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Home arrow newsitems arrow CoE-Russia : Macron + Jagland for saveguarding a PanEuropean Area from Lisbon to Vladivostok

CoE-Russia : Macron + Jagland for saveguarding a PanEuropean Area from Lisbon to Vladivostok

Written by ACM
Tuesday, 31 October 2017
coe__macron__jagland_deal_eurofora_400


*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/-
It's Both the New French President Emmanuel Macron and CoE's Secetary General Thornbjorn Jagland, former Norway Prime Minister and NOBEL Peace Prize Oslo Committee Chair, who Explicitly stressed their Joint Will to Saveguard and Develop a PanEuropean area "from Portugal to Vladivostok", exactly at a moment when CoE - Russia's relations are at the forefront of a "Hot" Controversy with various positions, Urgently Seeking an adequate Solution asap, (Comp. f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeonmacronjaglandtalksonrussiaechr.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeassemblypresidentrussiabioethics.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/newpacepresidentandrussiadebates.html, etc.)


This goes even Further than some Relevant and Premonitory Replies by CoE's Communication Director and Press Spokesman to "Eurofora", most Published already Yesterday, as well as Conforted and more Widely Developed also by various Recent, both Earlier and Subsequent Macron's key References, including in his Subsequent Speech at the ECHR, Later-on Today, to Deadly "Islamist Terrorism" systematically Targetting innocent Civilian People throughout all Europe, (from EU Countries up to Russia, etc), and even in the USA, by a Timely Coincidence, Later ToNight, (See Infra).


______________________________


  Officially Marking this Juncture, Macron and Jagland clearly stressed that point Together, (even almost Repeating, one after the other, a Similar Wording on that Key Issue !), at a unique official Joint Press-point, organized in CoE's "Palais de l'Europe", in the presence of many Officials and staff, as well as many Journalists, from Norway to Cyprus etc, including "Eurofora" :

 

coe__jaglands_press_statement_eurofora_400


  - "Your Visit Today, here, (at CoE's Main Headquarters, in Strasbourg's "Europe's Palace" Central Building), and your (subsequent) Speech at the (PanEuropean) Court, Later on, is of Historic Importance, and Underlines your and France's commitment to Human Rights and the Legal Space that we (CoE) have Established (since Russia's Accession into the PanEuropean Organization, back on 1996) in Europe, from (Russia's) Vladivostok to (Portugal's) Lisbon", significantly said to Macron, Jagland.


 - "The (Pan)European Convention on Human Rights, guarantees, to 830 Millions of Europeans (i.e. about 150 Millions of Russians included), a Protection Un-Matched (wihout Equivalent) in the World, and a Source of Inspiration for all Humanity", Replied Macron.


 - Therefore, "if Any among' its 47 "Member States" were eventually "pushed Away or to Leave (CoE's) premisses", then, inter alia, such a move "would Deprive their Inhabitants (and all) their Civil Society from the Protection of the most Fundamental Rights, which are an Acquisition of our Latest 65 Years" (1953 - 2018 : i.e. since the Entry into force of the European Convention of Human Rights), he Warned, at this 2017's crucial Concluding moment.

 

sns__macron_hard_eurofora_400
 


=> "Therefore, I Wish to fully endorse the (COE's) Secretary General, in the Work that he has undertaken, since several Months, to Preserve the PanEuropean Framework (Dimension) of the CoE", Macron stressed.


 >>> - Indeed, "this is our Common Home, as you've said, from Lisbon to Vladivostok, to which we are Attached", clearly Ensured the new French President, on this Crucial and Topical, Key point.

 
coe__macron__jagland_smling_conclusion_eurofora_400 


    + Macron also Confirmed, on this opportunity, his Wish to "Continue further a Close Cooperation with the CoE, particularly in the Perspective of the (Forthcoming) Presidency of its (47 Member States strong) Committee of Ministers, by France, on 2019".

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 coe__macron_just_before_he_arrives_at_the_press_stand_with_eurofora_400

(Macron, just Before he Arrives at the "Press" Stand, with "Eurofora" : CoE's Photo)

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

    Earlier, the new French President, just After a 30 Minutes' long confidential encounter with Jagland at COE's Secretary General's Office, Personaly Saluted several People inside the CoE, delighted to greet him even by Handshakes, including "Eurofora", (Adding his usual Friendly :  -"How are things going on ?")...

