newsitems

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Luxembourg, from one side, Cyprus from another : Will those often interlinked, Small but Strategic European Countries, currently holding the Presidency of EU and CoE, respectively, succeed to Boost a much Needed, closer Cooperation between the 28 EU Member States and PanEuropean CoE's 47 Member States (including Russia, etc) ?

At any case, the New President of the CoE, Experienced Long-Time Foreign Minister of Cyprus and former Top MEP (in charge of Foreign Policy at EU Parliament's biggest Group : that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP) Ioanis Kasulides, Replying to "Eurofora"s relevant Questions, cleary revealed the Importance that the Incoming Chairmanship of CoE's Committee of Ministers for the Period of November 2016 - May 2017 gives to the Enhancement of EU-CoE Cooperation, at a Crucial Moment for All Europe, while EU Commission's vice-President for the Digital Market, Andres Ansip, gave us, Later Today, a Concrete Example, (See : ...).
 - Replying to a relevant "Eurofora"s Question, (which reminded, inter alia, also the Fact that EU Commission's President, former Long-Time Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, had been entrusted by CoE's Heads of State/Govenment, from the PanEuropean CoE's Summit at Varsaw, Poland, back on 2005, with the Task to Draft a landmark Report on EU - CoE Cooperation in the New Architecture of a ReUnified Europe, (Comp. "Eurofora" co-Founder's NewsReports from Both Events, in Warsaw + Strasbourg, at : ...+...), the incoming CoE's President gave Rendez-vous for Spring 2017 :

 - "On May 2017, (i.e. at the Next, Plenary CoE's 47-Countries strong, Committee of Ministers Summit, scheduled in Nicosia, Cyprus), one of our Priorities is, precisely, the EU - CoE Cooperation", he clearly stressed, regarding our above-mentioned Question.

+ Moreover, on this occasion, "we (CoE's 11/2016-5/2017 Presidency) are going to Celebrate the completion of a Decade since the Signature of EU - CoE's Memorandum of Understanding", Chairman Kasulides clearly anounced.

Meanwhile, CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland, who Welcomed Earlier Today Chairman Kasulides in Strasbourg's Meeting of the PanEuropean Organization's Committee of Ministers, together with EU's High Representative for External Action, Federica Mogherini, are due to Launch, later-on, at EU Parliament, a Series of Initiatives, precisely for the Commemoration of that EU/CoE's M.O.U."

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

+ Among various other Issues included in the November 2016 - May 2017 Program of the incoming CoE's Presidency by Cyprus, the New COE's President also told "Eurofora", that "Digital Technologies", and particularly the Web, could be tackled, mainly, "in relation with Freedom of Expression", in Addition to the Protection and Promotion of "Cultural Heritage", which appeared, Today, to be one among the Most Popular Issues in the Agenda of the Incoming Cypriot CoE Presidency, as several other Participants told us, (See Infra).

++ Moreover, in an Adjacent Field, there is also, currently, a Political Will to Develop "Citizens' Participation" to Public Decisions-Making, particularly "through Young People'"s involvement, he Added, Evoking a Topical COE matter, which was also Highlighted by COE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland, Earlier Today, during his Official Speech at the Opening of a landmark Exhibition organized by Cyprus' chairmanship, at CoE's and ECHR's Headquarters, with Original Paintiings, (some Inspired by Neo-Classic Top Artists/Writers, such as Picasso, Garcia Marquez, etc.: See relevant Newsreport)

+++ But, the New CoE's President-in-office, also Agreed with "Eurofora", that EU/CoE Cooperation, f.ex. on Digital Technologies, could be usefuly addressed, as far as as is concerned one of the Most Popular Priorities of Cyprus' chairmanship, among the 47 COE Committee of Ministers' members, i.e. Cultural Heritage :

- Even if, "First of all, we (CoE) have to Work in order to "Create adequate (PanEuropean/International) Legal Norms which will make Life more Difficult for those (Smugglers) who (illegaly) Buy and Sell stolen Cultural Heritage, So, "we (CoE) have, at First, to Agree on the (exact) Content of a (New) Treaty", he stressed.

+ But, indeed, Cultural Heritage "Digitalisation matters (can) come in the Aftermath of that", Ioanis Kasulides acknowledged, in Reply to the above mentioned "Eurofora"s Question.

++ This Perspective was also Backed by the out-going CoE Chair-in-office, Estonian Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the PanEuropean Organisation, Mrs Wiki, who Remains at the Bureau of CoE's Committee of Ministers, as vice-President, and, speaking later-on to "Eurofora", reminded that the Estonian Presidency had already Launched a Project for "Digitalisation" of Culture (including on Heritage), and offered to Support Further Developments by the Incoming Cyprus' EU Presidency towards Cultural Heritage's Digitalisation.

+++ Speaking earlier to Journalists in Strasbourg, including "Eurofora", the New CoE's Committee of Ministers' Chairman in office, stressed the Fact that COE is currently in a period of Big Challenges: First of all, Migration, Terrorism, Intolerance, etc., together with the Problem of Turkey, the existing Differences on Ukraine, Georgia, etc.

In this regard, Cyprus intends to Work with Objectivity and Professionalism, but also Efficiently, in order to prove that even a Small CoE Member Country can usefuly Contribute to Face collectively also some Big PanEUropean Challenges", he concluded.



(../..)

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- A sudden and strange Break-Down of UN sponsored Top Level InterCommunal Talks on the complex but Important, long overdue issue of Cyprus' ReUnification, still Pending since the 1974 Military Invasion and Occupation of a great part of the Strategically located Island, has not yet been clearly Explained, at least not at this Early moment.

Since Both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots had said that these Talks of  almost 10 Days at the superb Top of "Pilgrim Mountain"'s Swiss ressort had Earlier helped to make some Serious Progress,  (Despite several Remaining Disagreements to Bridge), in a quite Good overall Ambiance, as it was also attested by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's Envoy for Cyprus, Espen B. Eide from Norway.

But, suddenly, an Official UN Anouncement reveals that, "Despite their best efforts, they have Not been able to achieve the Necessary further Convergences on criteria for Territorial adjustment, that would have paved the way for the Last Phase of talks". *
What does it Mean :  "Convergences on Criteria for Territorial Adjustment", and "Necessary ...for the Last Phase" ?

