newsitems

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- One of the 2 Leaders of the co-Winners of EU Parliament's Sakharov for 2017, (all Oppressed Dissidents to Maduro's controversial regime in Venezuela), f. Caracas' Mayor Antonio Ledezma, (an Experienced Politician with Long career at various Top Jobs, from Parliament to Senate, etc), who has just Escaped from that Latino-American Country where he was under various forms of Arrest for Many Years, in an Interview to "Eurofora", stressed the Need for "Unity" and "Hope" in order to achieve peacefully "Freedom".

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- "Eurofora" initially asked Ledezma if he thought that National Political Unity might be Possible in Venezuela, despite, or rather because of the various exceptional Hardships that its Population is Facing nowadays.

- "It's not just Possible, but also absolutely Necessary !", Ledezma immediately reacted to "Eurofora"s above-mentioned Question.

 - Since "it's with Unity that we can Find a Solution".

- "This will make possible for Venezuela to get Free from that Tyranny"

- "And, for that purpose, an Agreement is needed".

- In order to "Dissipate any Doubts and Reach a Convergence in the Criteria", he Highlighted.

- "Because we (the Opposition) are currently Dispersed, and it's a method of the Tyranny to <<Divide and Rule>>".

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 - "Eurofora" also Asked Tedezma whether he found possible to broker a Political Agreement between the Opposition and the current Government.

 - "We have Tried, in a process of  Dialogue, already some Time ago".

 - "But, Unfortunately, they (Madero's regime) Abused of our Good Faith, according to which we had organized those Discussions", he replied.

- Indeed, "the Citizens of Venezuela were Deprived from their Rights, from Possibilities to Act as Citizens", he concluded on this point.

 
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 - "If an International Pressure is exerted adequately, do you think that a National Government for Political Transition might be accepted (by all involved) ?", "Eurofora" asked Ledezma in fine.

- "That would be a Legitimate Aim" to seek.

- Indeed, it's by exerting Pressure that Venezuela may Free itself from this Everyday Tyranny", he Briefly reacted, without going to further concrete details.  

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- "Despite Everything, are you Optimist that you may Succeed to Find a Peaceful Solution ?", "Eurofora" asked, in Conclusion.

- "As Winston Churchil used to say, the only thing to do is to remain Optimist : Never Lose Faith and Hope !"

- "And those who struggle for Venezuela must be animated by such a Hope", Ledezma concluded, with a smile.

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But he stressed, Earlier, speaking at a Meeting with Families of the Prisoners among Venezuela's Opposition, (to whom EU Parliament decided, this year, to Award is Annual "Sakharov" Prize for "Freedom of Thought", via its President, Antonio Tajani), that, unfortunately, given the current situation, we cannot say that we are "Glad" to be in Strasbourg, since the Events still going on in Venezuela, keep as "Sad".       

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 - Indeed, as the other Leading Co-Winner of the 2017 "Sakharov" Prize, National Parliament's President, Julio Borges, described later-on, at EU Parliament's Plenary, among others, "Malnutrition affects Most Children", the People of Venezuela have generally "Lost about - 10kg each" recently, there is an "Urgent Need for many Medical Drugs", (etc),  But, "instead of Bitterness", we "must Not Lose Hope", and "will Not Stop Fighting, until a Real Change and Democracy" is restored .            

    
    - In fact, Venezuela is a Country with Rich Natural Resources, (as Oil/Gas, etc), where "Sums 10 Times the UN Budget" have been wasted during a regime with Corruption and even links to "Drug Dealers transporting Cocaine to Europe", etc, (a quite Long-Time Traffic that CoE's Experts had noticed from Wider Latin America areas, via Turkish Smugglers ,, etc, as they had told Journalists in Strasbourg in the Past, including "Eurofora"s co-Founder), Ledezma added.

    >>> However, the main point is that - "Freedom is as Vital as Oxygen !", Antonio Ledezma stressed also at EU Parliament's Plenary, ensuring that Dissident People seek "Not Revenge, but Justice".

    => EU Parliament's President, Antonio Tajani, criticizing Out-goin President Maduro's recent Decision to Exclude main Opposition's Candidates in the Forthcoming Presidential Elections, stressed, inter alia, mainly the Need for "Free Elections, with the Participation of All, so that the People of Venezuela can Decide its Future"

 EU Parliament's Plenary gave a Standing Ovation to all the Families of Political Prisoners of Venezuela's Opposition, which includes a large variety of tendencies, both of the Right and of the Center and Left.

Curiously, for a Successor of "Progressist" former Venezuela President Chavez, some had pushed under various pretexts,  Maduro, these Days, to Visit the controversial ...Turkish President Tayip Erdogan, in the traditionally Oppressive Turkey, for the 2nd Time in a row during this Autumn 2017...

(../..)

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(NDLR : Most = Fast Translation in English from Spanish, via the French language. Original = Available).