 

 macron_in_front_of_agg_eurofora_400

(French President Macron approaching to salute also "Eurofora",

while CoE Media Director + Press Spokesman Holtgen is carefully Watching - Left)

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


    + But, Later Today, Macron also made some Other Interesting, Relevant Statements, during his subsequent Long Speech at the ECHR, that ToNights' Global "Breaking News", indirectly but surely, UnExpectedly brought at the Forefront of Actuality, (See Infra).

 

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

Relevant CoE's Press Spokesman remarks to "Eurofora"
(also on CoE's Parliamentary Assembly, and its New President)

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

    - Meanwhile, CoE's Communications' Director, and Press Spokesman, David Holtgen, speaking Yesterday to "Eurofora", confirmed that Jagland and Macron had already "Spoken about Russia also the Last Time, in Paris, at the End of August" 2017, where it was "Part of the Discussion", as he reminded, in Reply to our relevant Questions, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeonmacronjaglandtalksonrussiaechr.html).


    Controversial moves in CoE's Assembly had striped Russian MEPs from their Voting and key Participation Rights, back on 2014 and 2015, on Pretext of the Conflict between a Kiev's new Government and pro-Autonomy Donetsk/Luhansk Regions, as well as Crimea's ReUnification with mainland Russia, following a Violent Change of Regime, partly Provoked by some Strange Deadly "Snipers" curiously Killing Both Demonstrators and Policemen, (as former Estonian Foreign Minister, and currently MEP, Paet had noted), so that a written Agreement between former President Yanukovich and the Dissidents, brokered with the Help of French, German and Polish Foreign Ministers, for Amnesty, a National Unity Government, and New Presidential Elections before the End of the Year, was Droped, Dividing the Country.


    Moscow reacted to PACE's Sanctions by Withdrawing its MEPs, and Recently Started to Stop Paying its Financial Contribution to CoE's Budget (+10% of the Total), until respect for its MEPs' Rights would be legally Guaranteed. For Next Year, the Last Opportunity to find a Compromise is until 22 January 2018, (i.e., up to the Begining of CoE Parliamentary Assembly's Next Plenary "Winter" Session, included, according to its current Rules of Procedure).


    + Meanwhile, CoE is just Starting to Prepare an Exceptional New Summit of Heads of State/Government from All its 47 Member States (including Russia), and that Divisive Issue was Recently Discussed Both by its Committee of Ministers and its Parliamentary Assembly, as a Problem to Solve asap.


    - So, "I think, yes, I'd Expect that they would Speak (also) about Russia", Holtgen had Warned "Eurofora", very Rightfully, as Today's Jagland and Macron's Official Press Statements clearly reveal (Comp. Supra).


    - Meanwhile, as far as it concerns Jagland's recent Visit to Moscow, CoE's Spokesman has already observed that "he had Constructive Meetings, with 3 or 4 Partners there", including "the Foreign Minister Mr (Sergei) Lavrov, with the President of the Federation Councli, (Valentina) Matvienko, with the (New) Speaker of the Duma, (Vyacheslav) Volontin, and with the Human Rights' (New) OmbudsWoman", (Tatiana Moskalkova), as he reminded.


    - "All Together, it was a Constructive Visit, and, Yes, We (CoE) Hope that a Solution can be found", the Press Spokesman concluded, apparently implying that much needs yet to be done...


     - In Fact, Macron and Jagland's Meeting was already Expected to be "about the (PanEuropean) Convention (on Human Rights), the Council of Europe (itself, which notoriously eyes a New Heads of State/Government Summit to prepare for 2019, when France is due to undertake its Rotating Chairmanship), and the (Russian+) Membership to the Council", he had Highlighted. - "But we shall Wait (before saying anything in Public), at least "until the conclusion of his Speech" at the ECHR.

