora" in front of a new Memorial of the Armenian Genocide, set up at CoE's main entrance, just Hours after French President Emmanuel Macron (the Next CoE's Chairman, for May-November 2019) had inked a paper officially establshing April 24 as Day of Remembrance. Turkey threatened France to face "Consequences", but, meanwhile, it's also Italy's Parliament which has just adopted a similar Resolution urging Rome's new Government to do like Paris...
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"Socialist" former EU Commissioner Fuhle, in charge of Enlargement and Eastern Partnership had Claimed in the Past, at a Speech to EU Parliament's plenary in Strasbourg, that there would be an InCombatibility between EU's and Russia's Trade Areas de facto, mainly because of probable Differend Policies on Taxes at Foreign Trade.
Coming at a Crucial moment, back on Autumn 2013, when Ukraine had to make Hard Choices in this regard, such Claims pushed Kiev towards the Bloody Crisis which followed with Brutal Clashes at Kiev, etc, from February 2014, provoking the still Deadly Ukranian Conflict, which Divides Europe since then : As a consequence, such a Sharp Divide Restricted Growth in Europe, as OECD's Head, Angel Gurria, had Warned, meanwhile, "Eurofora", (See f.ex.: ...), while Azerbaidjan was pushed towards squarely prefering the Russian-Kazakstan+ Trade Area, instead, (etc). German Chancellor Angie Merkel's initial Intention to Search for a workable Compromise, able to Link, instead of Dividing EU's and Russia's Free Trade Areas, as she had Vowed in her Press Conference at the December 2013 EU Summit in Brussels, (See relevant "Eurofora"s NewsReports from the spot), was brutaly Hindered when she suddenly faced an Unrecedented Painful Incident at a Popular Swiss ressort, Obliging her to walk only with 2 Crunches on January 2014, afer which, she was Bypassed and overtaken by Events in Kiev's Deadly Clashes, since February 2014, resulting in a sharply Divided Europe...
Armenia was, practically, the 1st relevant Country of EU's Eastern Partnership to claim that such painful Dillemas could have (and should have) been Avoided, by trying to Link Both to EU's and Russia's Free Trade Areas, in a way wich aimed at the progressive creation of a Big, PanEuropean+ Trade Area, from Portugal up to Vladivostok, (as several Key EU Leaders supported, including, f.ex., Austria's Sebastian Kurz, a ChristianDemocrat/EPP : Comp., among others, also, f.ex. Kurz's Replies to "Eurofora"s Questions on the sidelines of EU Summits in Brussels, etc), but with unclear and/or unknown yet results.
>>> So that the New Armenian President's Reply to a relevant "Eurofora"s Question Today, concerning that Original Strategic Direction of his Country, and whether he believed that this could really be Succesfull in practice, was of Key Importance nowadays :
- "Yes, we really do Hope so !", President Pashinyan clearly and Optimistically stressed in Reply to Our above mentioned Query.
=> Asked whether Armenia was Willing to Resolutely Pursue that Policy and Advance ahead in this original Direction also in the foreseable Future, he appeared Adamant, and without any doubt.
(Significantly, President Pashinyan Carefully asked "Eurofora" to Repeat our Questions, taking a Moment to Think before Reacting to them, so that this really seems too be what he, effectively, intends to do).
+ Finally, the new Armenian Leader, appeared clearly Conscious of the Fact that his Country's original position on this Key matter is of Strategic Importance for All Europe, and, therefore, it's Also several Other EU Member, Candidate, or otherwise Interested Countries who would be willing to keep clearly Informed on what is really happening about that Issue, so that it would, in fact, have a much Wider Impact throughout all Europe : President Pashiyan clearly showed that he Aknowledged that, and Agreed.
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++ Indeed, just a few Hours Earlier, he had also declared so, in a Series of Replies to various MEPs' Questions in CoE's Plenary Debates, (Comp. Supra), also in relation with Various Other Relevant key Points :
- F.ex. : - "We must build a Constructive relationship with All our international partners and try to resolve the issues that arise", Pashinyan urged in Conclusion, as a matter of General Principle.
- "Are we pro-Europe or pro-Russia? When I was a member of the opposition, I declared that I did not accept that Armenia or any other country ought to be pro-Russia, pro-Europe, pro-America or whatever", he added.