In Fact, the 1st Point concerned, Mainly (but not only) the Human Rights of about 200.000 Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons, (more than 23% of the Total Population of that small Country - almost as big as Luxembourg- at the moment of the Turkish Invasion of 1974), who had been notoriously Obliged to Flee the Foreign Military Invasion and Occupation of the Northern Part of the Country by Ankara's Troops since 1974, and are still Hindered to Return Back to their Familiy Homes, Private Properties and Ancestral Land, until Today (2016), Despite a series of ECHR Judgements clearly Condeming Turkey for such "Continuing" Violations, after relevant Both Individual and/or Inter-State Applications lodged by the Victims, already as early as since 1996 and 2001, etc., but also, more Recently, a landmark ECHR's Great Chamber's Decision,  of May 2014, (etc).

Indeed, as it had been already known, the Greek Cypriot Community had Agreed to Discuss "Territorial" issues on the Basis of "Criteria", which included, not only the Extension of Each Future Federated State's Land, as well as of its Coastline, (where f.ex. the Territories Occupied by Ankara's Military extend, since the 1974 Invasion up to More than 38% of Cyprus' Total Land, for Only 18% of its original Total Population, which, in Addition, has got since then, about 55% of the Island's Coastline), but Also the Number of Refugees/Displaced persons that would become able to Return Back Home, and their Family Homes/Private Properties, that they would recuperate, etc.  

This was the Only Way to try to Safeguard Refugees/Displaced Persons' Human Rights, who will play an Important Role also in the Popular Referendum for the Endorsement, or not, of any eventualy  Agreed Draft Plan for the Solution of Cyprus' Issue. At any case, it's also obvious that even the very Notion of "Territory" and its Equal Value, canNot Ignore the Fact that a given Piece of Land might, perhaps, be Only an Empty Wasteland, Lost somewhere at an insignificant point, or, on the Contrary, a well Populated and Fertile Area, located at a Strategic crossroads, etc.

=> That's why it had been clearly Agreed, between the two parties and the UN, that the Main Focus of the Talks on the "Pilgrim Mountain" would precisely be to Obrtain a Basic Agreement on the "Criteria" for Territory share, included at a Map, as a "Necessary" Condition, which would Open the Way to Advance, shortly Afterwards, to the Next, and probably Final Stage, of a Multilateral International Summit, due to Focus, on the Contrary, to the Differend, Security and Guarantees Issues.

But, at this, Crucial Point, various Converging, factual Indications started to emerge, which clearly showed that, somewhere at the Turkish Side, most Probably, there was a lot of Reluctance to Complete a Full Deal on Territory through InterCommunal Talks, before Starting to Deal with Security/Guarantees at a Final Multilateral International Summit, with the participation of the Turkish Government, Greece and the UK, (as well as, probably the EU, and UNO Security Council's Permanent Members, etc).

F.ex., among others, Turkey's President Erdogan reportedly made some Ambiguous Statements including an apparent suggestion for Ankara to alleviate, if not even entirely Skip, its Controversial Insistance for the Turkish Military to always have a "Right" to Unilateraly Invade Cyprus, also at Any Other Time in the Future, on Pretext of any (eventually Provoked) so called "Security" Risk, imaginable for Turkish Cypriots, on the Condition that Greek Cypriots make certain Important Concessions on Territorial Issues. Almost at the Same Time, some Felt that, amidst Turkish Cypriots, somewhere Started to Emerge a more or less obvious Reluctance to really Conclude a Deal on Territory Before any susbequent Summit, so that they appeared, at some point, to either drag their feet, stop exchanging constructive ideas for possible compromise, and/or even somehow Back-pedal from certain Earlier positions, which had initialy appeared as quite promissing, (etc).

Astonishingly, while the Greek Cypriot side had notoriously Limited its own Demands to the Return, under G/C Administration, of Only about Less than the Half of G/C Refugees/Displaced Persons to their Family Homes, Properties and Ancestral Land, (i.e. around 90.000 out of a Total of some 200.000), and, later-on, would even have accepted to discuss also a much Lower Number, (80.000 ), on the Contrary, some, reportedly pushed through the Turkish Cypriot side to Request to Drop deeply Down, even Lower and Lower, for Tens or even -20.000 to -30.000 Refugees Less than that... One of the Consequences may be also to Exclude any notable City (f.ex. Morphou) from being Restituted to its Original; predominantly Greek Cypriot, Lawful Inhabuitants)...

To the point that one Turkish Cypriot participant would have even Betrayed a quite Horrible Intent, eventualy Hidden behind 42 Years of Time-Consuming Obstructions against Human Rights' respect, by daring Claim that, in fact, the Greek Cypriots would Not Realize that, Meanwhile, ...Many Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons would have ... "Died" (sic !!!), vainly Waiting for Justice to be done...

(Comp. Experienced, former ECHR President, Luzius Wildhaber's sincere "Excuses", transmitted via "Eurofora"s co-Founder, then Published at "TCWeekly", for the 1st Tragic Case of a Woman Refugee from Cyprus who had really Died, by Old Age, while Waiting for Strasbourg's EuroJudges, and the CoE in general, to, at last, do Justice to her Family's complaint to the Court against Turkey's Refusal to let her Return back to her Home and ancestral Land, in the Occupied Territiories of Cyprus controlled by Ankara's Military).

+ In Addition, suddenly at this Same Crucial Point, attempts to Hastily Push towards an Immediate Multilateral Final Summit, even withOut having yet Settled any comprehensive Agreement on Territory, (i.e. Contrary to the previously Agreed overall Method of proceeding : Comp. Supra), became more and more Obvious and Frequent than ever before...

=> In Other Words, to put it in a  Nutshell, Turkey appeared (either to Speculate on a possible Failure of such a Hasty and Unprepared Summit, or) to Push for an Exchange between Security and Territorial Issues, i.e., in Fact, between Foreign Military Intervention and Refugees' Human Rights, (Comp. Supra) !...