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*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo(Partly UPDATED)/- EU Parliament's Environment, Health and Food Safety Committee's vice-President, "Green" MEP Benedek Javor, speaking to "Eurofora", strongly Condemned an attempt to Legitimise the use of Chemicals suspected to provoke Cancer and/or other Health Problems mainly in "Kebab" Meet, Against which Voted, afterwards, also a clear Majority of 373 MEPs in the Plenary session of this week in Strasbourg, (See Infra).

Even if, for Procedural Technicalities, that subsequent Move isn't reportedly enough yet (allegedly because of a Required "Qualified Majority") in order to automatically Stop a Controversial EU Commission Draft Regulation threatening to Openly Allow the use of such Glyphosate in "Kebap" and other such street shops, largely used by unwarned People, nevertheless, the Serious Doubts provoked by Conflicting Technical Expertises, and a partial Lack of Transparency, should, normally, Dissuade from Exposing EU Citizens to "UnKnown" Risks, without a Serious, in Depth, and Transparent Scientific Assessment, he pointed out in substance.

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Particularly when it comes almost at the Same Time that Cancer new illnesses have already Reached More than 716.000 per year, and are expected to Augment considerably, from 3,6 Millions up to 4,3 Millions during the Next 2 Decades, as Professor Josef Puchta, of the German Center of Research on Cancer DKFZ, has just anounced, according to Press Reports. To the point that, Worldwide, several People start to Wonder what really happened with all those Millions and Millions € of Public and Private Funds spend in Genetic Technologies during recent decades, allegedly "for the Fight Against Cancer", withOut any known notable positive Result, since Deaths, instead of being Reduced, on the Contrary Persist and even Augment Further...

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- Concerning, particularly, "Phosphoric Acid" and other Doubtful Chemicals destinated to ordinary Meat Food, such as "Kebab", etc., for which EU Parliament had Decided to Debate and Vote a Resolution during this week's Plenary Session in Strasbourg, "Eurofora" asked vice-President Javor, if he really believed that this was a particularly "Important" Issue, taking also into account the Fact that such Foodstaffs were very Largely Consumed by People who are Unaware of the various possible Health Dangers.

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 - "I think that it's an Important Issue", vPresident Javor stressed from the outset, in Reply to "Eurofora"s above-mentioned Question

- "It's not only about Glyphostat, not only about Food Safety, but it's also about Transparency and Accountability of the (EU) Institutions", in general, concerning particularly such matters of Human Health and Nature, he warned, pointing at a Wider scope.

-"The Problem with Glyphosite is that we don't exactly Know the Effects of that"

- ".. EFSA tells us that it's Harmless, it has no Cancerogenic effects, IAT say that there Are !"

- "But it shows that there are Adverse Effects (Facts ?)

 => "It's a Scientific Debate, which should be Solved in a Scientific Way"

- "But EFSA does Not Publish some of the Studies which were used for its Conclusion that there is No Cancerogenic effect of Glaphosyte".

- "And some among those Studies that they used, are Studies coming from the MONSANTO (notorious Multinational Bio-Tech. Corporation from the USA, known for its "Hard" Stance to Impose and spread Genetic Manipulation of Plants/Animals, World-wide, f.ex. Corn, GMOs etc)

=> "So, we have Reasons to Question the Reliability of those Studies"...

>>> - "So, I think that a 1st, and most Important, Start for the Dialogue, would be a Will to Make the relevant European Procedure much more Transparent and Accountable, and for Other Issues" too, he concluded.

+ For that purpose, vice-President Javor told "Eurofora" that, already, he had "Met with the (EU Justice) Court"s representatives, Earlier Today
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(+ UPDATED) During the subsequent Vote; at EU Parliament's Plenary, a Big Majority of 403 MEPs Voted Yes, or Abstained, on a Resolution Asking to Stop that Risk.  Only a comparatively Small Minority of 272 Voted Against such a Resolution, which "Oppose(d) the adoption of the draft Commission regulation", and "Calle(d) on the (EU) Commission to Withdraw the Draft Regulation".

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Without initially mentioning explicitly Cancer yet, that important Resolution Warns, f.ex., also about "Cardio-Vascular Diseases", that such Chemicals "may impair Bone Health", and/or provoke various Other "Far Reaching Public Health Implications"

Such possible Risks could have a Wide Impact on Many People's Health, since "by means of derogation after derogation, the use of Phosphates as Additives has been approved in More and more Meat preparations, thereby legalising usage", while "Phosphate additives have been and Still are being illegally used in frozen Vertical Spits (f.ex. "Kebab", etc)  in several Member States", as EU Parliament's Resolution Denounces.

Moreover, "Frozen Vertical Meat Spits ("Kebap", etc) are destined for the Out-of-Home sector" (f.ex. Street "Kebab-Shops"), and "that means that Consumers are Not Informed about the use of phosphates as food additives in these products, since they are Not Labelled" at all...