=> So that, " We (Amenia) are Determined to develop our relations with All our International Partners", he stressed :
- Indeed, "Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union; we (even) currently have the Presidency of that organisation and will do whatever we can to make the EEU more effective. We have a Strategic relationship with Russia and we will do whatever it takes to Develop it. We are a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and we will do our best to make our participation in the organisation and the organisation itself more effective"
+ At the Same Time, "We currently have an Excellent relationship with the European Union", Panishyan added. F.ex., the "Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement" that we have Signed with the EU overlaps squarely with my Government’s Reform Agenda", he pointed out, inter alia.
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French PrimeMinister Philippe: New Strategy versus Radicalisation and Strasbourg Terror Attack Query
*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to Journalists, including "Eurofora", after an Exceptional Inter-Ministerial Gathering on Preventing Radicalisation, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, announced a "New Strategy", following an analysis of Strasbourg's Terrorist Attack (December 2018), which, however, apparently still leaves some Key Questions open, as it results from what told us also the City's Major, f. Senator Roland Ries, in a subsequent Press-point, (See Infra).
Flanked by an impressive Group of Ministers, (not only for Home Affairs and Justice, but also for Education, Scientific Research, Health, Urban Housing, Sport, Anti-Discrimination, etc), the Prime Minister announced his venue to Strasbourg Journalists almost at the Laste Minute, (with an Email send, through a Mobile Phone by Matignon's Press Service at ...21 h, to which "Eurofora" Replied via Internet at ... 3 o'clock in the Morning !, amidst CoE Assembly, EU Parliament, CLRAE and ECHR, and various other Events, which didn't let Time not even to sleep overnight during this OverLoaded period, in the run up towards the Last EU Parliament's Plenary before the crucial forthcoming May 2019 European Elections of May 2019...
The main Aim was to Take Stock of 1 Year of Anti-Radicalisation Policy of the new Government (2018-2019), and to Decide on the Measures needed for this 2nd Year (2019-2020), Considering also the Lessons learned, Meanwhile, with the December 2018 Islamist Terrorist Attack against Strasbourg's Christmas Market, where 5 innocent Civilian People had been Cowardly Targetted and Brutally Murdered, several others wounded, during EU Parliament's Session, (Comp., f.ex. : ..., etc). On this Occasion, 3 or 4 of those Ministers would Visit various relevant Events organized around Strasbourg and other neighbouring Cities, for several actions on JHA, Universities, and even Sports, etc.
- "ISIS has Fallen Down. After 5 Years of Terror, its Territorial Control in Syria and Iraq has been Demolished, thanks to the action of the International Coalition and of our Armies", the French Prime Minister pointed out from the Start, in his Press Statements, (after the Meeting was Extended 1 Hour More than what had been initially scheduled).
- But, "we must Not Lower our Guard". Because "Battles are going on not only in that Syrian-Iraqi area, but also Elsewhere in the World, and even Here, in our Land", he Warned. Indeed, "We Know that the Endogenous (as he called it : See Infra) Terrorist Threat still stays, that she evolves, she has Not Disappeared. The Recent Attacks prove it", he noted, soberly.
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Stock-taking :
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- Meanwhile, already, "since February 2018", "our 1st Priority always is Not to let Centers of Radicalisation free to act, but Fight Against those who push them", Philippe reminded, as far as Stock-Taking was concerned.
=> Thus, f.ex., "we went, in a Spirit of Republican Riconquista, ... to Regain our Internal Borders : .. In the Suburbs where we Focused our Action, 4 "Schools withOut Contracts" were Closed, 7 Places for Worship (including a Salafist Mosque) were Closed", while a New Law "renovated the Monitoring of Private Establishments withOut Contract, in order to Avoid composts of Radicalisation", so that "the Procedure of Opposition to their Opening was triggered for 15 Times" until now.