>>> To put it Harshly but Clearly, such a Slipery Slope could even lead in a situation where the Greek Cypriot People might be, in Fact, asked by Turkey to Either Abandon all or most Refugees/Displaced Persons' Human Rights, or Submit to even More Risks of Foreign Military Invasions and Occupations by Ankara's Army !...

I.e., in substance, a sort of "Blackmail" situation, Ordering to "Choose" EITHER Human Rights OR Peace, Between Freedom OR Life !...

Precisely that kind of "Schyla or Charibdi" Tragic Dillema, that Greek Cypriots, in Agreemeent with the UNO, (and, at least Initialy, and officially, also with the Turkish Cypriot side), had desperatedly Tried to Prevent, by Clearly Distinguishing, in real Practice, betweein the Different Issues of "Territory" and those concerning "Security" and/or "Guarantees", etc, (Comp. Supra).

Otherwise, he above mentioned Tragic Dillemas could become, more of less Inevitable, and even  Dangerously Vicious...

An obviously Unacceptable Threat against Freedom and Peace, which, at any case, looks Absolutely Contrary to ECHR's well established Case-Law, (initialy Forged, precisely, though such Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDP cases :  Comp. Supra), which was, later-on, notoriously Endorsed also by the UNO's Human Rights Council at Nearby Geneva, from 1997-2005, 2007, etc, and even Officialy Systematized, compiled, Declared and Disseminated accross the whole World, at a landmark, Historic Set of "Principles", (the World Famous "Pinheiro Principles" : Comp. Professor Pinheiro's 1997 Drafted initial Report, which became  an International Reference UNO Booklet, later-on, and his own Statements to "Eurofora"s co-Founder, then Published at "TCWeekly"), issued by UNO's High Commissioners for Refugees, for Human Rights, and UN's Secretary General, in the recent Past,

=> calling for Real Refugees/Displaced People to have an elementary Right to voluntarily Return Back to their Family Homes, with their Belongings, at their Ancestral Land, in basic Conditions of Human Dignity, Freedom and Safety.

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

All this, and the Current sudden Standstill in the InterCommunal UN sponsored Talks for a Peaceful ReUnification of Cyprus, (despite some recently achieved Advances, at least in certain points), in Fact, clearly shows that, in Substance :

- Human Rights must Never be Abandoned to mere Political Bargaining !

>>> Political Deals may, eventualy, Facilitate the Implementation of ECHR Judgements, and/or Alleviate the various repercussions that this might, perhaps, have for some.

    But they should Never Replace an Objective, Competent, Impartial and Independent body's mission to simply Impose at least an elementary Respect of certain Basic Legal Principles concerning Serious, Massive and Persisting Violations of Human Rights !

=> Thus, among others, a Controversial Decision of the Past, pushed by some inside CoE's Committee of Ministers, (even Contrary to a Crystal-Clear Appeal by ECHR's Great Chamber, just a few years ago : since 2014, to practicaly Act, as a matter of Urgency, in order to put, at last, a Stop to Turkey's persisting illegal Confiscation and even Exploitation of Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced Persons' Homes and Properties), rather to ... "Postpone" any real Pressure on Ankara, on the Pretext that a Solution might be found through those "Inter-Communal" Talks, (in fact between what remains from a Free Cyprus' Republic, and an Area meanwhile Filled up with illegal Settlers from Turkey's Anatolia, and still Controlled by Abnkara's Foreign Invasion Military), has Now obviously Proved to be Dangerously Unsubstantiated.

Apparantly, the Time has come for EU and CoE's PanEuropean Organisation of Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, to Either Actively and Efficiently UpHold, at last, its own, Officialy Proclaimed Principles, in Real Practice,

or Openly Acknowledge that, in fact, it has Droped them Down, like a Fake "Castle" made only out of Cards or Sand, (instead of Rock-Solid Principles)...

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

Personaly, we Hardly Resisted, (with Luggage Ready to Move at any moment, among Many Rapidly Evolving Political Developments, from the USA to France, Berlin, etc., up at this Last Minute !), to a Strong Temptation to Get Back, (almost 20 Years After : 1997 - 2016...) to that Symbolic Location, at the Other Side of Geneva Lake, near Montreux's UNO-sponsored Top Level Talks on Cyprus, between f. President Glafkos Clerides and T/C Leader Rauf Denktash, hosted by f. UN SG Boutros-Ghali, now on the "Pilgrim Mountain"'s, present Cyprus' Talks, between new President Nicos Anastassiades and T/C Leader Mustafa Akintzi, hosted by UN SG Ban Ki Moon.

But, from the most Tragic Human Rights' issue of Cyprus' "MISSING" People, set aside then, officialy far from crude Political Deals, (while, at the Same Time a Hope for an Emerging Strong Role of the EU had Started to Rise : Comp. EU Council's Representative at Montreux/Glyon Statements that he gave us then, on 1997, Published at "MPAgency"), and the Wide-spread and Multi-facet "Refugees/Displaced persons" Drama, still remaining, now, on 2016, even "Hotter" than ever, at least from the point of view of Principles, (applicable, mutatis-mutandis, unfortunately, also in too Many Other Areas of Europe and the World nowadays), what really Remains Today ?

>>> Perhaps only the Firm Belief, based on even More Solid Proof now, that serious Human Rights issues must Never be Totalu Abandoned to mere Political Bargaining !

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

20 Years After, as (by another Timely Coincidence), already the 1997 World Famous "PILGRIM" Song by Eric Clapton, had Warned :

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOTFxF6dpR0

- "Where to Draw the Line, between Truth and ...Pain ?" in such Dramatic and massive Human Rights issues, which seriously Affect many Thousands of People's Lives ?

- "Where (could we) Get (the) Belief that Things Will be all-Right again ?", and "What Words (should we) Use to Try to Explain, to those who have Witnessed, (many in) Tears ?"

 
 - "What does it Mean to Know all these things",
"When... All these Years" "'have been Wasted" ?

- "It's like living in a Nightmare,
Like looking in the Blackest hole,
Like standing on the Edge of nothing",
.....
"Now, where have (we all -and mainly Europe) been All these Years ?
"And How come (they) just couldN't See?"
"Like a Blind man walking 'round, In Darkness"...