    - On the Contrary, Despite recent Developments on Syria/Iraq, "I don't expect that to be an issue here" in Strasbourg, Now, Holtgen, perhaps too quickly had droped a relevant "Eurofora"s question, Despite the Fact that Famous Yazidi Lady, Nadia Murad, former Prisoner of ISIS' Terrorists, who was Awarded Both CoE's prestigious "Vaklav Havel" Prize and EU Parliament's "Zacharov" Prize, has Notoriously Denounced the Scandalous Impunity of RingLeaders and Instigators of Horrible Crimes which have systematically Targetted innocent Civilian People. And she Met with French Foreign Minister Drian in Paris just before his Venue in Strasbourg last September 2017, where CoE's Parliamentary Assembly has, more Recently, Earlier this October 2017, debated and Adopted a Resolution Asking for Justice to be done and all those Responsible for "Genocide" attempts and/or Other Heavy and Sadic Crimes to be Found, Judged and Punished, according to ECHR's case-law.


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


    + Meanwhile, the recently Elected, New President of CoE's Parliamentary Assembly, Head of Cyprus' Delegation, Stella Kuyriakides, a ChristianDemocat/EPP MEP, former Chairwoman of PACE's Social, Health and Sustainable Development Committee, (See, f.ex., her Replies to "Eurofora" Questions on her Forthcoming Agenda, during the Short but Crucial for CoE - Russia relations, Period of October 2017 - 22 January 2018, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/newpacepresidentkyriakidestoeurofora.html +Other Relevant NewsReports at ..., etc), might usefully Help on that pending and "Hot" matter, Holtgen has estimated :


 - "I would say that, the New President of PACE, definitively Plays a Key Role in a possible Solution" of the Russian issue, CoE's Press Spokesman stressed positively.


   Kyriakides, who is also Expected to eventually Visit herself Moscow asap, Recently Thanked Russia for the Liberation of 2 Turkish Tatar Dissidents in Crimea, (whose predominantly and Historically Russian-Speaking large Majority of Population, had Largely Voted a Referendum for the Peninsula's Return Back into the Russian Federation, in conditions which, however, were Not Recognized by Most Foreign Countries yet).


 - Even, "quite apart from the SG, (i.e. independently from an eventual "Coordination" between Jagland and Kyriakides, as "Eurofora" suggested), and regardless of the fact that, in the meantime, "there was (an) Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting that she was not able to attend", "However, she said, on her policy towards Moscow, that she Hoped that there will be Possibilities to have a Dialogue with the Russian (MEPs') Delegation (to CoE's Assembly), at a Later Stage", Holtgen observed.


 - "I reckon and assume that it Will Happen, what she said. And that it will happen in a Timely manner", indeed, CoE's Press Spokesman commented, (while the Moment for Decisions on CoE's Annual Budget for 2018 approaches, with the imminent venue of November 2017, during which CoE's Committee of Ministers has to be Fixed on his overall Financial possibilities for the Year Ahead).


 - That's why, "I definitively think that she (PACE's New President) has a Key Role to Play, also", the PanEuropean Organisation's Medias Director had Concluded in his Reply to "Eurofora".

 
-------------

 

    + Meanwhile, it's also Cyprus' President, Nicos Anastassiades himself, who has just Visited Moscow and met Both with Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev, and with President Vladimir Putin, that is due to eventually meet also with the French President Emmanuel Macron, possibly Next Week in Paris, (as Cyprus' Government Press Spokesman, Nicos Christodoulides, warned "Eurofora" during the latest, October 19-20, EU Heads of State/Government Summit in Brussels: Comp. f.ex., also: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/merkeloneusummitandturkey.html , etc, from the spot).

Both Russia and France are also Permanent Members of UNO's Security Council, where Paris is currently cocluding its rotating Chairmanship.

 

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

 

+ Recently in Brussels, in a Parallel Move, EU Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking to Journalists, including "Eurofora", in the Middle of EU Heads of State/Governments' exchanges for the 1st of the 2 Days-Long Summit there (19-20 October 2017), expressed his Regret for the Fact that it has Not Yet been Possible to give him an Official Mandate in order to Negotiate with Russia about the forerseeable Future and Partial or Total, progressive or fast, eventual Lift of Economic Sanctions, (which notoriously Affect also EU Coutries' Economy by Dividing the European Continent, as OECD's experienced Head, Angel Guria, has already Warned "Eurofora", previously at the CoE in Strasbourg: See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/oecdheadaskssolutionforukraine.html, etc).


- It's mainly a current "Lack of Unanimity" (and Not of Majority) inside EU's Council, according to what he said, which extended such an Obstacle further. But Juncker apparently believes that EU Commission should get such a Mandate on Time, in view of possible such EU - Russia Talks, by a Timely Coincidence, also around the Beginning of 2018, (See  "Eurofora"s relevant NewsReport from Brussels at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/junckerforeurussia.html).

