newsitems WHO for Offensive on Virus, as Others Stick at Defense : Different Strategies push Gaps among States
WHO for Offensive on Virus, as Others Stick at Defense : Different Strategies push Gaps among States
*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Facts: In China (First to be Affected) about 3.300 People Died by the new CoronaVirus in 3 Months, but in Italy (EU) it's Already about 5.500 who Died in 1 Month only (since February's End) !
Meanwhile, in Russia (China's Neighbor) there are Only about 440 People Infected and just 1 Dead, (both Less than Greece or Luxembourg, inside the EU !), in mostly Recent "Imported" cases...
Moreover, in China's "Wuhan" area, (reportedly at the Origin of that Virus), all Inhabitants have just been Authorized to Return Back to their usual Jobs (they can even Travel around their Region), and Transports are Fully Re-established, while, on the Contrary, around the EU, even various Massive Personal Confinements at Home are Currently Spreading (in France, Germany, Spain, even the UK, Greece, etc), and some ask now Even Stricter Measures.
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Concerning Strategies, some inside the EU, more or less openly, Claim that Stop the Virus would be an "Utopia", and, in Fact, push to Focus on a Defensive "Flattening of the Epidemic Curve", i.e. merely Delaying its Spread, just in order to let the Health Systems (Hospitals, etc) some Time to cope with the Rapid Accumulation of Infections, which have been practicaly let to Spread all over their National Territory, (f.ex., mutatis-mutandis, in France and Spain, partly Greece and Germany, the UK too, etc). In the meantime, the Augmentation of Infections is still much Higher than that of Recoveries, at least until now.
On the Contrary, the Chinese Strategy appears to call for Rapid attempts to Stop and Reverse the Virus, with Early Diagnosis, Early Confinement, and Early Treatments, as the Drastic Territorial Confinement of the Virus around the Wuhan Area Only, mostly Succeeded. In Addition, the New Infections have almost Stopped in China, (with the Exception of a Small Number of "Imported" cases from Abroad), while the Recoveries still Grow every day, Approaching 7/8 of the cases ! Will they manage to Finaly Overcome some reported Errors Initially committed at the Begining ?
In the USA, Recently, inter alia, efforts to boost Scientific/Technological Research for Treatments and/or Vaccines reportedly have Started Earlier than elsewhere, (even if several Other Countries, including in the EU, Russia, China, etc, appear to try to Catch up, more or less Rapidly), and Borders' Protection apparently Moved Drasticaly, (with the Exception of Mexico, which still has a Surprizingly Tiny Number of Only a Few Infections). But a special Big Federal Budget due to Boost the Health System, SMEs, Citizens' Economy, etc., has just been Delayed and Blocked by the Political Opposition (Center-Left "Dem." Party of "Socialists"/Liberals), which reportedly Exploited the Infection and Confinement of 5 pro-Government Conservative Senators, that practically Swept their Majority at the Senate, adding even an Alternative Plan, full of Provocative Demands on various Other, UnRelated Issues, (concerning, f.ex., Migrants, the Electoral System, more Powers to Trade Unions, even the Post, Aviation's relations to "Global Warming", etc), as the Country approaches a Crucial Presidential Election in a few Months...
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In the middle of such Circumstances, WHO's Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking in a Press-point at nearby Geneva, After having, Recently, named the New CoronaVirus a "Pandemic", and while, still, Acknowlding, Nowadays, that the Spread of that Virus is Globally "Accelerating", Nevertheless, for the 1st Time, he clearly Launched a vibrant Call to pass from mere "Defense" into an "Attack" against the Virus !
- "You can't Win ... Only by Defending. You have to Attack, as well", he stressed.
- Indeed, f.ex., merely "asking people to Stay at Home and other physical Distancing measures are an important way of Slowing down the spread of the virus and buying Time (Comp. Supra) – But they are Defensive measures", he said.
- On the Contrary, "to Win, we need to Attack the Virus with Aggressive and Targeted tactics", WHO's Chief stressed.
- Indeed, "we're Not Helpless Bystanders. We Can Change the Trajectory of this Pandemic", he Boasted.