Therefore, EU Parliament's Resolution also "Calls on the (EU) Commission to effectively Verify that Member States adequately enforce current Union Legislation pertaining to the use of Food Additives in Meat preparations".

And that crystal-clear Majority of MEPs also Remind the Fact that, according to EU Law (article 6 of Regulation EC No 1333/2008), "a Food Additive may be included ... Only If, on the basis of the Scientific Evidence available, it does Not pose a Safety Concern to the Health of the consumer at the level of use proposed", as a matter of General Principle.

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- 47 Member States-strong (including Russia) CoE's Top Political Body, its Committee of (Foreign) Ministers, officialy Raised Questions to Turkey about "Complicity" to "UnLawful Sales and Exploitation" of "Greek Cypriot" Refugees' "Homes and Properties" in the "Part of Cyprus" which is still Occupied by Ankara's Foreign Army, 43 Years after the 1974 Turkish Military Invasion of the now EU Member Country's Northern Territories, and Warned the Turks with "Measures", if they do Not "Address the Issue" in 9 Months Time, i.e. Before "September 2018".

    + Meanwhile, in Addition, the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law's Ministers also "Firmly Insisted, once again, that the Obligation to Pay the Just Satisfaction Awarded by the European Court, is UnConditional", and Called "the Turkish Authorities" to tell what "Steps" they took "for the Payment" due since several Years.

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    >>> It's Already during More than ... 35 Years Now (1992-2017 !), Starting as Early as since 1992, that the PanEuropean/International Community has been officially informed by the CoE, inter alia, also for Massive and Continuous Violations of Human Rights of Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced Persons, obliged to Flee the Turkish Military Invasion/Occupation of the Northern part of the Island since 1974, (i.e. about 20% of the Total Population of the Country), when the PanEuropean Organisation's Committee of Ministers authorized, for 1st Time, the Publication, in Strasbourg, of a "Hot" Report with the Conclusions of the European Committee on Human Rights, (which was, then, Key part of ECHR's Mechanism), that had, in fact, been Adopted since the 1980ies, (but held "Secret" until 1992, by the Opposition of a Turkish lobby)...  

    + Followed ECHR's landmark Judgements Condemning Ankara's Government on 1994-1998, initially at the individual Case of a Woman Refugee/IDP, Tina Loizidou, (Comp. Loizidou's statements to "Eurofora"s co-Founder, Published then at "TCWeekly" or "PIO/CNA"), and afterwards at the InterState case "Cyprus v. Turkey" of 2001, concerning also All G//C Refugees/IDPs, (Following an Historic, 1st ever, Public Hearing of the Parties in Strasbourg on 1994 : See "Eurofora" Co-Founder's Publication from the spot, then at "PIO/CNA").

    Since then, and After Various Other ECHR's Judgements on Similar Cases, particularly between 2006 - 2010/2013, concerning Mainly the Concrete Ways through which this Strasbourg Court's case-law should be Applied in real Practice, (which had, Meanwhile, become also an International Legal Standard, as attested, among others, also by the Landmark Report of UNO's Expert, Professor Pineiro, published by the UNCHCRefugees, Together with the UNHCHRights and UNSGeneral at nearby Geneva : Comp. "Eurofora" UN Top Legal Expert Pineiro's Statements to "Eurofora"s co-Founder, Published then at "TCWeekly": ... + ..., etc), ECHR's Great Chamber issued its Latest Important Judgement on this Issue on Spring 2014, when Euro-Judges mainly Denounced Strongly "Any ...COMPLICITY in Any  UnLawful Sale and Exploitation of Greek Cypriot Homes and Property in the northern part of Cyprus", as long as the still Continuing, Massive Violations by Turkey of Refugees/Displaced Persons' rights had Not Ceased, (See, "Eurofora"'s NewsReport  at : ...).

    >>> Today, this key Point is officially at the Base of CoE's Committee of Ministers' Latest Decision on that Issue, Published Now, which Also Reminds the Fact that the above-mentioned, Landmark ECHR 2014 Judgement clearly says that "Any" such "possible Permission, Participation, Acquiescence or Otherwise Complicity" in that delicate matter, is blatantly "Not Consistent" with "the Conclusions of the Main (ECHR) Judgement(s)", on GreekCyriot Refugees/IDP, and particularly its 2001 Judgement (Comp. Supra).

    Indeed, during all this time (1992-1994-2001 - 2017), as it was Denounced officially Earlier by the Government of Cyprus, in a Memorandum send to -and Published by- the CoE on December 2017, "Turkey has peristently failed and refused to take measures to suppress the unlawful sale or exploitation of Greek Cypriot Homes and property in the Occupied areas", where, "because of the Continuing Denial of Access to their properties, the Displaced persons have Lost all Control over, as well as the Possibilities to enjoy their land", by a "physical Exclusion of Greek Cypriots" from the Territories Invaded and Occupied by Ankara's Military :

    => Thus, "the Extent of the Illegal (Economic/Estate) Development of (Violently Usurpated) Property in the Occypied Areas, in Recent Years (2001 to 2007) has been on the Rise", reminded nowadays Cyprus, citting also relevant "Evidence of this", Already "Previously .. submitted ... to (CoE's) Committee" of Ministers, as well as the Fact that "its Accuracy has Not been Disputed".