 


----------------------------------------
Macron and Related Topical "Islamist Terrorism" Attacks in EU, Russia + USA :
--------------------------------------------

    Previously, during July 2017 EU Summit in Brussels, (Comp. "Eurofora"s NewsReport from Brussels with Other Macron-Merkel Statements at an Exceptional Joint Press Conference at ...), Macron had notoriously Announced that EU Countries should cooperate more Closely with Russia and other International Allies against Deadly Islamist Terrorism systematicaly Targetting Innocent Civilian People, (while also Talking about Peace in Syria's Future with its President, Assad), etc.


Meanwhile, a few Days Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin has just Congratulated the Army of his Country for Succesfuly Helping to Free the "90%" of the Territory of Syria from Armed Islamist Terrorism, (while a parallel Coalition, under USA's Lead and Kurdish Syrian Autonomist Region's Guards, helped by American a.o. forces, notoriously Liberated the Former "ISIS' Capital" City of Raqqa, and Other Syria/Iraq areas).


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


+ Such Moves fit naturally quite well also with Macron's repeated Denonciations, (Later Today in Strasbourg, during his Speech at the ECHR), of the Fact that, despite several recent ISIS' Defeats in Syria/Iraq, neverheless, Deadly "Islamist Terrorism" against Civilian People and relevant Islamist "Radicalization" in France and all Europe, persisted and Continued, still, to provoke serious Threats and Dangers which needed appropriate and efficient Governemental Measures, (See : ...).


This Topical Point made him, Nowadays, the Target of Harsh Criticism by some Lobbies, mainly linked with certain Foreign Circles, and particularly from Turkey, etc.,  - which has notoriously been Many Times Denounced, not only by Russia, but even by mainstream Turkish Dissidents, as, f.ex., former "Cumhurriyet" Newspaper's Chief Editor Dundar (awarded Strasbourg's Press Club and "Reporters without Borders" Prizes, recently here), to have actively supported Secret Heavy Weapons' deliveries to Violent Extremist Islamist Terrorists, including Al Queda's offsprings, ISIS, etc.: Indeed, they claimed that Macron's New Law on Public Security in France, (which is due to Replace, from the 1st November 2017, the current "State of Emergency" status established in the Country since the 2015 ISIS Deadly Massacres at "Bataclan" and elsewhere in Paris, back on Autumn 2015), would be, potentially, too Hard versus Former "Jihadists" returning Back to Europe from Syria or Iraq through Turkey, and/or concerning the possible Shutting down of Mosques and/or various Muslim "Prayer Rooms", which may Preach Dangerous Hate and Islamist Radicalism, if not  covert or even open Propaganda for Violent Islamist Terrorism, (as, Recently New USA President Don Trump, together with Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordany and other Countries, notoriously Accused  Qatar to do, since its regime was partly linked with the Turkish regime, Funding such Controversial Radicalized "Mosques" Networks specially inside Europe, but also in the USA, Asia or Africa, etc).


Macron's elementary Saveguard of at least such a - comparatively Small but adequatly Focused - Part of the much Larger former State of Emergency rules, for about 2 more Years' Time, (due to be Revised Afterwards),


logically came just After astonishing recent Revelations of the Fact that, Contrary to what some used to systematicaly Claim about alleged so-called "Lone Wolfs", in Reality, several ISIS' Mass Killers Targetting Innocent Civlian People had various Links to Radicalized "Mosques" and some (Controversial or even openly accused for suspected Links to Islamist Terrorism) Muslim Lobbies, with Wider Socio-Political Complicities. (F.ex., after Berlin's Januray 2017 Deadly Attack against a Traditionnal  "Christmas' Market", much More at the July 2017 Massacre in Spanish Catalonia region's capital city of Barcelona : See ..., etc).