This comes shortly After WHO's Director General recently Praised China's Latest Reports of "No New Cases" of Infection, "for the First time since the COVID19 outbreak started". Indeed, "Wuhan provides Hope for the rest of the World, that Even the Most Severe situation Can be Turned Around".
- "Of course, we must exercise Caution - the situation can Reverse", he had advised then. "But the Experience of cities and countries that have Pushed Back this CoronaVirus give Hope and Courage to the rest of the World", he had already pointed out.
- In particular, Ghebreyesus pointed, Mainly, at :
* "Testing every Suspected case" ;
* "Isolating and Caring for every Confirmed case" ;
* "Tracing and Quarantining every close Contact" ;
* "Mobilizing Resources internally From Less-Affected Regions ... to Increase Capacity", (f.ex. in France, etc) ;
* "International Solidarity", as, already, "several Countries have sent Emergency Medical Teams to Care for patients and Train health workers in Other Countries that Need support", (f.ex. Russia to Italy, etc, while China sends Material) ;
* "Build a Network of Emergency Medical Teams ... to provide surge capacity of High-Quality health Professionals who can be Deployed to care for patients and save lives" ;
* "Protect Health Workers" ;
* "Address... the global Shortage of ... life-Saving Tools", as "personal Protective Equipment" (f.ex. Gloves, DesInfectants, Masks, Ventilators, etc), of which we must "Rationalize and Rrioritize the Use", by "addressing every part of the Supply Chain, from raw Materials to finished Product" ;
* "Work Together to increase Production, (particularly of "Essential Protective gear", but also Ventilators, etc), Avoid export Bans, and ensure Equity of Distribution, on the basis of Need" ;
* Find "Effective Therapeutics", (for Care + Vaccine, for which "there is a Desperate Need", as he stressed), with "Treatment that has been Proved to be effective Against COVID-19" : Not "UnTested", but with "the Right Evidence", he also Praised as "Great to see the level of Energy Now being directed to Research Against COVID-19" ;
* Join WHO's "SOLIDARITY Trial", "to generate Robust, high-Quality Evidence as Fast as possible", "that will Help us to move with Speed and Volume", if "More Countries ... sign up to the SOLIDARITY Trial, and Other Large Studies" (NB), so that "we will get Results Faster on which Drugs Work" ;
+ ETC...
Curiously, he didN't Yet Explicitly mention "Vaccines", neither Borders' Closure vis a vis Over-Infected Regions and/or Countries, even this Might be Implied by the General Principles that he stressed. The First, Perhaps, Because he Focused Now on "Fast" Results, (while Some Claim that Vaccines would Delay, but Others Ambition to Move more Rapidly), and the Second, probably for Diplomatic reasons, (Even if, f.ex., Russia and China, etc., are Recently Starting to be Affected by their Reluctance or Delay to Block Travels from some Other, too Infected Countries, of the EU and/or Other Areas in the World : Comp. Supra).
For Comprehensible motives, WHO's Head also Omitted any Explicit Mention (even if it might, eventually, be Implied by his General Call for a large "Offensive" to "Save Human Lives" : Comp. Supra) to the Letters Recently send to the UNO and WHO Chiefs by the Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad, (Surprizingly Backed even by Many USA President Trump's fans : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/ahmadinejadonlabomadevirus1.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/ahmadinejadonlabomadevirus2.html, etc), to Help Find the "Labo" which might have produced such an "Anti-Human Weapon" as the "SARS-CoV-2" Virus, (as some Already call the New CoronaVirus COVID-19, f.ex. also the Prestigious USA Medical Journal "NEJM", See: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973, etc, even if, in Fact, it Should be called "SARS-CoV-3", since, Meanwhile, had appeared also MERS, earlier), in order to take Measures against those Responsible for such a "Threat Against Humanity", as he Denounced.
- At any case, as WHO's Head stressed, all these Measures (Comp. Supra) for "Solving this Problem (of the New CoronaVirus' Pandemic) Require Political Commitment and Political Coordination at the Global Level".
=> That's why, inter alia, he also announced his intention to "Address Heads of State and Government from the G20 Countries" Later "this Week" : Indeed, "we Need Unity in the G20 Countries", and "Political Commitment" with "Strong Solidarity", that Can Help us to ... Fight this Pandemic in the Strongest Way possible", Ghebreyesus Urged.