    - F.ex., among others, the Extent of that "illegal development in the Occupied areas covered, approximately, 107 sq. KM" "in 2001", and it was Doubled : "207 sq. KM" "in 2007", "and 270 sq.KM" "in 2014". It "includes at least 85 Large and Medium scale Major (Economic/Estate) Developments", "as Evidenced by the relevant Certificates of Registration".

    + Moreover, "Data Collection and Articles in the Turkish Cypriot Press, Also show that Land Distribution to family members of Turkish Cypriot Politicians, the construction of Luxury Hotels, Land Distribution for Universities, and Large-Scale Concessions to Young Landless persons" are Continuing in Parallel, that officially communicated by the CoE text recalls.

    => So that, by adding also all this, through the Persistance of such Massive Human Rights Violations of G/C. Refugees/IDP, there is even a Threat to provoke Negative Political Consequences, because, in Fact, "Turkey is Attempting to Create an Irreversible "de facto" Situation, Permanently Obstructing the Return to Greek Cypriots of their properties in the Occupied Areas of Cyprus", it concludes.

    The Way in which such a Threat operates in real practice, was Spectacularly Reminded, these Same Days, also by a Demonstration of young Cypriot Students, during the Visit of Turkey's President Erdogan in Athens, which had Chosen, as Unique Moto to call Against the notoriously Massive Import of Turkish "SETTLERS" from Anatolia in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, (See relevant Photo), who are generally known as usually being the No 1 illegal Foreign Migrants' Group, to whom are reportedly Given also several Usurpated Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDPs' Homes and/or Other Properties, in Addition even to illegal "Passports" Massively attributing so-called "Citizenship" :

    A Thorny Issue against which, Already in the Past, Both CoE's Committee of Ministers, and CoE's Parliamentary Assembly, had adopted Decisions Warning that such attempts to "Alter the Demography" of the Island, (Against which, notoriously struggled even the Turkish Cypriot Dissident Journalist Kutlu Adali, who was Brutaly Murdered in the 1990ies, resulting in a Condamnation of Turkey by ECHR on 2004), Risk to Provoke even an additional "Political Obstacle" to a Peacefull Agreement for a real ReUnification of Cyprus in the Future, (by Artificially and illegaly creating a Group of - Foreign Origin- Population with obvious Interests to Perpetuate the Division of the Country, and, finally, its Partition, in one way or another).

    In Front of that, Turkey Focused its Claims mainly into Seeking to Limit, directly and/or indirectly, the Greek Cypriot Refugees/IPDs' Human Rights, more or less, Only on a partial Financial "Compensation" for what they called "Loss of Use", through a Controversial "Committee" that Ankara's protegées set up, and Unilaterally Control, in the Territories of Cyprus Occupied by Turkey's Military, while, in Addition, excessively Restricting or even Excluding the "Restitution" of Refugees/IDP's Family Homes and other Private Properties.

    + Moreover, Ankara went as Far as to dare Claim, also nowadays, (by their "Note" communicated in Strasbourg this Month) that CoE should (in their view) even ... "STOP" Monitoring the Implementation of ECHR's Judgements which have repeatedly Condemned Turkey for such (a.o.) Massive Violations of Human Rights in Cyprus, irrespectively of the Fact that almost all such ECHR's Decisions have Not Yet been Implemented, and almost all concerned Victims are Still Suffering from - and Exposed to- such Massive Human Rights' Violations !   

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    >>> But CoE's Top Body, its Ministerial Committee, concluding its Human Rights' Session of Winter 2017, this Week in Strasbourg, Rejected such Turkish Claims, by Asking, on the Contrary, from Ankara's Authorities to Give to the CoE "Information" on How might, eventually, be "Adressed", or not, "the Issue of Possible UnLawful Sale and Exploitation of the Properties in question", as it is stated in the relevant CoE's Decision, which has just been just published.

    In particular, CoE's Top Political body, its Ministrial Committee, (which has the Duty to "Supervise" the Execution of ECHR's Judgements by the Condemned States), officially Raised Questions about the uncertain "Effectiveness" of the "Existing ... Mechanism(s)" in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, still held by Ankara's Foreign Invasion/Occupation Army, and its "Practical Implementation" in reality.

    + Also, CoE Warned Turkey that it intends "to Assess", on the basis of relevant Facts, the "Need for Further Measures", that might prove necessary to Explicitly Ask Ankara to Take.

