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Home arrow newsitems arrow Sarkozy's Counselor to EuroFora on Obama talks on G8/G20+Global issues debated in Paris+by PM Fillon

Sarkozy's Counselor to EuroFora on Obama talks on G8/G20+Global issues debated in Paris+by PM Fillon

Written by ACM
Friday, 07 January 2011

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*Paris/7.1.2011/Angelo Marcopolo/- Statements by incoming G8/G20 President Sarkozy's counsellor to "EuroFora", and by French Prime Minister Fillon, shed light on the exceptionally dense ambiance, made of intense Brainstorming after a working Lunch with 19 eminent Economic Experts, including Nobel prize  Joseph Stiglitz of Columbia University (New York), and Professor Jean-Paul Fitoussi of Strasbourg, Roma and Paris Universities, President of Economic Forecasts' Observatory, etc., the same days that he received a long awaited Report on EU Economic Governance's Future, while a 2011 International Conference on "New Capitalism - New World Order" consecrated to "Regulation, Solidarity and Growth", and a Colloquy in Memory of ILO's former President Seguin titled "Politics as a matter of Will", were unfolding in Paris, where Sarkozy completed the preparation of his forthcoming meeting with US President Obama.

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    The main Focus at Monday's Washington DC's Franco-American Summit is due to be Monetary and Prices' issues, followed by Global Governance, Internet, Security, etc., and a series of topical International affairs, from Asia and the Middle East to Africa, whose final list depends also on the existence, or not, of important new developments, the better being to concentrate on substantial matters, without dispersing the Time available into various different cases, Sarkozy's counsellor said in substance to "EuroFora".


 - "They will have at first a Bilateral meeting, where G8 and G20 issues are due to be discussed, and a working Lunch, where various Iternational issues will be evoked, he said from the outset.


    - On the G-8 and G-20+ 2011Chairmanship, Sarkozy, after fixing the Priorities of the French Presidency, wants now to "consult his main interlocutors" and see their reactions, starting by the "1st Official Bilateral meeting" mainly on the G8 with U.S. President Obama, Elysée Palace's sources told "EuroFora".


In this regard, Sarkozy goes to Washington DC strengthened by the recent outcome of his relevant unofficial discussions with leaders of Germany, China, Brazil and India, etc., other sources observed.


    - "FMI strengthening" is part of this first, Monetary discussion, Sarkozy's counsellor pointed out.


F.ex., US $ Dollar's "volatility", in addition to falling from 0,8 dollars for 1 €uro on October 2000, down to ... Twice less (-200%) : 1,6 $ for 1 € on July 2008, (close  to 1,3 $ for 1 € on Jan. 2011), was also marked by aggravated and Faster Zig-Zag movements, with more than 3 big Ups and Downs particularly during the last 3-4 Years (2008-2011).

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    - The current "Single Currency" system, based on US Dollar $ alone, was strongly denounced by Nobel Prize winner, famous American Economist Joseph Stiglitz, as responsible not only for Injustices and Imbalances, but also for an immense .. "Waste of Capital", lost from any "productive" uses, massively illustrated by the recent  huge "Waste" which marked the 2008 Global Financial Crisis which notoriously started from the USA with the infamous "Lehman Brothers" break down : Contrary even to classic Capitalism, this time, "Nobody made Profit" from all this uselessly "wasted" capital, which badly hurt even America itself, Professor Stiglitz criticized.


    However, Stiglitz, speaking yesterday at an International Conference on the "New Capitalism, New World order" here, expressed his personal preference for "an International" Monetary System, f.ex. by a reformed IMF, instead of a "Multilateral" one, shared by several Big Currencies together ( f.ex. US Dollar $, €uro, Yen, etc), which might prove to be equally, if not more unstable as the old, US Dollar $ single currency, obviously failed system, as he argued, practically launching a new public, worldwide debate.


    But the most surprisingly sharp Criticism vis a vis US President Obama's alleged hesitation to accept real Changes in the Global Financial system, unexpectedly came from his ... "Left" : United Nations' Secretary General's representative for the Development Millenium goals, Professor Jeoffrey Sachs from the Columbia University, an experienced UNO envoy initially hired by former UN SG Koffi Annan and confirmed also by New UN SG Ban Ki Moon, accused Obama to drop some of his pre-electoral values and promises to the People because of "Pressure from big Lobbies which funded with Millions" his Historic Record-breaking, 700 $ Million worth Electoral Campaign !