Whoever were "Standing in the Shadows",
"With (their) Heart right in (their) Hand",

as simple, naive "Pilgrim"(s) for (the) Love" of Human Rights, (and what Europe could and should have become),

=> Did they merely ... "Wasted all these (20) Years" ?

Or, Will, perhaps, Emerge, at last, in one way or another, at least Now, through a lot of Hard Political and other Struggles and Changes, in Europe and elsewhere in the World, a kind of "SPRING 2017" ???

+ By another more "Coincidence", meanwhile, Small (but notoriously Strategic) Cyprus will be Chairing Big PanEuropean CoE's powerful Committee of Ministers then, (Starting right from this very Morning whose Sun sould Arise from one Moment to anOther, Now in Strasbourg)...

Without illussions, could this, perhaps, Help, at least get some things positively Moving, a little bit ?

+ In Addition, Parallel, but Wider Developments in the EU Parliament, (convening this Week in Strasbourg to a Full Plenary Session, near the CoE), have just Anounced even mainstream, Big Political Groups' Intention, (just after that of Many Other, emerging MEPs' Trends from the Further Right side of the Political Spectrum, which had suprisingly Succeeded, however, to Attract even .. Leftist and/or Centrist mainstream MEPs from almost All Groups - See, f.ex. : ...), to, if not fully "Stop" (as the Latter wanted), at least "Suspend" Turkey's controversial and UnPopular EU bid, (with the natural subsequent Restrictions in EU Funds Wasted Each Year for Ankara)...

That -still Emerging- EU Move, (Exceptionaly Supported by almost All EU Parliament's Political Groups, at various degrees),  significantly comes just after a Growing Series of fresh, and more Massive than ever,  Human Rights Violations inside Turkey itself, added to Turkish Military Invasions/Occupations or Threats around almost All its Borders, inside Iraq and Syria, as in Cyprus, and now even Threatening Greece, particularly with Repeated Negative Claims against the Lausanne Peace Treaty, (withOut, However, Daring even Think at the Previous, "Sevres" Peace Treaty of 1919)...

***

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- European Court of Human Rights' new President, Guido Raimondi, speaking to "Eurofora" in the CoE, almost at the Same Time that a Final Push was reportedly prepared at Crucial Nearby UN sponsored Top level Talks for the ReUnification of Cyprus, on the Geneva-lake's "Pilgrim Mountain", stressed that, in his view, we should all "Trust CoE's Committee of Ministers" for the Implementation of ECHR's Judgements on Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons.

That key Human Rights issue, (which affects an estimated 190.000 of Greek Cypriots obliged to flee from their Family Homes, private Properties and Ancestral Land, since the 1974 Turkey's Military Invasion and Occupation, and still Hindered to Return, not even hav Access to their belongings, Despite a well established ECHR case law, already since 1996 and 2001, etc, in Both Individual and Inter-State cases, more Recently Coonfirmed and Further Explicitated in more Concrete Terms also by a Landmark 2014 Decision of ECHR's Great Chamber), is currently at the Focus of still on-going UN sponsored Inter-Communal Talks at nearby Switzerland, particularly in relation with an Expected Agreement on Territory, that might, Hopefuly, open a road for a Multilateral Internatiobal Summit, due to deal with the Security Issues for a Comprehensive Political Solution, according to pertinent UN SC Resolutions, EU Law, and CoE's Values and Rules.

Raimondi had earlier said that, nowadays, the CoE is Advancing quite well in the process of Developing Adequate "Tools" in order to Ensure, also in Real Practice, that ECHR's Decisions can be Taken nd Implemented on Time.

But Turkey is the Only "Western" world-oriented Country which has an Exceptionaly High Number of ECHR Judgements still Pending for Execution, for Many Years, most of which concern "Serious Violations of Human Rights", (Unlike f.ex. Italy, whose Delays concern, Comparatively, much more Lenient matters), he acknowledged.

Another, and much More Tragic Human Rights Issue, still Pending for Execution of ECHR Judgements which have Condemned Turkey's Authorities too, is that of about1.500 Greek Cypriot "MISSING" Persons, Strasbourg University's Professor at International Law, and Experienced former Long-Time EU Council's Legal Director in Brussels, Jean-Paul Jacqué observed spontaneously, speaking also to "Eurofora", earlier this Noon.

But, particularly since a 1997 Inter-Communal Agreement, brokered also during Cyprus' Talks under UN auspices at nearby Switzerland, in Montreux/Glyon city, (by a Symbolic Coincidence, very Close to nowadays' "Pilgrim Mountain" Top level Talks, oriented the "Missing" Persons' Human Rights matters among the so-called "Humanitarian" affairs, i.e. out of the mainly Political Top Talks.

Meanwhile, ECHR has  notoriously Condemned Ankara's authorities repeatedly for "Continuous" Violations of Both Refugees/Displaced Persons and "Missing"Persons and their Families' Human Rights, CoE's Committee of Ministers, whose Statutory Duty is to "Supervise the Execution of ECHR's Judgements", hasn't yet taken any really Convincing Measures vis a vis Turkey's reluctactance to act, except from several official "Calls", "Appeals", and other "Resolutions", which had a rather Limited Result until now, since Ankara still persists to drag it feet, (Comp., f<;ex., recently : ....).

President Raimondi, reminded, however, that, in Addition to certain Individual Measures, whenever a CoE's Member State is Condemned for Violations which "Reveal also a mich Wider, "Structural" Problem, then, it must also take some Sufficient "General Measures".

+ But, Experienced, former CoE's Secretary General, Catherine Lalumiere of France, (a Socialist University Professor, from the same Governing Party as French President Hollande), who had Earlier observed, Criticaly, the Fact that a really Efficient Implementation of ECHR's Judgements "required also Political Will", added Now, in Reply to a relevant "Eurofora" Question, that, in her view, CoE's Committee of Ministers' above mentioned Statutory Duty in itself, wasn't always enough in order to ensure a Serious and Timely Implementation of ECHR's Judgements, but it was "Also Something Else, that was Needed" for that purpose, in fact.

