EU-Russia CPP co-Chair Klimov to EuroFora eve of Summit : Russia for Trade + Europe's Cultural Unity

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament+Russian Embassy to the CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Experienced Andrey Klimov, Head of Delegation from the Russian Federation's Council (Senate), and deputy Co-Chair of the EU - Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC), speaking to "EuroFora" just after the Conclusion of a 2 Days-long collective meeting with MEPs at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, at the eve of an important EU - Russia Summit, later this month in Brussels (28/1/2014), exceptionally at the same time with CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly's winter session in Strasbourg (27-31/1/2014), warned of "some Difficult issues" in view, but also launched a vibrant Call for a Renaissance of "One Cultural Space" from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural Mountains (according to the Historic formula of World-Famous former French President De Gaulle), i.e. practically between the EU and Russia's European heartland.

Timing appeared of importance, since experienced Russian Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the EU in Brussels, former Minister Vladimir Chizov, together with the 1st co-Chair of PCC, the young "rising star" Sergey Cheleznyak, had already left Strasbourg yesterday Night taking a fast Flight right to Moscow HQ, shortly after the main political exchanges of Wednesday Afternoon, which included PCC co-Chair, German MEP Social-Democrat MEP Knut Fleckenstein, EEAS's dep. Head of Division for Russia, Thomas Frellesen, etc, as "EuroFora" was informed.

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- "This meeting (between MEPs) was very important, because it was the Last before the EU Parliament's Elections. and it had a Good Result : We had a good joint Declaration on the case of Syria", which shows that "we (EU and Russia) have mainly the Same Vision on Syria, and almost eveybody (among MEPs) was in favor of that", Moreover, "we agreed about our (CPP's) Schedule for this Year, 2014".

*+ Meanwhile, "our President, Vladimir Putin, is expected to be at the end of the Month in Brussels, to have a meeting with Mr. Barroso and Van Rompuy, to discuss our Agenda", but "I think that it won't be easy, for both sides, because there are some events between", as he warned carefuly.

Klimov said the same day that earlier news from Brussels indicated an exceptional shortening of the forthcoming EU - Russia's Summit but also a focus on direct, Top level contacts, in what could be the lasté such Summit before as New EU Leadership takes over, after the May EU Parliament Elections, from November 2014, i.e. just in time for the Next EU - Russia Summit, scheduled for December.

One of the main issues naturally appears to be that of Ukraine and other Estern European Countries, (such as Armenia, etc), which recently prefered to conclude Trade Deals with Russia, that might reportedly complicate equivalent Trade Agreements which had been scheduled earlier with the EU, according to some EU Commission Officials who pointed mainly at WTO, import' taxes, etc., but without going into sufficient details. However, German Chancellor Angie Merkel, at the latest EU Summit of December 2013, had anounced to Journalists in Brussels, including "EuroFora", her intention to search a Deal with Moscow on how to settle that WTC-related issue, in a way which would allow to the interested Countries to sign Both Trade Agreements, also with Russia and with the EU, (as f.ex. Armenian President Sargsyan and Ukranian President Yanukovich have recently proposed), by either traveling to Russia, or meeting the Top EU Officials, before the forthcoming EU - Russia Summit, i.e. at the beginning of January 2014. But the unprecedented Incident which Wounded her physically during routine Christmas Holidays at an Internationaly famous Touristic area in Switzerland, by obliging Merkel to stay at Home for several Weeks, brutaly Hindered the accomplissement of her intention for a "Strategic" Deal between EU and Russia on that key issue of obvious interest also for the Global Trade, leaving, meanwhile, the ground open to some otherwise unavoidable trends which were already pushing towards provoking diplomatic impasses and more Tensions in Ukraine..

- "A New, Equitabe Economic Union of EurAsian States, is Open to Cooperation with the European Union", he simply stressed earlier Today, as well as to "Countries of Asia, Afrika and America", he added, after observing the fact that "Russia Today has become the Center of the process of Deep Economic Integration in the Post Soviet Era".

+ Meanwhile, "our Country is one of the 8 most Developed Countries in the World", "the Russian City of Sochi will soon Host the Winter Olympic" Games, and, "in 2014, Russia, as you may know, Chairs the (Multilateral) "G-8" Summits".

=> - At any case, "We (Russia) hope that our (EU - Russia) Relationship will be at a Normal Level", realistically but optimistically added President Klimov to "EuroFora" on the forthcming Bilateral EU - Russia Summit in Brussels, which Exceptionaly takes place at the same Days that CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly holds its Winter Session in Strasbourg, with Ukraine, precisely, as one of its very proibable "Urgent" or "Current Affairs" Debate...