    - Meanwhile, in fact, "the Bottom Half" among the Poorest American People is going "Worse" and worse, during recent years, aggravating an already dangerous Socio-Economic "Gap" inside the U.S. itself, denounced Professor Sachs, at another moment of the International Conference's debates. As for his UNO duties, Sachs reminded that the famous Millenium Goals decided since 2000 to boost Development in the Poorest Countries of the World, fight against extreme Poverty, Hunger, Illetrism and lack of Education, etc., and guarantee an elementary Access to clean Water, Health care, etc., after setting a Time Deadline for their realization at the 2005 UNO's Reform Summit of Heads of State/Government in New York, (Comp. "EuroFora"'s co-Founder's NewsReports from N.Y.C. then), calling for a measured, significant Progress to be made before 2010, was finally, .. dropped around 2008, while the Developmen Gap has been  growing around the World,  and, finally, ...almost "nobody speaks about tbat today !", (i.e. 2011), as UNO's competent official regretted.       
--------------------------                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            + The second point due to be discussed between the French and American Presidents, on the fight against extreme instability of Commodity Prices, includes both Raw Materials and Agricultural products (such as Food, etc), Sarkozy's counselor reiterated.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

+ On the contrary, the "Global Governance" aspects, and particularly those which concern the UNO, etc., as "EuroFora" asked, even if they are due to be included in the Obama - Sarkozy Summit, nevertheless, are not expected to be examined in depth this time, contrary to Economic and Security issues, "considering that they have been already debated in the Past, and will also do in the future, the French President's counselor estimated.


    The main focus on G8/G20 issues is expected to be concentrated on the substance of the above mentioned 2 first issues, he observed. (See supra).
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    + "Internet is also part of the 2011 G8 Agenda, as the President recently stressed", observed also Elysee's sources, speaking to "EuroFora" just after the conclusion of the 2011 International Conference on "New Capitalism, New World order", hosted this time in the High-Tech Building of the French Ministry of Economy, at Bercy, G-8/G-20 hegerie, Economy and Finance super Minister, Christine Lagarde's kingdom, but organized by State Secretary on Industry, Eric Besson, who's just got back also his original portofolio on "Digital" Society. (See also infra).
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It was not yet clear whether the 2 Presidents might hold a real Press Conference open to many Questions/Replies or just 2 Joint Statements, while Obama's Press Spokesman, Robert Gibbs, was leaving the White House, and Sarkozy is due back in France the next Day.


A clearer view on the real outcome of Obama - Sarkozy's meeting is expected later this Month in Paris, at the 24 Jan. Press and Diplomatic Annual meeting for the New Year, exceptionally joined together for the 1st time, as well as during his Jan. 27 or later visit at Davos' Swiss ressort for the 2011 World Economic Forum.
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    At a meeting with OECD's Secretay General, Angel Guria, earlier in Paris, Sarkozy observed that many had told him that it seemed "impossible" to really change today the 1945-1950ies' Global Financial system, despite its lacunas, but the French President stressed his will at least to "open a Debate" among main Global Players and the International opinion.


    OECD's Chief, speaking to "EuroFora" (See Angel Guria's Interview, that "EuroFora" published on October 2009), appeared more enclin to believe that there might be more room for manoeuver among the mainly Economic and Environment issues delegated to what became, meanwhile, the G-20, (including with OECD's involvement, initially decided at the 2007 Germany's G-8 Presidency Summit at Heiligendam : Comp. "EuroFora"' co-founder's PressReports from the spot), than inside the more Global Security-oriented recent G-8 context.

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    - However, "Realism is not Fatalism", stressed, speaking on "Globalization", earlier today, Sarkozy's closer collaborator, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who has just been confirmed in his office, after an exceptional decision of the French President, which differs from the Past tradition to change Prime Ministers during the 5 years mandate, given their friendly, trustful and efficient relations, as well as Fillon's good standing on Popular polls.