Lalumiere said that, also at the CoE, just 1 Day before Cyprus takes over the rotating Presidency of the PanEuropean Organhisation of Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, Tomorrow in Strasbourg, Tuesday 22 November 2016, in a Special Event of its 47 Member States strong Committee of Ministers, for which, the Experienced, Long-Time Cypriot Foreign Minister and former EU Parliament's MEP, Ioanis Kasulides, has just Arrived from Switzerland to France.

The Exceptional Importance of that Event is obvious also from the Fact that the Latest Time that Cyprus' Chaired the CoE was ...More than 22 Years Ago, on 1994-1995, (Comp. "Eurofora" co(Founder's various Publications from then).

Cyprus' CoE Presidency durates from November 2016 up to May 2017, included. But, as far as ECHR Judgements' Implementation is concerned, following an Established Practice, it will pass over that Specific Chair to Denmark, who will be its Successor at the General, Committee of Ministers' Chairmanship, approximatively from June 2017.

+++ However, CoE's Director General for Legal affairs and Human Rights, Philippe Boillat from Swiitzerland, speaking Previously with "Eurofora", revealed that CoE's Committee of Ministers, which had recently, Suspended, exceptionaly, any Further Examination of the Issue of ECHR Judgements Implementation in the cases of Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced Persons, had only done so, in order to "Help" the UN sponsored InterCommunal, Top level Talks, at nearby Switzerland, to Hopefuly Advance towards an Agreement for Cyprus' ReUnification, which would appropriately include also that Human Rights' Issue.

=> We (CoE) are Following how that situation evolves, and, naturaly, if there is not sufficient Progress made there, we are Ready to Resume Consideration on that matter, and possibly Take adequate Action, Boillat warned then, in Reply to a relevant Question raised by "Eurofora", while the PanEuropean Organisation's Committee of Ministers has, in parallel, Fixed already a Date in order to Re-Open anew the Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons' issue as far as the Long-Awaited Implementation, by Turkey, of ECHR Judgements is concerned, during the First Months of 2017.

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- An Unexpected, Strong Win at French Center-Right's Primaries, (widely expected to determlne the Next President of the Republic for the 2017-2022 period), by former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who Surprized by arriving clearly 1st, with a Big Difference vis a vis the Establishment Polls' "favorite", also former Prime Minister, Alain Juppé, while the Popular former President Nicolas Sarkozy, was, at the same time, curiously eliminated from the 2nd and Final Round, with a Bit Less Votes, might be Explained by Greater Importance of BioEthical Issues for the French People nowadays, than commentators used to think : A Fact of obvious Interest also for more European and/or Other Countries in the World nowadays, (See Infra).

Fillon is credited with almost 44% of the Votes casted, in a Primary which attracted around 4 Millions Citizens, Followed, in a Distance, by Juppé, with some 27%, near Sarkozy with almost 22%. The Rest (about 7%) was Divided in almost Insignificant, Tiny parts for another 4 Candidates, at this First Round of the "Republican" Party and of the Centre, which was exceptionaly Open for All French Citizens, even comming from Other Parties, who Endorsed the Values of the Center-Right.

On the Contrary, almost All Polls (including also Non-"Republican" Voters) had regularly shown Juppé 1st, Followed by Sarkozy (who was Augmenting his score Recently, particularly after Trump's Win at the USA), leaving Fillon at a 3rd rank, i.e. Excluded from the Second and Final Round of those Crucial Primaries, (Despite a Recent, but Insufficient yet Growth for him).

-----------------------------
UNEXPECTED + STRANGE VOTING RESULTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

In an UnPrecedented move, Curiously, these Crucial 2016 Primaries of the Center-Right, Organized by the "Republican" party, had been, Exceptionaly, "Opened" to the Participation, Not Only of "Centrists", but even of ... Any Other Citizens who might wish to Vote, on the Sole Condition that they Pay just 2 €uros, and simply Sign a Not-Binding "Declaration" that they would Feel Close to the Values shared by the Center-Right, (which was Not Verified at all, and Hardly Visible, to the point that Leftist Voters told the Press that they had "Not Signed" that)...

So that, according to the Only known Polls, at least ...40% of Today's Voters were, in Fact, supporters of the ...Left, Far Right or Undertermined other Parties, Only about 60% being Fans of the Center-Right.  Considering also the fact that, about 20% among the Latter, would, in average, come from Various "Centrists", then, it's Only around 40% Maximum, who might have been Real "Republican" Party Voters, (i.e. a Minority)...

 => In Consequence, even if Sarkozy might have Succeeded to Attract, f.ex., an Absolute Majority of 51% of his "Republican" Party Supporters, (as Most Polls attributed him), already from this First Round, (his 6 Other Competitors sharing the Rest 49% of Votes between them : I.e. with a Tiny Average of just 8% Each...), in the Present Circumstances, this Success would falsely Appear as a so-called "Failure" with a Minority of about ...21% from the Total of Today's Votes !!! I.e., by a "Coincidence", ...almost Exactly what he Finaly got (Comp. Supra)...

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

+ In Addition to that Possible External "Manipulation", (that several Commentators Observed Critically, but only Afterwards), it's Also Difficult to Understand, (at least according to elementary Democratic Principles), Why should a Political Leader who had Already Brillantly Won, just 1 Year ago : on November 2015, a Hard-Fought, earlier Election at the Presidency of his own "Republican" Party, should, necessarily, Re-Submit himself, again and again on 2016,  vis a vis almost all the Same Competitors, against whom he had just Won, a Few Months Earlier....