While Nowadays' French Court Proceedings Start to Reveal that, in Fact, it's right from the Start, even from the First Islamist Terrorist Deadly Attack in France, mainly against Civilian People, including Small Children in their School : that of Merah, back on 2012, during the Presidential Electoral Campaign, was Not a "Lone Wolf"'s Isolated initiative, but also the Tip of an Iceberg, amidst a Wider Radicalized Islamist Extremists' circle. (Whose Real, Full Extend, doesn't seem to have yet been Thoroughly Investigated, as even More Troubling Facts, eventualy Linked to that Massacre's Logistics, coming from that Period, obviously Need Serious Inquiries, which do Not seem to have been made yet since 2012, as "Eurofora" has already found and published, as well as Discussed with some Key Terrorism Victims' Associations, a former Prime Minister, etc., who did not Deny or even Acknowledged their Interest, but said that they had Not been Informed about those Facts, concerning possible Accomplices who may have provided Arms and Money to the Killer, as he had said himself, at the last moment before those Massacres.


 Those 2012 Facts linked France with Spain's "Andalusia" Region, with 2 ..."Chechen" Islamist Extremists, who had Travelled, at that Same Time with Merah's Killings in Fance, between Afghanistan/Pakistan and Turkey, through France, until Spain's Southern "Andalusia" Region, a notoriously "Islamized" area and the Last remaining "Socialist" stronghold in that Country, where they had been Arrested by the Spanish Police, after being, Curiously, Found ...Hidden at an UnderGround hiding place, in the "Bunkerized" Home of a Turkish migrant Hired, since controversial "Socialist" UK former Prime Minister Blair's era, in a Job at the Brittish-held Rock of Gibraltar,  Comp., f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/brief/brief/turksandchechenarrestedforterrorisminspainandbulgaria.html +
Trio Turco-Tchetchene arrêté pour Terrorisme en Espagne: Lié à l'affaire Merah (France)+à l'Europe?!, etc).


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


+ Last, but not least, Later ToNight, "Breaking News" from USA's International UNO's Headquarters in New York City's Manhattan, anounced the 1st obviouslyy ISIS-inspired Deadly Islamist Terrorism Aggression against Innocent Civilian People during New US President Trump's administration, Killing 8 and Wounding at least 11 Victims (including European People from Belgium, Germany, etc), in a Brutal Attack with a Lorry and other Arms by a Coward at a Pedestrian/Bicycle area, (as in various Other Cities in Europe earlier : f.ex. at Austria's Graz, Germany's Berlin, Sweden's Stockholm, Nice and other areas in France, twice in UK's London, etc).


>>> By anOther Astonishing Coincidence, it has been just Revealed, that the suspected (and arrested) Islamist Terrorist Mass Murderer cowardly Targetting defenseless and innocent Civilian People, was, in fact, an ISIS' adept from ...former USSR's Uzbekistan, i.e. an Islamist Extremist Opponent to Russian Federation's current Government !


He had initally Entered into the US under a "Diversity Immigrant Visa" program and was Given "Green Card"'s "Permanent Residence" and Employability in the USA, since Former "Socialist" President Barack Hussein Obama's era from 2010, as well as Hired in Jobs at Lorries and/or as a Driver at "Uber" Big Company, etc.


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


  + I.e., by a Coincidence, of Similar Origin as the Recent Mass-Murderer, Islamist Terrorist (an Uzbek Ethnic, born at nearby Kyrgyzstan: Both former USSR Member States in Central Asia), who willingly Killed 15 and Wounded 45 innocent Civilian People by Bombing the Metro of Saint-Petersburg City, on July 2017, in Russia...


    I.e., as mainstream UK Newspaper "Guardian" reported, some  among many Thousands of Central Asian Migrants residing in Russia "who Often Work in Construction Sites", where many Turkish Construction Businesses notoriously expand in recent years.


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


++ ToNight's New Facts were Added, among others, also to the Previous Relevant Fact, that, in USA too (as, probably in France : Comp. Supra), it's Right from the Start that even one Among the First  Islamist Terrorism's Deadly Attacks : that of the infamous "Boston Marathon"'s 2 Bombers, who had Cowardly Killed 4 and Wounded about 280 Victims in a Double-Bombing Attack targetting Civilian People back on April 2013, had notoriously been planned and executed by at least 2 "Chechen"-origin Migrants, whose Family had been Accepted and even given "Asylum", Welfare Benefits, and Jobs in the USA, including Studies in a "prestigious" School and University for their Youngest Son, (the only Surviving Bomber).