    - During a well-attended Colloquy in the French National Assembly (AN) on its former President, Chairman of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at Geneva, longtime Minister, and Chair of the Court of Auditors, Philippe Seguin (a "social Gaullist"), organized by AN's current President, Bernard Accoyer, symbolically placed under the locacius heading : "Politics are a matter of Will", Fillon stressed that "Globalization would be a Risk only if it searched to subordinate Politics to the Economy, taken in absolute terms" : Seguin believed firmly that "this Risk can be challenged, that Future is open and that there is no total Determinism : It's renounce to Politics if you take the Global Order as it is" at a precise moment, he observed.


    Because "the upheavals unfolding in Today's World ... are pushing Global Economy's Gravity Centre towards the East and the South", where "Emerging Countries represent now Half of the World's Industrial Production, instead of only 30% twenty years earlier. Soon, Chinese Economy  would overcome (outpace)that of the U.S.A. : This brutal Mutation is no more a remote Horizon", but "in front of us", Fillon warned. "This is now conceivable from the beginning of the Next Decade" (2020) , since, "while the American Economy didn't yet reach its pre-Crisis level, on the contrary, China's GDP grew since 2008 for + 28%"...   

                                                                                           
    - "If there is a Chance inside the Crisis which affected the Global Economy" on 2008-2010, "it's to have accelerated the acknowledgment that a come-back of Politics is not only necessary, but also fundamentaly possible", Fillon underlined. F.ex., "it's in the middle of the worst stage of the Economic Upheaval that (French President) Nicolas Sarkozy, together with (former Brittish Prime Minister) then, Gordon Brown, took the Initiative to create the G-20 of Heads of State/Government", as "a 1st step towards a Political Globalization, where Nations comme together in order to become able to act on events, instead of merely being affected by them", Fillon sharply reminded.


    - "That's the Meaning of the Priorities that France will defend during this Year (2011) at the Head of G-20 : Make progress on reforming the International Monetary system ; fight against the excessive Volatility of Raw Materials ; ameliorate Global Governance ; support the Development of the Poorest Countries, and pay a greater attention to the Social dimension of the Globalization" : A "new Priority, introduced by France, which was Philippe Seguin's ambition when he worked at the ILO" (See supra).

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    - "Seguin called upon us to believe that France acts on the World, can change its course, as also other Nations, together with other Nations", mainly through a "Political Europe", twice "challenged by the (Global) Crisis", which revealed that People's fate cannot be abandoned to any Automatic Pilot", but, on the contrary, "incited those Responsible of European Nations to assume their Responsibilities", particularly at "these moments when Human Societies need to Debate and to take hard but key Decisions, if they want remain remain Masters of their own Fate". "Europe must respond to the challenges by Political Will, .. stemming from the Nations which compose it and the Heads of State/Government elected by their Citizens : ... "Europe's Power in the World is progressively asserted",  and "those ambitions that we have for Europe are now heard and fix the Agenda of next Months and next Years", Fillon concluded.


    The French Prime Minister (who later added also that "Russia should be associated" to te EU),  was supporting further "Integration" with more "Convergence" starting by "EuroZone" in Europe, according to the impulse agreed by President Sarkozy and German Chancellor Merkel at the recent Franco-German Summit in Freiburg, endorsed later-on also by the Brussels' EU Summit, (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from both spots), but other important EU participants had even much more "advanced" views on Europe :


    - "The latest Global Crisis proved that States can no longer cope alone in front of the galoping Globalization. That's why the time has come to start building a European Federation", surprisingly said to "EuroFora" the key Italian Minister for Economy and Finance, Giulio Tremonti, stressing that this was his "main message" for the Jan. 2011 International Conference.


    However, an Experts' Report on EU's Economic Governance, handed yesterday to Sarkozy, preferred to advocate a "Concentric Circles" Strategy for Europe's role in the World, focusing at a Franco-German avant-guarde able to stimulate €uroZone area and make all EU's 27 Countries move towards a stronger role for Europe in the World: + "For a renewed Legitimity and Credibility, EU must have the Will to better assert our Common Interests inside Globalization. It's on this condition that EU will appear as the 1st Guarantor of the Economic and Social Model to which all constituent Peuples are attached". For that purpose, "Europe needs, first of all, Political Will and Boldness in order to advance beyond "Soft" Growth and give itself the means to face Globalizations' new challenges". " In order to exist and incarnate a Project for the Future, Europe must speak with one voice at the International stage: G8 - G20+ (2011) French EU Presidency must be an opportunity to assert EU's Unity to act at the service of a more Just Globalisation", the 2011 Report concludes.
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    + Now, "we must advance further in affirming European Power in the World.. Europe, as 1st Global Economic Power, has, from now on, all the means to make its voice heard vis a vis America and Big Emerging Countries". That's why "France intends for Europe to be at the Centre of the New Global Governance", Fillon ambitiously added after analyzing €uroZone's huge Potential at his yesterday's speech at Bercy. (See specific "EuroFora"s publication on this topical point).