Unless it was, in Fact, just Because some, might precisely seek to introduce, afterwards, that Controversial Possibility of a Politicaly External Manipulation, (as certain Commentators pointed out).
-------------------

Last, but not least, Sarkozy, who had been Grossly Betrayed, back on 2012 Election, by some among his supposed Party-pals then, (to the point that a Preparatory, 2011 Nationwide Campaign about "Identity", had been so Undermined that it had to be practicaly Abandoned ; a so-called "Collective" Project, whose Preparation had this time  been entrusted to some supposed Political Allies, resulted in an Amorphous and Tasteless quasi-Banality, without Salt, nor Pepper, that couldn't inspire nobody, (Conrtrary to Sarkozy's personaly Drafted 2007 Program, which had Moved Millions of People) ; some among his Numerous 2012 Assistants, at the Same Time that they obviously Wasted a lot of Money for things that Journalists didN't really need, had, on the Contrary, made Direct Press Contacts with Sarkozy almost Impossible in real Practice, (at the Difference to his 2007 Winning Campaign, where he Often used to Meet personaly with Journalists after his Speech, without "Intermediaries") ; while, even during the Last Week of the Final 2nd Round in the Presidential Elections, not even a Politicaly Crucial "Letter to French People" pamphlet; already Written Published, Printed and Accessible at Elysee Palace in Paris, curiously Appeared to be ...Blocked or "Missing" in some Local Federation of "his" Party !, etc), did Nothing now, on 2015-2016, to "Purge" his New Party. from such Wrong-doing Intermediaries.  

On the Contrary, he ostensibly Tried to "Attract" People around him, and keep them more or less closely Associated, even Knowing about Further Risks to be Betrayed, because, (as he Explicitly stressed recently), he Believed that "you can't become President without Trusting People"...

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

=> SARKOZY's CALL TO VOTE FILLON

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

=> Sarkozy, (who has been elected on 2015 President of the main Opposition Party "the Republicans"),  obviously wishing to Safeguard the Unity of the Party, rushed First to clearly declare that Fillon and Juppé, with whom he has Worked Together for a Long Time, are "both of great Quality".

- But, even if he feels a "great Esteem for Alain Juppé", he declared that he'd vote for Francois Fillon, because "his Political Choices stand Closer to mine", and, despite some comparatively small Divergences in the Past, he seems to have "Better understood the Challenges faced" Today. At any case, even if, naturaly, his own Voters remain Free to chose, however, he Called them to "Avoid Extreme positions", as he said, (i.e., apparently, Not to be attracted by the Rightists of Marine le Pen's "National Front").

----------------------------------------
FILLON MYSTERY...
---------------------------------------------

A Last-Minute Graphic, Published Today, shows that People's Web Searches at "Google" suddenly Topped around Fillon, during the First Half of the Day (Between 9h-14h), but withOut Explaining Why.

A New Book, written by Fillon after the latest atrocious Massacre of Civilian People at Nice, last July 2016, and Titled : "Win against Islamic Totalitarism", could certainly have contributed to Boost his Popularity in general. But it was Published (and Widely Commented by mainstream Medias) already since the End of September 2016, so that this could Not Explain at all why, Suddenly, towards the End of November, all Polls were Belied, (Comp. Supra).

On the Contrary, a Press Release by Popular NGO "Manif pour Tous" ("Demonstration for All"), a Citizens' Movement against Controversial and UnPopular "Same Sex Mariage", "Adoption" of Children by Homosexual Couples, Surrogacy and IVF Artificialy assisted Births, Genetic Manipulation of Human Embryo, and other related BioEthical Issues, Pushed and Violently Imposed, during Recent Years in France, by the OutGoing Socialist Government, Published only Recently a Clear Appeal to Vote, during the Center-Right's Primaries, for Francois Fillon. And this was made even much More Obvious Only just a Few Days Ago, when that same NGO created and Published a brand New Website, typicaly named "BOOMERANG2017", where it has Just Started to Clearly Distinguish between each Candidate's official stances on such Topical Bioethical Issues, concerning All 2017 related Elections in France.

+ Immediately after Today's Vote, Ludovine de la Rochère, Leader of that "Manif. pour Tous" NGO, published a New, and Triumphant Press Release, where she boasts that these Electoral Results picture People's strong Support for pro-Natural Family political positions among the Candidates, and clearly Pointing at Fillon's apparently Critical Stance, particularly vis a vis the Extremely UnPopular submission of Children to the Power of Homosexuals, under Pretext of a so-called "Adoption".

Growing almost in Parallel with various Similar Civil Society Movements in the USA, Hungary, Lithuania, Croatia and Other Countries accross the World, (Africa included), that French Movement against "Same Sex Mariage", spearheaded mainly by "Manif. pour Tous", rapidly Gained a Wide and Strong Popular Momentum, becoming Able to Throw Millions of People accross the Streets, and/or to Inspire a lot of Spectacular "French Spring", original Activists' Interventions, (as, f.ex., that which Marked the Opening of World - Famous "Rolland Garros'" Tennis Play with a Public Protest that was Published even at prestigious "New York Times" Frontpage Photo)...

Those 2013 - 2014 Popular public Protests for BioEthical Issues in France, became, de facto, part of a larger, World-Wide, New "Values" Movement, from Europe to USA and well Beyond, which is Not Limiting itself just to some Orinary petty Party Politics, and succeeded to strongly Motivate a lot of Honest and active People, to a point that nobody thought possible before. Among Others, particularly in France, until recently, the numerous Images showing Old and Young People, simple Mothers and Children alike, Daring struggle in front of an often Excessively and astonishingly Brutal Police Oppression, Criticized even by the CoE in Strasbourg, (See, f.ex. : ...), just in order to Express Freely their Critical Views against a Series of Controversial and UnPopular Measures Imposed to the Detriment of several basic BioEthical Principles, most linked to core Human Rights and even with all Humankind itself, canNot and Don't deserve to be Forgotten. Otherwise, Establishment's Politicians Risk to Miss some rare, if not Unique Historic Opportunities of much needed, nowadays, contacts with Genuine People.

It's only Military War practical necessities, against Aggressive Islamic Terrorism, initialy at Subsaharian Africa near Mali, etc., and shortly Afterwards the "Charlie Hebdo" Massacres by "ISIL" Terrorists, followed by the "Bataclan" and Other Islamic Terrorist Attacks against Innocent Civilians, as well as the latest Massive Killings of defenseless People by Cowards at Nice, (etc), which, mainly by Imposing a "State of Emergency" throughout the whole Country, practically Prevented more "Manif. pour Tous" Popular Demonstrations in France, until Now...