    In this regard, Cyprus has already suggested to the CoE,  a relevant Series of possible Practical Measures, that Turkey could and should Take in order to Comply with the above-mentioned ECHR's Judgements repeatedly Condemning Ankara for Massive and persisting Violations of Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDPs' Human Rights, (and, especially, ECHR's 2014 Finding : Comp. Supra), according to a relevant Note officialy published this week by the CoE in Strasbourg :

    - F.ex., inter alia :

* "Cease <<Transferts>> (including, but not limited to <<Sales>>, <<Leases>> and <<Mortgages>>) of Displaced Person's Properties, withOut their Consent";

* "Cease encouraging or promoting the Sale and/or Use of Greek Cypriot Properties, in the Occupied Areas of Cyprus, withOut their Consent";

* "Halt all Constructions on Greek Cypriot Properties, in the Occupied areas, carried out withOut the Consent of the Lawful property Owners";

and, in parallel, naturally "Pay the Amounts awared by the (PanEuropean) Court in its ... Judgement of 12 May 2014", (Comp. Supra), for the Damages Already Inflicted to the Victims until then.

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    + Last, but not least, by Fixing the above-mentioned Time Deadline of 9 Months, until "September 2018", CoE's Top Political Body, in Fact, gave to itself a Potentially Valuable Legal and Political Tool in order, also, to Help exert some Beneficial Pressure Towards an eventual Resumption of UNO-sponsored Talks for establishing Peace and ReUnification of Cyprus in the foreseable Future, since that Time-laps includes the forthcoming, crucial Presidential Elections in Cyprus, scheduled for the Beginning of Next Year.

    The Latest Deadlock witnessed at nearby Switzerland, earlier this year (2017), despite some notable Progress previously, mainly because of Ankara's Reluctance to Withdraw its Occupation Army when a Solution might have been agreed, and Turkey's persistent Claim to have a possibility for even more Unilateral Military Interventions during an Endless Future, under that or that Pretext, which has Blocked the Process, has, indeed, in the Meantime, been Exploited by some Turkish Politicians in order to either Threaten a Definite End of that Peace Process, and/or to Ask for even More Political Concessions, Threatening to Worsen, instead of Easing the current situation.

    So that even a simply Human Rights' issue, might, eventually, Help also for Peace and ReUnification, in a possible Solution of the Cyprus Issue, according to EU/CoE and UNO's Basic Values and Legal Principles.

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- When "Twitter" was Unexpectedly the only Big Internet Company Absent at CoE's Official Ceremony for the Signing of an Historic Agreement by the PanEuropean, 47 Member States-strong (including Russia as Full Member, and USA as Observer) Organisation for Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law, with Top Representatives of All Other Big Internet Players, Social Medias, TelCom. Networks and other Digital Companies, such as "Google", "Facebook", "Microsoft", "Apple", as well as French "Orange", "Deutsche Telecom", Spain's "Telefonika", European or Global Networks Associations "ETNO", "GSMA" +"GNI", Russia's "Kaspersky", etc.,  just a few Weeks Earlier in Strasbourg, (See "Eurofora"s NewsReport from the spot:...), it wasN't yet clear if it's due to the Scandal, just a few Days Earlier, of a Turkish Alien, Islamic Mosque's agent's interference to suddenly Block, without any previous Warning, new US President Don Trump's Access to such a notoriously Important Web Tool (See Infra)...   

Indeed, that Day, which coincided with the Official Opening of the 2017 "World Forum for Democracy" ("WFD" : See "Eurofora"s NewsReport from that Annual Event at : ...), the CoE was obviously seeking to create Trust for the Potential of such an Alliance with ICT Giant Companies in favor of Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law at the Internet. Not against...     

And President Trump, in a landmark Speech at Virginia, earlier his year 2017, had notoriously Denounced the fact that, since most Traditional Medias of the Establishment either Censor or grossly Distord his main Statements on "Hot" Political Issues, then, the Only Practical Way for the freshly Elected North American Head of State to reach out to American Citizens by Speaking to them, was to use his favorite...Internet Social Medias Tool : precisely "Twitter", where he has almost 45 Millions of "Followers". While, OtherWise, in real practice, he would be Hindered to even Speak to the People who Elected him, and would Not have been Elected at all, if such an Elementary Liberty did Not Exist, thanks to Free Internet Access by all, throughout the 2015-2016 Electoral Campain, as he Critically Observed.

>>> This Fits well, Today's move, by the ChristianDemocrat/European People's Party in Brussels, in the Context of a Wider Strategy for the Preparation of the forthcoming EU Parliament's Elections on May 2019, to debate, vote and adopt a Resolution on the Topical Issue of "Challenges of Fake News", which Warns "Not" to "Fall into the Trap of seeking to Impose Truth (sic !), through Government authorities or Private entities", (f.ex. ICT Corporations), as Timely and rightfully Denounced an EPP Press Release send also to "Eurofora".

=> On the Contrary, Truth must be Defended "Rather BY means of Free Exchange of IDEAS and ARGUMENTS", the ChristianDemocrats/EPP prefer.