Significantly, the Oldest among those Boston Deadly Bombers, (whose Family had reportedly been Later-on, more and more Radically Islamized), a University Drop-Out, was reported to have become an Islamist Extremist, after starting to frequent the "Islamic Society" of a Boston's Mosque notorious for its Radicalization, since around 2008-2009, (i.e. at "Socialist" former US President, Barack Hussein Obama's 1st Election), followed by a Round-Trip to Russia's Caucasus Region, Returning to USA, where he was Soon Awarded even "American Citizenship", back on 2012, (i.e. at Obama's 2nd Election).


Meanwhile, that Leading Deadly Boston Bomber had reportedly Attempted to Fight, together with an Armed Islamist Terrorist Organization at Dagestan, (a Caucasus-located Member State in the Russian Federation, Neighbouring Chechnya), directly against the Government of Russia ! (But was Frightened by efficient counter-Terrorism measures, and, finally, prefered to Return Back to the USA)...  However, his Parents were still reportedly Living until recently in Dagestan (Russia) too.


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


++  Even the very 1st ever in History, Islamist Terrorism-linked Massive Massacre of many innocent Civilian People in the USA, that of September 11, 2001 Hijacked Airplanes' Attacks and New York WTC's Towers' Implosion, (plus Pentagon's Deadly Explosion, etc.), which killed almost 3.000 People, was notoriously Attributed to Controversial Armed Islamist Groups then on Power in Afghanistan, where "Socialist" USA's former President Jimmy Carter had reportedly Started to provide a lot of Funds and even Heavy Weapons as early as since 1979, against Russia-supported Governments, which had earlier made various Secular Reforms.


Later-on, one among the Leaders of Armed Islamist Groups in Afghanistan, Bin Laden, was notoriously reported as alleged MasterMind of the 9/11 Massacre in the USA, after having been established also as a Merchant previously at Istanbul (Historic over-Millenary Constantinopolis) in nowadays Turkey.


He was reportedly killed, in Unclear and undocumented circumstances, in a later US Military Raid launched during the Pre-Electoral Campaign of 2012, which allegedly found him residing Not in Afghanistan's Mountains among struggling Taliban Rebels (as Most People believed), but, on the Contrary, hosted at a Calm and Cosy, Big Villa with Large Gardens, Long Buildings, etc., in a  Privileged area of Islamabad City, known for being usually prefered by the Rich and Powerful Establishment's "Elite", the Capital of Pakistan, (the most Notorious Turkey's GeoPolitical, Historic and Cultural Ally).

 

(../..)


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Recent developments proved that Europe can suceed to overcome challenges by aiming at great objectives, and this is needed also in 2009, said EU chairman, French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

    - "It's in the name of Great Ideas, Projects, Ambition and Ideals, that EU can overcome" challenges, stressed Sarkozy at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, in conclusion of a dense 7 months EU Chairmanship. "It's even easier for Europe to have Great projects, able to overcome national egoism, instead of limiting itself only to small projects" (unable to do alike), he observed.     

- "Europe must remain Ambitious and understand that the World needs her to take Decisions". "The World needs a Strong Europe", which "thinks on its own, has convictions, its own responses, its imagination" : "A Europe which does not limit itself into following" others, (as it did in the Past, when it followed USA, f.ex. on Bosnia). On the contrary, "Europe should undertake its own responsibilities", he said, after a series of succes in stopping the War between Russia and Georgia, and organizing the 1st EuroZone's Summit in Paris, which incited the Washington DC G-20 Summit to extend similar decisions World-wide.  


    - "When you sweep it all under the carpet, prepare yourself for hard tomorrows", he warned. "What hinders decisions is the lack of Courage and Will, the fading away of Ideals", he stressed before EU Parliament's 2008 debate on Human Rights and Sakharov prize on Freedom of thought attributed by MEPs to Chinese cyber-dissident Hu Jia, followed by an EU - Turkey meeting on Friday.

    - "I don't abandon my convictions" and "I will take initiatives" on EU level also in 2009, Sarkozy announced later. "France will not stop having convictions and taking initiatives" on Europe. + "It's an Error to wish to pass over the Heads of those who are elected in their Countries" : "It's an integrism I always fought against"', he warned.
---------------------
French EU Presidency faced 4 unexpected Crisis :

- An institutional crisis, with the Irish "No" to EU Lisbon Treaty, just before it started. A geopolitical crisis, wth the threat of War between Russia and Georgia risking to throw Europe back to Cold-war divisions, on August. A World-wide Financial and Economic crisis, arriving at a bad moment before crucial 2009 EU elections. And even a Strasbourg's mini-crisis, with EU Parliament's roof curiously falling down, from unknown reasons, in a brand new building on August, provoking an unprecedented transfert of the 2 September Plenary Sessions...