- (Also) "because our Internal Trade, between the EU and Russia, Daily, is about 1 Billion €. So we have to keep the things" going, and that's "very important", he underlined.

- "So, that's the Platform for Further Decisions", the experienced Russian Top Politician highlighted for the immediately foreseable Future.

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- However, still, on the "Visa" issue, "our EU Collegues had a Strange Position : From one side, they speak about Human Rights, but, from another side, they put Obstacles to Free Movement. Because, .. for Bureaucracy, we (all Politicians) have diplomatic Passports", and, therefore, for Bureaucrats, we (EU) Open the Door, but, for Normal People Not. This is not correct", he criticized, pointing f.ex. at Businessmen, Students, etc.

- "It's a stupid position : I don't know why they (EU Commission) do that. They speek about "Security", but we (Russia) have a Visa-Free regime with Israel, and Israel, as you know, they are hard about Security". ...Moreover, it's "nuts" to speak, at the same time, about an EU "Visa Free" regime only to ... Turkey , instead, he reacted. On the contrary, "we (Russia) are Ready to Open the Door (to EU Citizens, even from) Next Month", he added, confirming his earlier statement that "my Country is for the Immediate Abolition of Visa Barriers between Russia and the EU".

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- It's not only from this particular point of view, but also in a much Wider perspective that "We believe that our (EU - Russia) Cultural Space is ... an advantage , President Klimov went on to stress to "EuroFora".

- "We (EU - Russia) have a Common Cultural Space", and there shouldn't be major Obstacles in that.=> - "So, our Intent is to show that, in this space, from the Urals to the Atlantic, we (EU and Russia) are in a same Civilisation", the experienced Russian Top Politician underlined.

+ "This Year (2014), anounced in Russia as the "Year of Culture", provides an opportunity "not only (for) a Demonstration of Cultural achievements of the Regions of the European part of Russia inside the EU, but also ...to Discuss the Fate of European Cultural Heritage, the Role of European Culture in the Dialogue of Civilizations", etc., he added earlier.

- "Incidentally the .. Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (CPP) EU - Russia decided (these Days in Strasbourg) to hold the last Working Group, in late March, in Perm, (a Key City located at Europe's most Eastern part at the Ural Mountains), and to discuss issues of Cultural Cooperation in Europe, and the Unity of the European Cultural Space, from the Urals to the Atlantic", anounced Klimov, (who comes from Perm personaly). 

=> Meanwhile, Klimov, who is also the Chairman of the "European Club", a "Russian Parliamentary" body, "founded by the State Duma 15 Years ago, since 1999, to "unite not only Russian Parliamentarians, but also those who Share our main Slogan : - "For a Europe without Dividing Lines", i.e. including "many Members Residents of EU Countries", and "holds every year Events ... both in Russia and abroad, as, f.ex. now in Strasboug", "this year (2014) Plans to implement an Ambitious New Project", that he anounced earlier Today in a Speech to EU/CoE Invitees to a Reception organized by the Russian  Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the CoE, Alexander Alekseev, where "EuroFora" was also invited for MEPs' Interviews, etc. :

+ Klimov's Historic reminder came just a few Days before the 27 January Anniversary of the European/International "Day for the Memorey of the Victims of the Holocauste and for the Prevention of Crimes against Humanity", established initially by the CoE (2002) and afterwards also by the UNO (2009), at the same Date of the Liberation of Auschwitz NAZI Concentration Camp by the USSR Army, as notes also an Invitation sent to "EuroFora" by the European Centre of Deported/Resistants, based on the former NAZI Concentration Camp of Struthof/Natzwiller, which is organizing, together with the "Network for the Memorial of the Shoah", which brings together more than 10 Organizations from various locations in France, as well as Israeli Kneset's MP, (due to be present at a subsequent ceremony at the CoE on Thursday, with its Secretay General Thornbjorn Jagland, the current Chairman of the PanEuropean Organisation's Committee of Ministers, Austrian Prime Minister Wener Faymann, and MEPs from the 49 Member Countries-strong CoE Parliamentary Assembly, (which includes Russia asfull member).

- "Greeving about ( 1 + 2 World Wars') Victims, from practically all Countries of the Old World, we must make ourselves the main Conclusion :"

=> - "Any Division of Europe, carrying out any Artificial Lines, are Extremely Dangerous", President Klimov stressed at the End. "That's why my Country is Against the Expansion of Military Blocks in Europe", but "for the Abolition of Visa Barriers between Russia and the EU", i.e. "for a Europe without Dividing Lines".