- "But this Fight against Radicalisation must also take place even Inside the Schools of the (French) Republic", he added. So that, f..ex., "Secular Units were set up in each Academy, 350 Professionals Trained, ready to Help Teachers to face eventual Attacks against Republican Values", and "more than 1.000 Situations were Noted and Treated : While Before that, they existed, but were often Silenced, Hidden or escamotated, from Now on, we Face them", he stressed. + And, "in our Times, full of Fake News and Plot stories, Needing to develop a Critical Spirit to our Youth, ..and the Intellectual Tools allowing to take Distance and raise Questions, More Efforts are necessary": F.ex., "on 2019, the Week of Press and Medias in School mobilized more than 18.000 Establishments, in cooperation with 2.800 Médias partners".
+ Similar Struggle also "inside Prisons, ...where, f.ex., the Building of WaterProof Quarters was Accelerated, in order to Separate from Ordinary Inmates, those Detainees Condemned for Terrorist Crimes, or Spoted as Radicalized". And "we Accelerate the establishment of PluriDisciplinary Teams to Monitor Radicalisation and Accompagny Detainees in their process of Disengagement", while also "Strengthening the means of Penitentiaries' Intelligence", etc.
++ Moreover, "this Fight has also to be fought even inside the World of Sport", f.ex. in "Gyms", etc. : Because "we Refuse that Sport, in general, a number of Associations or Equipments, become areas of Communautarism and withdrawal/closure" : So that "a Mechanism of Sensibilisation, set up by the Ministry of Sports, has mobilized Nowadays 2.000 Actors specialy Trained, and 34 Sports' Federations have now a "Citizenship referant", (etc).
+++ At the Same Time, "Efforts were made to Return Back from our (France's) Borders, to Expel from the National Territory, those who came to import Hate and Division : Since April 2018, about 300 Aliens in Irregular situation, Registered in the Files for prevention of Terrorism-related Radicalisation ("FSFRT"), were Pushed Away or Abandoned the National Territory", he pointed out.
=> This State of Affairs might be Positive, But, Obviously, we are Not Satisfied by that", and "we Want to do Better", Philippe critically vowed for the foreseable Future.
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+ "New Strategy" :
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- Indeed, Today, we (the "Inter-Ministerial Committee for Prevention of Crime and Radicalisation") have chosen to be in Strasbourg, ...in order to show that, 4 Months After that Attack which killed 5 Persons in the Christmas' Market (12/2018), ... our Determination -that of the Government, of the Local Representatives, of the entire Nation, has Not faltered". But, it's also because "this Morning, We wanted to Draw the Conclusions of that Attack", Philippe pointed out :
- "One of the points seen at Strasbourg's Attack is that there Can be a Continuum between (ordinary) Crime, Radicalisation and Terrorism", he noted, (concerning, however, a phenomenon already seen elsewhere before, among several recent Islamist Terrorism Murders cowardly targetting Civilian People, as, f.ex., in the UK, elsewhere in France, etc, while also "Radicalisation in Prisons" was notoriously growing). "Delinquancy does not necessarily lead to Terrorism, far from that", "but" there is "a Porosity which May Lead from one to another", he noted soberly.
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+ Moreover, "this Morning, we ...reviewed also the case of the Killer of Strasbourg : Already spoted since 8 Years of Age, by the National Education, he was Condemned, for the 1st Time, at 14 Years of age, faced his 1st Jail Sentence at 16 Years of age". "At the End", we have "a Total of 24 Condemnations and 7 Years of Jail, to which are Added also the sentences given in Germany and in Switzerland"...
=> So that "his (Murderous) Act reveals the collective Incapacity of all (Public) Actors to Stop a Worrying Drift, to Stop a Criminal Drift, which, at the End, fusioned with a Radicalisation path", Denounced Philippe.
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>>> "That's why I wished ... a New Strategy to Prevent Delinquancy", the French Prime Minister announced.
- "This Strategy must be Coherent with all the Other Public Policies supported by the Government : The Public Security policies, which have a Priority in Suburbs for Republican Reconquista, but also the Strategies of Fight against Poverty, the Strategies for Protection of Children, and for Mental Health, (etc)".
- "Because when a Kid or a Teenager Drops out, this is due to Multiple Factors - Familial, Social, Psychological - and they must be apprehended in their Globality, if we want to be able to bring a Credible and Sustainable Reply", he stressed.