Fillon's main input, in this regard, was his apparent Reluctance vis a vis recent Threats to Submit even fragile Children to the Power of Homosexual Couples, on Pretext of so-called "Adoptions", etc., which  attracted more Popular Attention : A Crucial Issue, much more Controversial, UnPopular and "Hot" than others, also Because of the Fact that, Behind it, is obviously Hidden a very probable Attempt by some Lobbies of Technocratic Interests, to Take Hold, and Extend their Power, over various converging Artificial Technologies which might be Abused on Births of Human Beings, (Pretexting, here, of the InFertility of Homosexual couples), Instead of Natural, independent Births, with obvious Serious Dangers against Humankind.

Several Establishment's Media, (as, f.ex. French Newspaper "La Croix", etc), certain "MPT" NGO Officials, even Simple Citizens Voting Today for the Center-Right's Primaries, as the Press found out, (etc), as well as a hasty "Eurofora" look at his Website Program, (etc), gave a net Impression that Francois Fillon would really be seriously Critical, at least on that Key BioEthical point, of Fundamental and Strategic Importance for all Humankind.
Sarkozy himselg, has, however, apparently Reserved a Special Place for this Specific Issue, if we judge by the Fact that, in one of his Latest Books, where he Regrettably was probably convinced by some Technocrartic Lobbies Hidden Behing the LBGTI Lobby to Drop his Previous Opposal to "Same Sex Marriage", at least, he significantly Ommitted to say anything of that kind, as far as it concerns the much More Controversial, UnPopular and Dangerous matter of fragile Childrens' submission to the Power of Homosexual couples on Pretext of so-called "Adoption", etc.

"Eurofora" raised that Point Twice: Both with Sarkozy's Long-Time former No 1 Counselor at Elysee Palace, and currently MP, Henri Guaino, during his recent Visit to Strasbourg, precisely on the occasion also of the Center-Rights' Primary, (when Guaino told us, in Reply to a relevant Question, that he had the Intention to propose a Constitutional Reform in order to Protect those Children's Human Rights vis a vis such Dangers of so-called "Adoptions" by Homosexual couples, notoriously Condemned as illegal in various Countries accross the World, including Russia, etc). And at our Publication, precisely, on that Controversial Book of Sarkozy, containing the above-mentioned Partial "U-Turn", where "Eurofora" also suggested a Similar Move by Sarkozy, to Clearly put Aside that Dangerous BioEthical Issue which may EnDanger both Children themselves, and the Humankind at large, (Comp. Supra, and : ...).

But, unfortunately, our Message didn't seem to have been clearly Transmitted, at least until now, and, at the Only Chance that "Eurofora" had recently to Briefly Meet Sarkozy, we raised anOther Topical Issue, (concerning Europe's Future, etc).

So that, given all these Facts, (and possibly even some More), Fillon's written initiative to put Aside the Key case of Children that Homosexuals would seek to "Adopt", (Comp. Supra), more Recently Highlighted also by Influential "Manif pour tous (MPT)" NGO, (Comp. Supra), Might, indeed, have Influenced, at least at the Last Minute, a lot of People interested in such Topical BioEthical Issues, to the point to Find also there a sufficient "Differentia Specifica", in order to Go Vote for him at Today's Center-Rights' Primary...

However, both in this, as well as in some Other, quite Differend, but also Topical "Hot" points, during the Following Long Months that separate us from the forthcoming, Crucial French Presidential Election of May 2017, Fillon would obviously Better Clarify certain Key, Strategic Points, as that one, Both in order to Avoid any eventual, even if Partial, Misunderstanding due also to the Highly Technical character of such matters, and taking also into acount the Fact that, (at least according to some sources), his notoriously probable Competitor from the Rightist "National Front", MEP Marine Le Pen, would have reportedly adopted a quite more "Advanced" Stance against the Outgoing Socialist Government's Controversial and UnPopular Law on "Same Sex Marriages", so-called "Adoption" of Children by Homosexual couples included, despite MEP Philippot's a.o.'s apparently notorious Reluctance on such "Hot" BioEthical Issues)

-------------------------------------
SARKOZY SACRIFICED ?
-----------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Facts and Logical Reasoning seem Crystal-clear :

- Otherwise, if it's not mainly about BioEthics, (Comp. Supra), then, almost Nothing obvious could Explain that Sudden uprurge of Fillon's Voters, at the Last Minute (even Hours !), to such an Unexpectedly High point that he Not Only managed to get Among the 2 First, (something that Most Polls, even the Closer to this Election Day, had Not foreseen, revealing only a Recently Upward Trend), but also to Distance with a Big Difference, his former Frontrunner Competitor, Alain Juppé, reaching a much Higher 1st place, while, at the Same Moment, Sarkozy's votes Curiously marked an Unexpected and Unexplained Stagnation at those last moments.

Except, perhaps, of a quite thorny, obscure, but Not a priori Excluded at all Hypothesis, which might, eventualy, Fit Logicaly, and even correspond to several (Otherwise Hazardous) Facts:

- Looking Backwards, everything appears, indeed, as if Nicolas Sarkozy, who had reportedly thought, initialy back on 2012, that he might Drop the ordinary Political life, just Decided to Come Back Only to put is Political "House" in Order : the "Republican" - former "UMP" Party, of mainstream Center-Right, which had Faced some very Hard Moments after his Departure : Growing Divisions and internal Conficts, Managerial Scandals, Financial Problems and Debts, Deception/Demobilisation of Militants, etc., pushing it even towards a Painful Split.

Indeed, he has notoriously Succeeded on 2015, in a few Fast but Energetic Moves, to both seize anew an Uncontested Leadership on a clear Democratic Basis, allowing to re-establish Unity, but also to Pay the Party's Debts, Restore its Budget, ReNew the Party (with the Birth of "the Republicans", instead of the Old "UMP"), and Mobilize a growing number of Militants, eager for a real Political Change on 2017.

But, Curiously, he didn't seek at all to Settle any Accounts with anyone among those Apparatchicks or Opportunist Politicians who had Betrayed him, (and the Political Will of a Strong Majority of French People, as repeatedly Expressed on 2007 and 2009), back on 2011-2012 : No "Purge" at all.