+ As for "Build(ing) Trust and confidence in Democratic institutions", they prefer to do it "by means of Innovative Practices for Citizen Engagement and Awareness", (aparently, as, f.ex., "Eurofora"s long-standing Project for Public Debates between EU Citizens and Politicians,  before important Decisions seriously Affecting their Lives annd/or Society at large), as well as "Transparency and Ethical behaviour", goes on to add that Resolution, adopted Today by EPP's "Political Assembly".

- In fact, "We, the European People's Party", are "Standing Unequivocally for the Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Information, as Essential elements of Our Values System", the Resolution of the Political Movement which has the Biggest Group of MEPs in EU Parliament stresses, particularly "as More of us move to OnLine (i.e. Web) sources for News"

  - Nowadays, indeed, "the Internet ...has Led to a Shift in consumers Reading Habits", "a Shift from Print to Digital Platforms", EPP observes, pointing to the "Trending Decline of (Traditional) Neswspapers", "in tandem with the Digital Revolution".

=> Therefore, "in this new context, News organisations should quickly seek Innovative Technologies, and New business Models to adapt to the Digital Revolution", "in a Transition phase to this New Digital reality".

 - Among the required "Measures", are "also" those which "would expose CItizens to TrustWorthy Sources of  Information", "which, in turn, would Speed up the acquisition of Digital Literacy Skills".  

 >>> In fact, what's new is that "our  Societies  Need"  mainly "Independent,  Ethical,  Investigative  and  Facts-Based Journalism", while "Good Journalists and editors, like Politicians, are all Custodians of Freedom of Speech and Democracy", (i.e. not just individuals in the payroll of a Business Tucoon, several times even Corrupted and/or with Conflits of Interests)...

However, "Eurofora" feels obliged to Critically observe that, a Particular Point, apparently Introduced by a Controvesial Amendment, on the Contrary, Clails that "Disinformation Counter-Strategies" should "not (be) based on attempts to Refute or Argue Against Fake Messages", on the Pretext that "this" would, allegedly, have "Merely Proven to Amplify them"...

But, such a Claim is Contrary even to World Famous, Historic Philosopher Platon's views on Truth-Finding through Dialogue, Debates, between Opposed Views, as notoriously described in Socrates' Dialogues, since the Ancient Greek Civilisation, (and more Recently Highlighted also, inter alia, f.ex., by the Debates between the German Philosopher Jurgen Habermas, and Pope Emeritus Benedict, (former Cardinal and Theologian Joseph Ratzinger), as well by "Eurofora" Co-Founder's and others Experience in Many On-Line Debates at various Web Forums since the very Beginning of the Internet (1990ies/2000+, etc) on some among the "Hottest" Socio-Political Issues of our Times, where the Efficiency of accessible Public Debates has been Proven in real Practice, several Times.

And, it doesN't even Fit with EPP's Main, General Statement, from the outset of this Resolution adopted Today, about Fighting for Truth, Not by "Imposing" anything via the Brutal Force of "Governments or Private Entities" (as ICT Companies), but, on the Contrary, "by the Free Exchange of Ideas and Arguments" (Comp. Supra).

+ Also Because EPP's Resolution goes on to Deplore a recent "Decline in terms of Political Debate", and asks "to Create Spaces for People to Discuss, Debate, and Find Common Ground", after "Citizens" have been "exposed to Pluralism and Diverse Opinions", beforehand, (almost as "Eurofora's Project : Comp. Supra), so that they can Develop, "thus, a Critical Skill Today" : That of "Distinguishing what is True, from what it is Not", thanks also to "a Greated Push for Digital Literacy" and "Fact-Checking", etc.

=> In all these regards, while "Heading at a Fast pace towards the 2019 European Parliamentary Elections, ... the European People's Party are committed to...Cooperating with Civil Society, NGOs", etc., Today's Resolution concludes, since, precisely, "where Challenges and risks appear, Opportunities also abound; this era of ‘fake news  is thus an Opportunity to become a more Open, discerning, Engaged and Media-savvy Society", it rightfully and Optimistically Highlights.

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=> In such a Context, it's even more Undestandable why "New York Times" qualified that Brutal and UnWarned Blockade of new US President Don Trump's Access to his notoriously prefered, and Largely Used, Web Publishing Tool via his "Twitter" Account at the Internet, on 2 November 2017, as a ... "SEISMIC Event" !

>>> Indeed, if even a New, Democratically Elected, USA's President could be, without any previous warning, suddenly Hindered to Publish at the Internet with his own personal Digital Tool, (in this case, by his "Twitter" Account), as usual, then, anybody can easily Imagine (with a Terrifying Horror !) what Might Happen to any Simple Citizen...

+ A Fortiori when, (as it was later Revealed by several converging American Medias), the Suspect who Blocked US President's Access to his own, personal Web Publishing Tool, was a ... Turkish Migrant, former Agent of a Muslim Mosque, with Origins from that Asian Country whose Government is notoriously Denounced, both in Europe and Worldwide, (f.ex., by EU/CoE + UNO, etc), to have the Biggest Number of ImPrisoned Journalists in the entire Globe : Turkey, a notorious Internet Freedoms' Killer !