- "This Strategy will be built around certain Simple Ideas, that I shall Highlight :"
- "At First, we must intervene Earlier and Faster", the French Prime Minister warned. "The 2013-2017 Strategy to Prevent Delinquancy was Focused on the Public of 12-25" Years old, he reminded. But, "we observe -as also all (public) actors did- that there is either a General Rejuvenation of Culprits, or, at least, they Surface at a Younger Age, which Needs to develop a capacity of an Intervention, Detection and Action much Earlier".
+ "I also propose to give to Local Actors, First of all to Elected Local Representatives, as many of them ask, the Means to Intervene vis a vis those Youngsters and their Families", Philippe added. F.ex., "the Family of the above mentioned Terrorist had been Followed by various Services during a Long Time, but, there too, withOut allowing to Avoid that Drift". => "We must Strengthen our Action there", he added.
++ "3rd simple Idea : We must go and Find those Youngsters there where they are, i.e. often in the Streets, often at the Internet, withOut Waiting to detect them inside the Institutions", Philippe urged. "Thus, we have a lot to do in order to ameliorate Mediation work, including by Night, in Mobility, at the Internet and Social Networks", he pointed out.
+++ But, in parallel, he pointed also at the Creation of a "Scientific Council on the process of Radicalisation", which was Decided just 1 Day After the December 11, 2018, Deadly Islamist Terrorist Attack in Strasbourg (by Decree of 12/12/2018): Even earlier Today, when we met with one of the Associations workin to Prevent Delinquancy, they spoke themselves about the Need "not merely to act, but also to Think, Understand, and Develop Research in those matters", as he said, referring to "the 1st Time that this Scientific Council on Radicalisation process met on April 2 (2019), co-Chaired by the Minister for Universities, Research and Innovation, Frederique Vidal, and the JHA's Secretary of State, Laurent Nunez", (comp. Nunez' Reply to "Eurofora"s Question, at: ..., etc).
>>> -"This Council is a Unique Initiative in Europe, in order to boost Dialogue between Institutions' representatives, Security actors, and Researchers in Human/Social Sciences", Philippe stressed : "In fact it's very Important", because "it's Indispensable to Understand Better, and to Know Better, in order to Better Act, more Efficiently", and "I Expect very much to EnLighten and Help at the Public Decision-Making" process, the French Prime Minister concluded.
=> - "From Today, Opens a Period of Time for Concertation with Elected Representaives, on this "New Strategy" to Prevent Delinquancy, and this will durate Until the Summer" 2019, so that "it wil allow us to ...see Where those Tools which had been initially set up by a Law of 2007 (i.e. Before the Islamist Terrorist Attacks) on Preventing Delinqancy, must be Consolidated, and where they must be Adapted" to the new situation, Philippe concluded.
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+ However, several Converging Facts, (particularly seen at Strasbourg's 11 December 2018 Deadly Terrorist Attack : Comp. Supra, bu also in Others), Raise Questions which do Not Yet seem to have been sufficiently (or not at all) included explicitly enough in the above-mentioned approaches, and/or, at least, remain still Open and UnAnswered until now...
- F.ex., among others, when "Eurofora" asked the Mayor of Strasbourg, Roland Ries, during a Press-point just after Prime Minister Philippe's above-mentioned announcements to Journalists (Comp. Supra), whether the initial "Mystery" of what made the Armed Thug of 11 December 2018 to, suddenly, Become a Deadly Islamist Terrorist cowardly Targetting innocent and helpless Civilian People, had been, 4 Months Afterwards, at last Dissipated, perhaps by Finding out what was the Content of that Mysterious "Phone Call from Germany", after which he reportedly Started the Deadly Attacks, surprizingly Ries had Nothing to say :
- No, I have Not been yet Informed neither about the concrete Content of that Phone Call, Nor about whether it might have been Important, or Not, for what Triggered those Attacks, Ries replied, in substance, to "Eurofora"s relevant Questions, leaving them Open and still Pending, in either ways !
- Strange, considering Also the Double Fact that the Killer had Notorious Personal Links with similar Detainees in German (and Swiss) Prisons (notorious locations for Radicalisation, recently), during Many Years in the Past (Comp. Supra),
+ as well as that the French JHA's Secretary of State, Laurent Nunez, had already told "Eurofora", earlier, (in reply, precisely, to our Question on European Cooperation in Protecting Stasbourg's Christmas Market from Terrorist risks), that there was, indeed, an important Cooperation on such matters, both with neighbouring Germany, and other Countries, (See : ..., etc)...