On the Contrary, he even Accepted, curiously, to be submitted even at a 2nd Electoral Test, in only 1 Years- Time, (specificaly Destinated to Chose the Party's Candidate for the 2017 National Elections), just after having Brillantly Won the ReNewed Party's Presidency on 2015 : I.e. the Present 2016 "Primaries", where he practicaly found almost the Same Competitors in front of him, as already the Year Before...

Meanwhile, various Obscure Threats, from a notoriously "Center-Left"-standing Bureaucracy of Judges, added to a Socialist Government-fuelled Prosecutors, Police, etc., and a "Scandal"-mongering Pseudo-"Press", almost Specialized in Harassing the Right by Systematic Attempts to push, one after another, even Ridiculous and/or Evil Claims seriously Slandering him personaly, and/or his closer Collaborators, several Ministers, as well as his Party, etc., with a lot of more or less Facticious and/or blatantly Exagerated, if not Grossly Fake Pseudo-"Revelations" of this or that supposed "Affair", which was soon replaced by another, if and when it was found False, (Wasting, meanwhile, a lot of precious Time and Energy).

To the point that some Fans of his Competitors had already Speculated, and/or even Boasted (even in front of "Eurofora") about an eventual new Attempt, by such a Corrupted Establishment of Medias/Leftist Judges Bureaucracy and some unscrupulous Outgoing Socialist Government Officials, to bring "Down" Sarkozy by hitting him slyly, behind the back, with such a Slanderous Attempt to Prosecute him for one or another alleged Pseudo-"Scandal" just Before the May 2017 crucial Presidential Election. + In Addition, at least one among his current Competitor had been notoriously accused for an alleged Discussion with a Counsilor of Socialist French President Hollande, some time ago, to on an eventual "Plot" in this direction

 And, by another coincidence, indeed, it's, reportedly, just a Few Days Earlier, before Today's Vote, that some Judges and/or Prosecutors would Consider whether to Launch, or not, one or another Accusation against Sarkozy, right in the middle of the mainstream Center-Right Party's "Primary" for the Choice of its Candidate to the crucial 2017 French Presidential Election.

=> Now, given the Unexpected and Otherwise Difficult to Explain, Big Suprize Result of Today's Vote, (Comp. Supra), if the above-mentioned "BioEthical" Factor Hypothesis would, eventualy be found Insufficient to Explain the main Vote Results, then, obviously, the Question is naturaly Raised whether it might be, or not, such an Imminent Threat to Hit Sarkozy personaly, through a Center-Leftish Bureaucracy of Judges/Prosecutors, probably incited by some unscrupulous Outgoing Socialist Government Officials, and/or, eventualy, one or another among his numerous Competitors or their croneys, which could, perhaps, stand Behind what happened...

>>> In such a case, was Sarkozy Obliged, or did he, perhaps, Decide, by his own, to "Sacrifice" himself, in order for the mainstream Center-Right Opposition to be Sure to have at least another, Unstoppable Candidate to that Crucial 2017 French Presidential Election, (and, preferably, someone comparatively Closer to his Political Beliefs and Strategy, as Fillon notoriously is) ?

If such an attempt to prosecute N.S. emerges on the surface, sooner or later, then, this Hypothesis would find a Strong Factual Basis. Otherwise, it would be Difficult to say, (at least, as things stand until now).

-------------------------------------------------------
=> A European/International Sarkozy Future ?
------------------------------------------------------------------

Independently of any such Speculations about various possible Causes, Questions are, naturaly, Raised, from now on, about what could be the Possible Future for such an Atypical Personality as the Experienced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in a way which could made the Best Use possible, both for France and Europe in Today's World :

An authentic "European Integration" person, already by his Family, (Father from Hungary, Matternal Grandfather from Greece, and Wife from Italy, etc), passionately engaged in various Contacts with EU, Russia, USA and other Foreign Leaders, as well as actively taking original and efficient Initiatives for Peace in Europe (f.ex. by Stopping a Russo-Georgian Conflict), Economic Regulation from EU's core up to a Global level, (f.ex. by organizing the 1st €uroArea Heads of State/Government Summit on 2008, and an Exceptional Franco-German Summit for an "€uroArea Treaty", on August 2011, at Elysée Palace : See "Eurofora"s NewsReports from the spot of those Historic events, at : ... + ...), Few People observed the Fact that Sarkozy even chose his current Private Office, at Miromesnil, situated at a Location DIRECTLY linked to Paris' "Europe Square", (surrounded by several Streets Named after EU Capital Cities), over the Saint Lazare reNovated Railway Station, as "Eurofora" found out, while Multiplying, in Recent Years, an interesting Series of Conferences, both Abroad (f.ex. ar Berlin, etc) and in France, with a Coherent and Updated Vision and Proposals for Europe's foreseable Future.

Useful to keep in Mind, particularly Today, when several Big Reshuffles can be expected at least on a European/PanEuropean, if not International, level Soon, at a Crucial Stage for Europe's role in the World, since, in real practice, since... it's Only 2 Years Time, before the Next European Parliament Elections of May 2019,  which may Determine the Political Choices, in Addition to those of EU Parliament's New President, also, not only of EU Commission's President, (as it was already done, for the 1st Time, on May 2014), but even of the European Council's President, and probably also for a brand New Top Job of €uroArea's Future President, (according to a Plan Supported by Both Sarkozy and Fillon, etc).

His Friend and long-time co-Worker, German Chancelor Angie Merkel, by a coincidence, has just Anounced, this Same Day in Berlin, her intention to Lead anew the ChristianDemocrats through the forthcoming, Crucial for Europe, 2017 National Election in Germany, for a 2018-2022 fresh New Mandate, in a period which could see Europe's Crash or Rebound.

That's, perhaps, why, Sarkozy, (who had openly Dreamt on 2007 in Strasbourg to Help Develop a kind of "RenNaissance" of Europe, (See : ...), and has seriousy Worked to prepare such an Horizon for Years, recently, (as we  Reminded him when we briefly met recently in Strasbourg, triggering a Careful but quite Positive spontaneous reaction, Comp. : ...), to say, in Conclusion of his Official Statement Today (See Above...), Not just a Simple "Good Bye", but, rather, an Enigmatic : ...  "Au Révoir" ?...