But, while WHO's Chief asks to become "Offensive" against the Virus, Contrary to Others who Stick to mainly "Defensive" methods, with Different Strategies which push Big Gaps among Countries, (Comp. astonishing concrete Facts cited Supra), What could be the Right Path ?....
(../..)
("Draft-News")
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The incoming Swedish EU Presidency (July-December 2009) may still remain in favour of Turkey's controversial EU bid, despite June 2009 EU Elections' results, but it has "very strong demands on Turkey"'s obligation to respect EU Rules, said the Head of Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service, Cecilia Julin, to "EuroFora", reacting to critical Press reports.
- "I know (that) the link is often made also to Sweden's position on Turkey"'s controversial EU bid. Indeed, "we (Swedish EU Presidency) are very much engaged in the future membership of Turkey, but not without fullfiling all the Criteria".
- "It's very clear that we (Swedish EU Presidecny) have very Strong Demands on Turkey, in a sort of concept for Future membership of the Union, ...which will be a Long Process...", she stressed.
This means, in particular, "the Copenhagen Criteria (on Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law), and also the adaptation to the Acquis of the European Union".
- "If you listen to what Mr. Bildt (the Swedish Foreign Minister) says on Turkey at different occasions, it's very clear : We want Turkey to become part of the Union, in the Future. But we want it to fullfil all the Criteria : The Acquis of the European Union. That's very clear", she concluded.
The Senior Official of the Swedish Foreign Ministry was reacting to critical Press Reports, from Brussels' Journalists invited by EU Commission's secretariat to Stockholm, who claimed that Bildt was abusing of a ..."Whip" (sic !) against Cyprus, by "threatening" the presence of UNO's Peace-keeping force at the "Green line" which separates the island's Government-controlled areas from the territories occupied by Ankara's army, if Nicosia didn't accept any political solution, regardless of Turkey's demands, before the end of 2009.
Governing AKEL Party's new Secretary General, Andros Kyprianou, reacted by declaring that no-one can threat the People of Cyprus : -"We shall decide for our Future, and nobody else", he reportedly said, asking to "keep calm". "In order to find a Solution soon, certain basic Principles must be respected", he stressed, calling those who feel an urgency to use their influence on Turkey. Other Political Parties were more critical.
This was a reference to recently reported statements by Turkish Minister Bagis, Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan and Turkey's National Security Council (a Military-Political body), accused to push towards a partitionist "2 States" solution, contrary to UNO SC Resolutions for Cyprus' reunification.
December 2009 is a crucial moment for EU's appraisal of Turkey's controversial EU bid, because EU Council has decided to review then Ankara's compliance with the European position on the recognition of Cyprus' Government, which was clearly set out by an EU reply of 21 September 2005 to Turkish Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan's claims, refusing to recognize even the existence of EU Member Cyprus, in controversial statements he made to London (former EU chair) on July 29, 2005.
EU Parliament's latest Resolution on Turkey, adopted on March 2009 in Strasbourg, warned Ankara that "the non-fulfillment of Turkey's commitments... by December 2009, may further seriously affect the process of Negotiations" with the EU.
In practice, the issue boils down to Ankara's "embargo" against Ships and Airplanes using Cyprus' seaports or airports at the strategic EU island, which traditionaly hosts one of the World's biggest Shipping flags. EU has already "freezed" 6 relevant Chapters in EU - Turkey Negotiations since December 2006, after Ankara refused to fullfil a commitment it had undertaken when EU had decided to open controversial "accession" negotiations with Turkey, back on December 2005.
- "As far as EU - Turkey relations are concerned, it's clear that Turkey needs to fullfil its obligation of full, non-discriminatory implementation of the additional Protocol (to "EC-Turkey Association Agreement"), This is an important issue....and should be addresseed as soon as possible as it clearly affects the pace of the accession negotiations.Issues covered by the Declaration of September 2005 will continue to be followed up, and progress is urgently awaited", warned earlier in Strasbourg the out-going Czech EU Presidency (former vice-Prime Minister Alexander Vodra).