    He was echoing further, Finance Minister Christine Lagarde's statement, yesterday at an International Conference with Economists and Politicians from Europe and all over the World, (See "EuroFora"'s DraftNews from the spot, already sent to Donors/Subscribers), that this Global Crisis should be better taken as an opportunity for a "Catharsis", as Aristote said, in order to realize the need to seriously reform the old Global Financial and Economic Governance by introducing New, more protective and efficient mechanisms.

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    - Developping larger this point, Prime Minister Fillon reminded yesterday, from the opening of that new Annual Paris Conference on "New Capitalism, New World order", specially dedicated in 2011 to "Regulation, Solidarity and Growth", that, already, "during 5 (G8 - G20 previous) Summits, we saved the Global Financial System which was ready to crash. We fought efficiently and collectively against Protectionist temptations. And we have deeply strengthened the Global Financial Institutions", f.ex. by "giving them New Tools", updated their governance by opening a space also for Big Emerging Countries, first in the World Bank and afterwards also into the IMF", and "we started to Regulate the Global Financial System" : "Since the 2008 Washington Summit, major progres were accomplished" f.ex. on Rules about Capital and Banks' liquidities, Derived products, Titles' control, fight against Fiscal Heavens, Traders' Bonuses, etc", because "the States became active in front of the Urgency".


    + "Now, that the (urgent) risk is going away, this Momentum and awareness must not be lost", because "G20's Future and Legitimity depend on that : G 20 must prove that it remains able to take Decisions and to apply them". It "must succeed to tackle Big Issues which are Pending since many Years... Otherwise, other Institutions would attempt to replace it", Fillon warned.  


    - The incoming 2011 G8/G20+ "French Presidency will keep an eye on that", given "our well-known Priorities", he added, presenting a more detailed overview :


    -  a) "The 1st is to Reform the International Monetary System", the French Prime Minister stressed from the outset, referring to the Conference's Debates between Top Economic Experts and Politicians.  "On Financial Regulation, we must continue the work already started and guarantee the application of the Rules decided by the G20, in all Financial markets. We shall also aim to extend the Regulatory Agenda wherever it remains insufficient". F.ex. "it's necessary to strengthen the regulation of the Parallel Bank System, that Anglosaxons call : "Shadow Banking", because, "without that, we'd risk a Paradox : Efforts to strengthen the Traditional Bank Sector's Regulation might finally push activities and risks towards New Forms of Banking, which would have escaped from Rules". "We'll also propose to our Partners to strengthen the part of the "Market"  in G20's Agenda for Regulation, continuing European work for better Transparency and more Protection of market's integrity", he noted.


                    + b) "In front of an Excessive Volatility (Instability) of Raw Materials, particularly of Agricultural and Energy prices, we shall also have to find some Solutions", and "this will be a 2nd big Priority of the French (G8/G20, 2011) Presidency"  Fillon added, but without giving any details..


    - c) "Will be added also the amelioration of Global Governance, which concerns both the G20+ (in its Internal organization, and in its links to the International Organizations (f.ex. OECD, IMF, WB, UNO, etc), as well as the entire UNO's system : Our Globalized World needs a Multilateral system which works efficiently", the French Prime Minister went on to stress, , ambitiously. Already, "we succeeded to reform the World Bank, and to give a New Impetus and New Responsibilities to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Can we do alike for the UNO ? Without substituting ourselves to the competent UN bodies, France wants to raise this Legitimate Question", he clearly anounced, (particularly after some controversial, failed Draft Plans, prepared by a few former UN staff officials without transparency, nor sufficient concertation with all stakeholders, provoking unprecedented rejection reactions from Elected Political Leaders, norl, which could and should have been prevented, as, f.ex. in the case of Cyprus, back in 2004, etc).