++ It's also a Fact that the Deadly Terrorist Attacks took place in Strasbourg precisely at an important DAY of EU Parliament's Plenary Session for December 2018,
while, if anyone might, eventually, wish to Disrupt Only the Christmas Market alone, he would obviously have almost two MONTHS of Time to do so, at many Other moments, (Since November 2018)...
Indeed, EU Parliament's work was Seriously Affected by that Deadly Terrorist Attack, since, inter alia, all People working there were suddenly "Locked in", during Many Hours, and over-Night, from 8 p.m. of Monday evening, up to around 4 a.m. of Tuesday Morning, (some even longer), with UnCertainties and Anxiety dominating most Moods during all this Time, particularly as the Killer or Killers had Not yet been Found by the Police, and still Circulated Free DownTown ! (See, f.ex., inter alia, also : ..., etc).
+++ Moreover, all these UnPrecedented Brutal Incidents, suddenly occured at the Eve of an Exceptionaly Important Official Visit and Speech to EU Parliament's Plenary by the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastassiades, scheduled for precisely, Early Next Morning, at the Beginning of Tuesday, 12 December, who notoriously meant also to Speak about the latest Political Developments on efforts to bring Peace/ReUnification of the Island, after the recent Deadlock provoked mainly by Turkey's persisting insistance to Keep part of its Foreign Occupation Troops in that EU Member State, and its Claims for even more Unilateral Military Interventions eventually in the Future...
=> Just After the Terrorist Attacks, some MEPs even Asked to ... Skip that Agenda of EU Parliament, (i.e. practically Excluding Cyprus' President's scheduled Speech at the Plenary, as he had also to leave Strasbourg and meet his collegues in Brussels for the forthcoming EU Summit, (as even "Eurofora"'s co-Founder did), and it's only thanks to EU Parliament President Antonio Tajani's firm Will to Defend the Official Agenda, that Terrorism failed to Change it...
But, inevitably, a Heavy Damage was Provoked, meanwhile : F.ex., among others, as also observed in that Plenary the Experienced mainstream MEP Eleni Theocharous (a Head of Party from Cyprus), that Terrorist Attack had practically Hindered most MEPs to even simply Assist and be Present at the subsequent, Tuesday early Morning's Session, since, after what had happened, they didn't have Time to Sleep overnight (Comp. Supra) ! Even "Eurofora"s co-Founder, who was Completely Deprived of Any Time to Sleep at all, but managed to be Present early Morning on Tuesday, at EU Parliament from the Start, finally ... Fainted, exhausted, at least for a Part of that unique Event, (so that we had to try to Catch-up Later-on, while Tavelling to Brussels)...
Indeed, the Situation was so much Disrupted, that even the Official "Press-point" for accredited Journalists, earlier Announced by EU Parliament, with its President Tajani and Cyprus' President Anastassiades, was, Surprisingly ... Cancelled, (apparently because too many European Collegues had simply ... Slept that Morning, withOut Time to arrive into EU Parliament early enough, Obliging de facto to Limit Anastassiades merely into a Short Briefing of a Few Cypriot Collegues who had arrived Exceptionaly from the island with him, inside another, small closed roomlet)...
>>> But, a Main Point of what he had to say then, (particularly on the New UNO's "Terms of Reference" for an eventual Resumption of succesful Top Diplomatic Talks with the Turkish side asap), was particularly Important for Europe, since it concerned not only the immediate and Long-term Future of one of its Member States, but also its Relations with Neighbouring Turkey, as well as EU's Direct Energy Supplies from Cyprus/Israel/Egypt+ agreed Cooperation, particularly after Recent Findings, in addition to Stability and Peace in a Strategic Area, facing Suez Channel, Lebanon Syria, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the whole Middle East, (etc).