But it wasn't enough to stop Sarkozy ! On the contrary, it stimulated him...
---------------------------------------

- "The better way to deal with the recent problems of EU institutions (as the "3 NO" by France, the Netherlands and Ireland) is to take them as a "Test" in order to find solutions closer to Citizens' concerns", said later in Strasbourg Sarkozy's new choice as Ministe for EU affairs, Bruno Le Maire.

- On the Institutional front, Sarkozy gave Time to the Irish to think about it, and stroke on December a deal including a New Referendum after the June 2009 EU Elections, in exchange of a promise to keep the rule of "one EU Commissioner for each EU Member Country", and some opt-outs on Defence and Fiscal EU policies, Abortion, etc. If the Irish get a "Yes" Majority, then the institutional package could be completed in 2010 or 2011 on the occasion of Croatia's probable EU accession.

He was accused in Strasbourg to upgrade EU Council and downgrade EU Commision, but he replied that "strong Political initiatives by EU Council reinforce also the more technical role of EU Commission, under the political-technical leadership of its President", all 3 "working together with EU Parliament".


- But, meanwhile, Sarkozy energetically spearheaded an Historic 1st Summit of EuroZone's 15 Heads of State and Government at EU's core, exceptionally enlarged to a partial participation of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, on October 12 in Paris' Elysee palace, which started to tackle succesfully the growing world Financial crisis.

    It also paved the way for its endorsement by a subsequent Brussels' 27 EU Member States' gathering, before it all come to Washington's G-20 Summit. And "Europe was united, it asked for the 1st G-20 Summit, and it will also organise the next G-20 Summit on April in London", he observed.   

 But a Conference with EU, Russia, African and other Developing Countries, hosted in Strasbourg shortly after Washington G-20 Summit by the French EU Presidency, took a Resolution asking to enlarge participation to Global Economic Governance. Many found, indeed, illogic and unacceptable that f.ex. states as Turkey were given a seat at G-20 level, while all African Countries, and even the African Union itself, representing the greatest Continent on Earth, were excluded...


    Meanwhile, even USA''s "Paulson No 3" Plan, was, in fact, inspired by Europe's No 1 Plan", Sarkozy observed, largelly applauded by MEPs.

    And "Europe showed Solidarity" by mobilizing some 22 Billion credit for Hungary, 1,7 billion for Ukraine, as we do nowadays for Baltic States, etc., he added.

    The move on Economy was extended on December by an EU stimulus' plan totalling some 200 billion Euros, including 5 Billions released by EU Commission for big Projects, as well as various parallel National plans for Economic revival, (fex. 26 billions in France alone). They might appear limited, compared to USA President-elect Obama's reported plan to boost the American economy with 800 billion $, but at least succeded to overcome Europe's divisions for the first time on Economic governance, opening new horizons.

- The French President stressed even harder the unique role of an active EU Council's chairmanship, when he moved swiftly and efficiently, at the beginning of August, to succesfully stop War between Russia and Georgia, at the last minute, which threatened to bring Europe back to Cold War division.

"We (EU) also wanted to avoid a situation like in Bosnia, in the Past, when EU was absent, so that our American friends took their responsibilitues, and EU only followed", despite the fact that the conflict took place in Europe. Now, it was the EU who took its responsibilities".

A roadmap towards a new PanEuropean Security policy, before which all unilateral moves to place new Missiles (from USA or Russia) would be freezed, was proposed by Sarkozy after a meeting with Russian president Medvedev, at the eve of Washington DC's G-20 Summit.

Ukraine's "European" character was stressed at a Sarkozy - Jushenko Summit, September in Paris, while EU adopted on December an "Eastern policy", in which, "I'm convinced that our (EU's) future is to find with our Neighbours the conditions for Economic Development. Peace and Security, by explaining them that.. they must respect (Human Rights') Values, and adopt behaviors different from the Past", explained Sarkozy in Strasbourg.