Indeed, Mr. Bahtiyar Duysak, a Bi-National Turk living Overseas : in Germany, had, apparently, Exploited the Opportunity recenly given by the "Socialist" Party's Pressure on the Christian-Democrat/EPP Government of Chancellor Merkel, through a notoriously UnPopular "GroKo" (grosse Coalition CDU/CSU - PSD : 2013-2017) to Allow, for the 1st Time in German History, "Double Passports", German and Turk, for All such Immigrant Families from Turkey, in order to get a Short-Term "Visa" for the USA.

There, he Infiltrated ICT Giant "Twitter"'s Customer Service, (via an obscure Intermediary Company Selling Low Quality, Part-Time Jobs' offers), up to the Level of "Trust and Safety", permitting to practically Launch even a Total Censorship (by Blocking Access) of any Web Account User (even USA's President !), under such or such Pretext.

Earlier he had also reportedly infiltrated "Google"'s "YouTube" service (through a Similar indirect Back Door : Comp. Supra) competent to Decide whose Users' Video Channels would get Ads' Money, and how much, (including, probably, various Socio-Political News and/or Views channels). Asked by Mainstream Medias, "Google" reportedly Avoided to give any Information on his role.

 Bahtiyar reportedly Triggered the DeActiveation of US President's "Twitter" Account, (for an UnKnown yet Pretext), and, then, "Closed his Computer, and Left the Building", without Informing Anyone ! This was his Last Move at the End of a Part-Time Job in the American Internet Giant's "Trust and Safety" Service, just before he Left the US Definitively, as his Short-Time "Visa" had came to an End, Travelling OverSeas, in order to Return Back to a Heavily Islamized, former Industrial City on the Decline, somewhere in a Germany filled with Mass Migrants who have Arrived through Turkey, which hosts one of the Biggest Muslim Mosques in Europe, with reported Links to 9/11 Terrorist Massacre, and Twinned to Turkey's main Corridor-City for Logistical support to various Armed Islamist Terrorists Gangs in Syria, including ISIS, See Infra).

It has not been clearly anounced whether this strange Turkish Migrant had Access to President Trump's private Messages, or not. At any case, It reportedly took More than a Dozen of Minutes for "Twitter" Services to Restore US President's personal Web Account, (constantly followed by about 45 Millions of People, accross the World), and several "Hours" in order to Realize what had Happened. While a Full Investigation on this UnPrecedented and still partly Mysterious Incident is Still Pending Today, more than a Month Later (2 November - 5 December 2017).

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- When "Eurofora" had, precisely, Questioned, recently in Strasbourg, just after that "Twitter" Incident, CoE's Experienced "Cyber-Crime" Officer, Alexander Senger, about the Obvious Risks against Freedom of Expression and Free Press, etc., If the usual, well established, State's Obligations to Respect at least some Elementary Procedures, and Other Legal SafeGuards due to Prevent any eventual attempt to Abuse a Discretionary Power vis a vis Citizens, including the Necessity to get a Judicial Decision before interfering on EU Citizens' Rights, (such as Freedom of Expression and Press Freedom, Liberty of BelieLiberty of Beliefs, fs and No Discrimination, Protection of Personal Data, etc).

=> What if all these Citizens' Legal Protections vis a vis Governments, might, eventually, be suddenly pushed Aside by an ICT Private Company's Anonymous, InExperienced and Obscure Staff, acting in the Dark, withOut any known Monitoring, Accessible to the possible Victims ?, "Eurofora" had asked in substance.

But withOut receiving yet any Crystal-Clear and Convincing Answer on this Crucial Point, until now, neither by this Experienced CoE's Officer, nor by a Similar EU Officer on Fundamental Freedoms, earlier in Strasbourg :

An obviously Supplementary Worrying Fact, considering that also EU Commission has Already Launched a Similar, and even much More "Active" ICT Companies' Involvement in immediately Countering and Suppressing any kind of so-called "Hate Speech" at the Internet, as Early as from June 2016.

That move had Provoked, inter alia, Immediate and Strong Denonciations by Various ICT and/or Legal Experts, Human Rights - Internet Freedom - Christian a.o. NGOs, with whom EU Commission's competent Services used to Cooperate in Brussels, some of whom Warned then "Eurofora" and Resigned, Stopping from any further Cooperation with those EU Services since that Time. The Main thrust of their Complaints being, in a nutshell, that, while they Understood the Need to Fight Against Calls for Brutal Violence, Terrorism or Violence Apology via the Internet, nevertheless, they found Dangerous for EU Citizens' Freedoms and Democracy, the Risk to eventually Censor and/or Suppress, by possible Biais and/or Abuse, also People's Peaceful Views on various "Hot" and Controversial Socio-Political Issues.