    - d) "Finally, the French G8/G20+ Presidency will offer a chance also for some other issues, insufficiently or not at all dealt with until now", Fillon added, citting a series of various New points :


(i) "Development" : "Evoked for the 1st time in Seoul, it wasn't included, until now, into G20's" competence. But, "we can't consider a Sustainable Growth without involving (also) the African continent and the Poorest Countries", the French Prime Minister observed. "That's why we pointed at the funding of Infrastructures and Food Security, to which France added the Innovative Funding needed in order to complete the Public Aid".


(ii) Social rights : "At Seoul, also, President Sarkozy wished to put into the Agenda the Social dimension of Globalization : It's clear that, in a context of unbalanced globalization, the Social dimension figures often as an adjustment variable, and is object to Dumping. These (Social) Dumpings have considerable Human, Social and Environmental Costs", he denounced, obviously speaking of regimes which tramp workers' Human Rights underfoot, in order to illegitimately obtain "Cheap Labour" in some Low-level Massive jobs for over-exploited People submitted to scandalous treatments. "Globalization must not serve as a Pretext for Ethical and Political Renunciations. We are convinced that a better Social Regulation of Globalization is Possible and Necessary", he stressed, revealing the intention "to put that at the Heart of the (2011) French G20 Presidency. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has always defended this stance with Courage, and it will have a primordial role to play in order to help make progress on this matter", Fillon anounced, confirming Sarkozy's earlier promisse at the ILO in Geneva.


(iii) "Internet" : "In the framework of G8, Internet was identified as a Central issue", he added. "It has many points of view : Economic, Technological, Legal, linked to Human Rights, to Private Life's protection, to Networks' Security", etc. "President Sarkozy wished for G8 to deal with Society Issues marked by Interdependency and directly affecting Citizens of developed countries : In this regatrd, Digital (society issues) are a must", observed Fillon, (who is also himself notoriously fond of the World wide web).. "It represents a growing part of our Economy, as a distinct Sector : 20% of Global GDP in 2030 will be represented by the Internet. But also it irrigates all other Sectors, it is a factor of Competitivity, it creates Jobs, and it contributes to the Attractivity of territories. Finally, it offers to all an irremplaceable Access to Culture and Education. Nevertheless, only a few Top-level meetings were dedicated to" the Internet. "Many aspects should be highlighted : F.ex. Access and Funding of Inftrastructures, (an issue to which are confronted our differend Countries, who could share their experiences). Also the question of Value, (and of its Sharing between various Actors, as well as that of various Economic Models). This question includes also the respect of Intellectual Property (and the price paid for Contents, as well as how to deal with Digital Services from the Fiscal point of view). And we must also think about the best ways to strengthen the Security and Trust to Networks and Digital Services, (this implies to deal with the issues of Individual Freedoms and Personal Data protection, Consumers' Rights, Payments Security, but also Networks' resiliance and fight against Cyber Crime", he concluded.
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    + Among International issues due to be discussed by Sarkozy with Obama are due to be included, the Ivory Coast (and its post-electoral tensions), Sudan (after this week-end's Referendum on its Southern part's future), Iran, Lebanon and the Middle East, etc., Elysée Palace sources added to "EuroFora".


    On the contrary, on Cyprus, an issue indirectly affecting also EU - Turkey developments, where intensified Talks are expected to be launched at Geneva on January 25-26 by UNO's S.G. Ban Ki Moon, together with the leaders of the two main communities, who kick off 20011 meetings on the island the same day of Obama - Sarkozy Wash. DC Summit : Monday morning, Jan. 10, at the eve of German Chancellor Merkel's exceptional visit to the EU- member country on Tuesday, Jan. 11,  whileTurkey appears curiously anxious to precipitate hasty conclusions (even risking to provoke and freeze a negative deadlock) around March 2011, contrary to experienced observers who don't expect Ankara's Government to honor the commitments undertaken on Cyprus since it started Negotiations with the EU on 2005, at least not before the forthcoming June 2011 Turkish Elections.


    - But "there is nothing so radically New, nor any dramatic developments on Cyprus' issue in order to require for it to be discussed now at Top level, observed Sarkozy's Counselor in reply to an "EuroFora"'s Question.