Meanwhile, the "Union for the Mediterranean" was created, since July's Summit if 45 Heads of State and Government in Paris, as "an organisation for a permanent Dialogue, that we need", mainly in order to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, by bringing together, for the 1st time, Israelis and Arabs, where "Europe must be present, in order to avoid a frontal clash".

- "If Europe doesn't take its part for Peace in the Middle-East, nobody else will do that in our place", Sarkozy stressed.
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    Meanwhile, other EU Agreements were brokered during the French EU Presidency on Immigration, (fex. common Asylum rules, etc), and Climat- Energy :

    - On Climat-Energy, the 2007 German EU Presidency had fixed a triple 20% aim for 2020 (20% renewable Energies, 20% reduction of CO2 emmission, 20% energy efficience/economies), and the 2008 French EU Presidecny realized that, making the necessary compromises in order to modernize EU's industry, but without throwing some former Central-Eastern European Countries into abrupt Economic break down risking "social explosion".

    - Defence-Security EU policy was mainly postponed for April 2009, since both German chancellor Merkel and French president Sarkozy want to strike a deal with the new American president Obama in Strasbourg's NATO Summit.

    However, with all these 4 unexpected Crisis diverting attention to other urgencies, People wil wonder now, what happened to the famous deal proposed by freshly-elected French President Sarkozy on Turkey's controversial EU bid, back on August 2007, to continue EU - Turkey negotiations, but on the double condition that core chapters, intrinsequally linked with EU Membership, will be excluded, and that a collective Reflexion and Debate on Europe's future would start before the end of 2008.

    It was meant to reply to the crucial question : What kind of Europe do we want in 10 or 20 Years from now : A large Market, or a Political Europe, with a popular identity ? In Sarkozy's thinking, presented in his 2 landmark speeches on Europe in Strasbourg, shortly before and after the 2007 Elections, (on February and July 2007), Turkey's controversial EU bid would be incompatible with the second choice.

    It's true that EU Commision's Chairman, Jose Barroso, (who had notoriously declared, as former Portuguese Prime Minister, that he found "nonsense" the idea that Europe might become equal to the US), had repeatedly tried to avoid that Sarkozy's criticism on Turkey might start winning a larger audience in Europe, preferring a discrete "wismens' committee" work. And that most of the personalities later chosen in order to participate in a Committee on Europe's Future, are too much linked with Socialist parties and/or American policies, to be really critical of USA's notorious wish to impose Turkey to the EU, as Sarkozy had noted himself since March 2007..

     - "It's on EU Council's presidency to take political initiatives. EU Commission has other competences", stressed Sarkozy. The "European Ideal" is to "build Europe with the States, not against them". "Ask Europeans to chose between their countries and Europe won't work. You don't choose between your two parents : We must add them together".

    "France and Germany have an Historic Duty to work together, precisely because of what happened to the Past. We have to work hand by hand. We cannot be separated.It goes beyond me and Mrs Merkel today, Mr Schroeder and Mr. Chirac yesterday. It's not a choice, it's a duty to Europe and to the World".  "We need Germany, as Germany needs Europe". Compromise is inevitable, here as everywhere, and each one made some steps towards eachother's positions.

    But "it's true that Mrs Merkel didn't chose her Socialist partners, while I chose mine", Sarkozy said, in an indirect hint that the Socialist Minister of Finance in Germany might be a cause of minor past disagreements in Economy, which were overcome in recent negotiations.

    "We (France and Germany) have particular duties in Europe", but "in a Europe of 27 Member States, it's not enough for France and Germany to agree between them.

    "I always thought that Great Britain has a special role to play in Europe. ... Now, everybody "saw what it cost payed the UK for having been too exclusively open towards the US (and) Financial services. Europe needs the UK, but also the UK needs Europe" :- "We were able to face the hardest moment of the Financial crisis because the UK clearly chose Europe", stressed Sarkozy, reminding Gordon Brown's exceptional participation to the Historic 1st Heads of State/Government Summit of EuroZone, October 12 in Paris (See EuroFora's Reportage from Elysee Palace then).

     - "Some look at Europe with old glasses aged 30 years ago. While we must look at her in relation to what it will be in 30 years" in the Future, Sarkozy concluded.

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2009 EU Elections were won by Parties against Technocracy and Turkey's controversial EU bid, while the 1999-2004 Majority Abstention trend decelerated. What should be done in 2009-2014 ?

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