=> Who might, eventually, have any Interest to practically Muzzle (or, a least, Seriously Diminish in public impact) Cyprus' President's exceptional and Topical message to EU Parliament, at that crucial juncture ? And could he have any possible Link, in practice, eventually with some Lobbies in Germany, who might have become related with Strasbourg's Islamist Terrorist Killer through one or another Detainees in German Prisons in the Past, to the point that, perhaps, that Mysterious, last-Minute Phone Call from Germany might have Triggered his sudden Murderous Attacks (Comp. Supra) ?...
- At any case, all these Facts, (and much More, in Other Cases of Islamist Terrorism too), clearly show that the Surprizing Lack, in Today's Anti-Radicalisation Meeting in Strasbourg (Comp. Supra), of any Representative from the Foreign Ministry of France, who could be well Aware of all the Foreign and Diplomatic Policy stakes, links and interests, eventually existing in this or that event, might prove to be regrettable.
Indeed, a given Terrorist Risk might appear to be mostly "Endogenous", (Comp. Supra), But, in our Era of Globalisation, it's often Impossible to Pre-Judge a priori that such a MultiFacet and Tricky Problem as an Islamist Terrorist Incident, might, eventually, be Exclusively, 100% "Endogenous" or "Exogenous", since, many times, Internal and External Factors criss-cross eachother, in real practice, and/or are somehow, more or less Associated.
F.ex., even "ISIS" Deadly Islamist Terrorism, (Cowardly Targetting innocent and defenseless Civilian People, often even atrociously BeHeading them), in Syria and Iraq, was it an Exclusively "Endogenous", or "Exogenous" phenomenon there ?...
If some claim that it was "Endogenous", then, How could they Explain the Fact that Most of ISIS' Members arrived from Various Other Countries, mainly through Turkey, from where notoriously Transited also ISIS' Arms Supplies and various Other Logistic items, while also Transited ISIS' "Exports" in Smuggling stolen Oil/Gas, even Ancient Cultural Heritage items, etc. ?
To Return back to Strasbourg, its long-time Major, Roland Ries, had Earlier Replied to another "Eurofora" Question, during a Press-Diner organized by the Press Club here, about how he had managed, until then, to Avoid any Deadly Islamist Terrorism in Strasbourg, while, in Brussels it had already made many Victims : - It's probably because in Brussels there were, already from the Past, some very Islamized Suburbs, while, on the Contrary, in Strasbourg, we have managed to keep, in principle, a Balanced Cultural Diversity in Suburbs, withOut provoking any kind of "Ghetto", Ries had told us then, (adding, however, in fine, a small Reserve, as far as it concerns a so-called "Pressure from the Market" pushing towards, at least, some kind of cultural Ghettoisation)...
But, Meanwhile, it's also a Fact that, a former City Counselor, who had come from Turkey in Europe in order to study ... "Turcology" in Strasbourg (sic !), and Famous for her alleged Knowledge of "Belly Dance" (re-sic), suddenly Changed a Popular initial Plan of Strasbourg City to Build a Tram Station among Family Homes in a heavily inhabited Suburb, (which would be called "Victor Hugo" Station), and, withOut any Concertation of the concerned Population, Imposed to Cancel that Tram station, and to Put, in its place, a Big Islamic Mosque, (which had been, initialy, scheduled for anOther location in that Suburb). So that, afterwards, all those numerous Inhabitants of most Family Homes, are still Obliged to Walk accross Too Long Distances by Foot, (even in the Rain, Snow, or Heatwave, etc), almost 1 km away, before they can reach anOther, Older Tram Station, located Too Far Away from their Homes. However, this wasn't enough : Real Practice proved that, in fact, there were Not Enough People who needed such a Mosque there, so that its First StoneWalls, were soon Abandoned, any Building activity was Stoped for too Long, to the point that Rain and Snow, etc, were progressively transforming those Abandoned Walls into Ruins... Suddenly, just a few Weeks after the 1st Islamist Terrorism Horrible Massacre in France against "Charlie Hebdo''s Journalists, back on 2015, appeared an UnKnown Stranger with a White Djellaba, who later was found to be a Representative of ...Quatar (sic !), and, immediately, Money was found (from Abroad) to Finish the Building of that Mosque in that place (that the Local Population had proved that they didn't care so much about building it there, or elsewhere, or not at all : Comp. Facts Supra). So that, still Today, all the Children living in the numerous surrounding Family Homes, instead of having (as it had been initially promised) a brand new "Victor Hugo" Tram Station Near their Homes, on the Contrary, they face only a "Quatar" Mosque, and are Obliged to Walk too Far Away before reaching some other, old and Remote Tram Stations, exhausted. (Meanwhile, that controversial Turkish former City Counselor Quarelled with the Majority of Strasbourg City, Resigned and Abandoned her post, Leaving to make a another Career Elsewhere, apparently not giving a damn for those Poor Children, Mothers, Old People, etc, who are Deprived from the promised normal Public Transports near their Homes). Soon, most French and/or Other European People progressively ... Abandoned that Suburb, around that precise area, which became almost Exclusively Full of Only some Ostensibly Islamized Groups, who Monopolize those Streets as Never seen Before in the History of that Strasbourg's suburb, Risking to be transformed in a Cultural Ghetto, (where, on the Contrary, used to live Together, Various and Diverse Communities, European and Not European, in Harmony, in the Past).