But the Head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service, Cecilia Julin, dismissed "interpretations" by "some" that Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was reportedly "threatening" Cyprus with consequences on the UNFICYP, if it doesn't accept any solution until December 2009, while Turkey is reportedly delaying in an attempt to impose a partitionist "2 States" solution.
On the contrary, Julin, stressed that "Sweden has strong demands on Turkey'"s respect of "Copenhagen Criteria and EU Acquis".
Meanwhile, Sweden is "concerned" about the risk of "Stalemate" in Cyprus' Talks, but is well aware that "the main responsibilities lie with the two leaders and the UNO", Europe playing only a role of "facilitator".
After carefully verifying, the Head of Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service, stressed to "EuroFora" that Bildt's reference to UNFICYP "was not linked to a Threat", and dismissed those who "interpreted" it so.
On the contrary, the Swedish EU Presidency acknowledged the fact that Peace Talks are mainly for the UN and the leaders of the Cypriot communities, EU's role being limited into that of a "facilitator".
As for Turkey's reported attempts to impose a "2 States' solution", the Head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service sharply replied by stressing that Turkey must respect the "EU Acquis" rules.
In particular :
- "Basically he (Bildt) underlined that it's the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus and the UN that have the main responsibilities for solving the problem", started to say the Swedish Senior Official to "EuroFora", referring to the above-mentioned "briefing".
- "But the EU had a role in sort of pointing out the benefits and facilitating a little bit the outcome for the settlement of the whole Cyprus' issue", she added.
- "And he did state the Fact, that the rest of the World (i.e. USA, etc) will, of course, look at the differend issues which are at the table, and the future of the UN Peace keeping force is part of what is at the table", she admitted.
- "I understand that some have interpreted that as a Threat, by the Swedish Minister" "But", in reality, "it's a statement of a Fact, that, when we'll look at the differend issues, one of the issues on which we shall have to take a stand on, is the future of the UN Peace keeping force in Cyprus".
Indeed, one of the questions usually raised for a Solution of Cyprus' issue is what International and/or European or other Guarantees, by a Peace-keeping force, might be needed afterwards, eventually for a transitory period.
Questioned anew by "EuroFora" whether (according to critical Press Reports) this could be taken as a veiled warning that, if Cyprus didn't accept any Turkish demand for any solution whatever, it might be left alone to face Ankara's Military Invasion/Occupation, she denied :
- "He (Bildt) didn't say it in that way"... "It was not linked to a threat, or anything like that", the Head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service stressed.
On the contrary, "he (Bildt) underlined that the main responsibility lies with the parties concerned on the island". "The EU can try to facilitate and show the benefits of reaching a settlement. But also, when the EU and the rest of the World (i.e. USA) will have to look at it, they will look at all the Facts on the table, and the presence of the UN Peace-keeping force is one".
And "he (Bildt) didn't speak about that at all", she replied to "EuroFora" question on Turkey's reported attemps to impose, in one way of another, a partitionist "2 States solution".
Asked whether Bildt's aim was to incite both parties to move forward efficiently, she agreed :
- In fact, "the EU is really very concerned with the Stalemate in the situation. Yes !", the Head of Sweden's Foreign Ministry's Press Service anounced. That's why Bildt "was hoping for the two parties (i.e. for Turkey's also) to engage and break, a little-bit, the present stalemate, come to a solution of the issue" of Cyprus.
But, replying to a "EuroFora"s question on the risk, denounced by several politicians in case of strict Time Deadlines, for Turkey to provoke a stalemate and wait for the time to come to impose a partitionist "2 States' solution", she reacted by pointing at Turkey's obligation to respect "EU Acquis" :
- "Turkey must fullfil the EU Acquis : That's clear !", the Swedish Senior Official stressed.
More details are expected when Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt will debate his Programme with new MEPs at EU Parliament's plenary mid-July in Strasbourg, that he has visited already in 2008.
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt became familiar with Strasbourg's CoE last year, when Sweden chaired the PanEuropean organization of Human Rights. As EU chairman-in-office, he will also chair the 27-member States strong EU Group inside the 47-member States strong CoE.
Minister for EU affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom is well known at EU Parliament, where she has been an active MEP of the Liberal Group for many years, following also Press Freedom issues.
Both have already made various statements at "EuroFora", on differend topical matters.