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=> Now, that recent (11/2017) "Twitter" Scandal of even US President's account being Blocked, on an Unknown yet Pretext, by an obscure Part-Time job Alien, of Turkish origin and living Overseas, a practicing Muslim who has repeatedly Worked at Mosques' Islamic Centers, and related to Cities with various Links to Islamist Extremism and even Violent Terrorism, (according to Facts that we shall See Infra), obviously justifies the above-mentioned Concerns, as a Long Series of particular Points reveals :

 - Indeed, First of all, the Suspect has, Curiously, Erased Most Photos in his own Social Media, added to those Erased also by his Family, as he confessed. US Media found that even a Mosque's Islamic Center where he had  Worked as a Guard Recently, has, meanwhile, Erased Videos including his picture.

+ Moreover, he has reportedly Refused, until now, to Speak even to his Employer, "Twitter", about the Motivation of his controversial acts, what had really happened, etc. And FBI has, reportedly, Not interviewed him yet.

- He only spoke to a quasi-Fanatically Anti-Trump WebNews site, (belonging to a Big ICT Corporation of the Establishment as "Verizon"), allegedly Because its Local Reporter was personally known at the Suspect's Mosque's Islamic center, back in Socialist/DP-held Los Angeles (California),  and to CNN, usually nick-named "Clinton News Network" and/or "Fake News Network", after being repeatedly Accused for grossly Partial Reporting against Conservative GOP's Presidential Candidate, Don Trump, (even after he won the November 2016 Election).

 - According to "CNN" he Admitted that he had done "a Mistake", but again Argued that he hadn't done anything illegal, and Refused to give concrete Details, reportedly Claiming that he "admired" Trump for his Business' success, but believed, however, that the US President, "as Politician", "Needs to Learn" (sic !)...

 - Bahtiyar said that he Studied First "at Duisburg" (NRW/Germany), where Turks are More than 20% of the City's Population, Twinned to Turkey's Gaziantep, (Located Near N/E. Syria's Borders, from where Most Islamist Terrorist Gangs used to get Money, Arms, Recruits Jihadists, Fake ID/Passports, etc. by notorious Trafficks through Europe+ : See MAP).

His current City of Duisburg also hosts one of the Biggest Muslim Mosques in Europe, where various Links have been found with the "9/11" Massacres of almost 3.000 Civilian People in the USA by Mass Terrorist Attacks involving also Islamist Radicals, (according even to "Wikipedia" and other credible sources).

+ He added that he continued as a Student also "in Birminhgam", (another Declining, former Industrial City, that "Eurofora"'s co-Founder knows well since the Early 1970ies) : One of the most Islamized and Radicalized UK Cities Nowadays, known also for Massive Arrests of Networks Funding Islamist Terrorism across Europe and the World Recently.

But it's not Known yet what an alleged former University Student on Finance and Banking was doing by Serving as a Guard to Islamic Centers linked to controversial Muslim Mosques, Neither in the "Safety" Department of Twitter, (Comp. Supra)...

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- Practically in the Ante-Barack Hussein Obama's Past, "Twitter" had been hailed as pro-Freedom/Privacy Champion (compared, f.ex., to "Facebook" a.o.)by Experienced, Top Web Activists, as Iceland MP Birgitta Jonsdottir, initiator of the "Modern Medias Initiative", for the Creation of a Web Freedom Legal Status which could be the Best in the World, at an INTW to "Eurofora", on the sidelines of a CoE Conference in Strasbourg on Spring 2011, (See: ...)...

- But, Nowadays, even many Digital-Friendly, Public Transports' Clients do Not Want to use 100% Digitalized Transport Tickets, MAPs, Schedules' Aps, just because of "GAFA" ("Google-Amazon-Facebook-Apple") Spy/Abuse Risk Concerns, revealed, on late November 2017, a "KEOLIS" Official (active also in Boston, US) at a CTS/BNU closed Event, organized by Strasbourg "EuroMetopole" at the University's National Library, where "Eurofora" was Invited.

A Fortiori when even Suspects of Islamic Radicalization and/or links to Deadly Islamist Terrorism, already Classified as "Card S" by Security Services, are notoriously being Employed not only by various Private Businesses, but even by Public Services (in Transports, Posts, Schools, Airports, etc), in France and other EU Countries (f.ex. Belgium, etc)...

It's not only eventual Terrorism, but also more Wide-Spread and often Pernicious, Dissimulated Aggressive Socio-Political Hostility and/or Discrimination, Biais, Oppressive Abuse, etc., which might provoke a growing series of Problems and Abuse Concerns, in this kind of UnPrecedented Situations (Comp. Supra), unless they are Efficiently Prevented, by Adequate and Crystal-Clear Measures, among which, an elementary Respect of Internet Users' Freedom of Expression and Personal Data, at least in Non-Violent Cases, appears as a Key  Issue, of Crucial Importance.