Now, is that Turkey and Qatar provoked Problem, ... an "Endogenous", or an "Exogenous" one ?
+ And, perhaps, the Most Important : - How will manage those Poor Children, most of Foreign Origin, who are living there, to become really and succesfully "Integrated" in France's and all Europe's Culture and Society ? Instead of a "Victor Hugo" new Tram Station, Near their Homes, together with a Diverse but Balanced Population of Various Origins and Cultures (where a Mosque had, in fact, its place, but at anOther Location, nearby : Comp. Supra), on the Contrary, now they Risk to be Condemned to Walk too Far Away in seeking a Public Transport, and to stay Closed in a kind of Artificially provoked Cultural Ghetto, withOut Any Diversity, nor Balance, any more (Comp. Supra)...
But, who really Cares about these Poor Children's Future ?
It's a sympathetic Algerian-origin Lady who had Questioned, in the Past, a former President of France, about the Fact that, Unlikely to the situation in which she had Lived and grown as a kid, with her Father and Mother, among a Diverse Population in Marseilles, where all were "speaking French", on the Contrary, Nowadays, the Young Immigrants are pushed to be all Concentrated at a Northern Suburb of the City, where almost Nobody speaks now French, (except perhaps a few)...
-"How shall they manage to get integrated in the Society of the Country ?", she naively (but honestly) wondered...
+ And, it's another Immigrant from Arab Countries, nowadays a serious and efficient Driver in Strasbourg, who asked, Recently, "Eurofora"s co-Founder, about the Fact that, as he characteristically denounced, ..."just a few Kms away from your European Institutions' Quarter, is located a Suburb with Low-Cost Family Homes, where I live, withOut almost Any French or other European People, still staying there, no more, Contrary to the Past. How can our City develop well, and Live Harmoniously Together, with such Separated (Cultural) Ghettos ?, he rightfully Wondered in substance.
Once again : Is it really an "Endogenous", or an "Exogenous" Problem ? (Comp. Supra)...
At any case, Meanwhile, the Brutal Murderer of 5 innocent Civilian People at that December 2018 Islamist Terrorist Attack (Comp. Supra), had reportedly transfered his own Residence at a Nearby, Adjacent Suburb ("Poteries", Western Strasbourg area), ...close to that Qatar-paid, Post-Charlie Hebdo massacre (Comp. Supra), displaced Mosque.
=> At least, shouldn't Prime Minister Philippe's brand new "Scientific Councils on the process of Radicalisation" (Comp. Supra), include "Researchers" Both on National and International Issues, in order to become able to have a Balanced and Full View of what really is the Heart of the Matter ?
(../..)
------------------------------------------------
Prime Minister Bakhtadze (Georgia, next CoE Head) to EF: Potential for direct Energy Transport to EU

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Fothcoming CoE's President in office, (from November 2019), the Young Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhadze, Replying to an "Eurofora"s Question, stressed that here is an untapped yet Potential for Direct Energy Transports from the Kaspian Sea Directly to Europe, and Georgia intends to become a Key-Player for that in the foreseable Future.
Bahktadze was KeyNote Speaker to PanEuropean CoE's Parliamentary Assembly's Spring 2019 Plenary Session, this week in Strasbourg, where was also invited his Neighbour, new Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Earlier, a Draft Plan nick-named "AGRI" (for Azerbaidjan - Georgia - Romania IterConnector") had already eyed a Tripartite Cooperation towards Energy Transports directly to Europe, through the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, Romania discovered also its own OffShore Energy Resources.
- "Given the Stategic Location of your Country (Georgia), are you currently open to International Cooperation ideas or projects for Direct Transport of Energy, f.ex. from Kaspian Sea etc., to Europe ?", asked "Eurofora" the Prime Minister Bakhtadze.
- "Absolutely !", he Positively reacted from the outset, in this regard.
- Already we are Connected into various Energy Transport lines, including Baku - Tbilisi, a.o., he observed, inter alia.
+ But, it seems that there is also a Big unused Potential of available Energy in the Kaspian area, Bakhtagze added.
=> So, I think that we (Georgia) should become a Key-Player in Energy Flows towards our European Family, the Georgian Prime Minister voluntaristically concluded in his Reply to "Eurofora" with a smile.
(../..)
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- "Europe must be liberated from this undermining "wooden talk" of a "unique thought" which hampers democratic debates", stressed incoming EU Chairman, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking to Journalists after his official meeting with EU Commission's President, Jose Barroso, at Elysee Palace in Paris
- "It's precisely because there are not enough Debates, that EU hasn't managed yet to make it clear to European citizens what is really at stake", he added, in an obvious reference to the latest Irish "No" in 2008, after a long series of similar, unprecedented events, from the 1st Majority Abstention to EU Parliament's Elections in 1999, repeated in 2004, to the Dutch and French "No" in 2005, etc.

- "This is not an easy period, but we shall act with determination, while also listening to Citizens' views", he promised.
Sarkozy's move came shortly before his opening Speech, next week in EU Parliament in Strasbourg, for the first Public Debate on the Priorities of the French EU Presidency (July - December 2008), and that's one of the reasons for which he significantly opened his EU Council's Chairmanship by welcoming at Elysee palace EU Parliament's President, German MEP Hans Gert Poettering at first..
The incoming EU Chairman was replying to Press Questions about rumours that controversial British EU Commissioner on Trade, Mandelson, was alone to drop an invitation to have a working Diner at Elysee palace, together with all other EU Commissioners and the French Government, only because he would have been upset for some critical points made earlier by President Sarkozy in defense of European Agriculture vis-a-vis its Foreign competitors.
But, as smiling Sarkozy played down Mandelson's reported refusal to debate, saying that he had to visit Marseille for a Ministerial meeting on Trade the next morning, and that "all our British friends are always welcome to taste a nice diner" in France, perhaps at another occasion..
- "It's urgent to win anew the trust of the People" : Lately, "the European ideal lost its momentum. Since several years, whenever Citizens are questioned on Europe, they react with reserves : They even have .. a tendency to reply "NO".. After this 3rd "No" of a People in some years, there is an Urgency to convince", added French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, after a meeting earlier the same day of all Ministers with EU Commissioners, followed by an interview with Barroso
"According to recent Polls, only 30% of French people believe that the European construction is a source of hope. It's only a poll, but we all now quite well, that, since 2005, it's dangerous to neglect these alarming signals, as it would be dangerous to treat with contempt the Irish "No", Fillon warned.
"We all have a common duty to prove to the European Citizens who have doubts, that EU is more useful, more necessary, than ever" : And "that EU can take decisions needed in order to respond to European or Global challenges", the Prime Minister concluded.
- "We believe, together with President Sarkozy, that EU should open debates on all issues of direct, concrete interest to Citizens", confirmed later to EuroFora the Head of France's governing party (UMP), Patrick Devedjan, after his speech to the European People's party (EPP) Study Days in Paris (2 - 4 July 2008).
He didn't deny that one of them is Turkey : - "Public Opinion in France is very much unfavorable to Turkey's EU bid, and President Sarkozy has said that several times", he told EuroFora.
From European Central Bank's controversial policies on Euro's value, to EU Enlargement Strategy, etc., issues of obvious importance to EU Citizens will be plenty, next week in EU Parliament in Strasbourg, before President Sarkozy launches the debates on EU 2008 French chairmanship's priorities on Thursday.