    - "However, it's not excluded that the  U.S. side might, eventually, bring this or any other issue at the Table", during the Obama Sarkozy meeting's 2nd part, even if it seems preferable, in this kind of Top meetings, to "focus on the most essential"and topical issues, such as the after Crisis Financial Stability and Economic Growth issues, he concluded.
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    But the Middle East and Security points could also bring at the forefront the topîcal, tragic issues of innocent Christian People's and Religious' brutal Murders, recently in a, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, etc. (See "EuroFora"'s earlier, specific NewsReports), as well as other, parallel Deadly Terrorist incidents against various simple People, attributed to Islamic Extremists, after, f.ex. the recent kidnapings and killings of French Humanitarian NGO workers at the African Sahel area,  particularly after the strong condemnations by both Obama, Sarkozy and other European leaders, who are just in the process of raising growing voices of indignation, asking to end Impunity of Killers and promissing to help protect the threatened religious communities, mainly among EU Heads of State/Government, particularly France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, etc.


    + Speaking to "EuroFora" the same day that Sarkozy denounced the Tragic issue of simple, innocent People brutally killed in  the Middle East just because they were Christians, Elysee's source couldn't deny the possibility for the Franco-American Top Summit to eventually include also this topical point among its International policy discussions, particularly after Sarkozy, stressed that this is also a "challenge of Globalization" :


- "Each Country, each Civilisation, .. has its own Rules; .. But Universal Principles also exist, endorsed by a large Majority of Countries in the World" : "...such as the International agreement on Civic and Political Rights (1966), the Rights to Freedom of Thought, Freedom of Conscience, Freedom of Religion", he stressed.
F.ex. ,"the recent condamnation to Death" pronounced against a Family Mother, in Pakistan, a poor, Christian woman accused to have simply used another's glass, and who risks to be murdered by Extremists if she was liberated; served as one among many concrete examples throughout  the World.


 - "Aggressions against innocent People are aggressions against all Humankind", stressed Sarkozy, speaking earlier today to representatives from all recognized Religions, from Christians to Jews and Muslims, as well as Budhists, etc. "France will never accept that Innocent People praying are targetted by a Barbaric Terrorism with impunity"


- "The fate of Eastern Christians concerns us all", because "This is a challenge against Human Civilisation". These are Martyrs of the Freedom of Conscience. These are not only Assyrian or Coptic Martys, they are our Martyrs of us all.... That Diabolically Orchestrated Violence",  is "a challenge of a Globalized World in which we definitively entered", Sarkozy concluded, speaking in 2011 also as Chairman of the G8.


 - "We cannot accept no more what looks now as a perverted Plan of Religious Cleansing in the Middle East area. From Iraq to Egypt, etc. Christians are in their own Homeland where they have been living for more than 2 Thousand years", the French President denounced, inevitably pointing also at controversial and impopular EU "candidate" Turkey, which notoriously is the only Middle East Country to have almost entirely abused of "Religious Cleansing", chassing away Millions of Christians traditionally living, for Thousands of Years, in the former Christian Byzantine Empire's Capital : Constantinople (re-named "Istanbul" after the 1955 Violent Pogroms), Trapezunta, Smyrni, Iconion, and Aegean, Black Sea, Mediterranean, or even Asia Minor hinterland's Historically Greek Cities, etc., leaving only lesds than ... one per cent (1% !) now inside what was, for more than Thousand Years, the 1st Christian Empire in the World..Something whist still persists today also in the Occupied Territories of EU member Country, Cyprus, where Turkey's Military Invasion and Occupation Troops still hinder today the Return of Greek Cypriot Refugees to their Family Homes and Ancestral Land, contrary to the ECHR case-law which has repeatedly condemned Ankara's Government for illegaly violating their Human Rights to Family Life, Private Property, etc.


 - "We can't accept that the Religious Diversity, which is a rule in our (European) Countries, disappears in Middle East Nations", Sarkozy added, reminding that Muslims living in France should be also protected, as well as their Religious Monuments (f.ex. Mosques),  expressing concern about hasty confusions between Islamic Extremists and peaceful Muslim Immigrants, praising French and other Muslim Leaders for their clear condamnation of the killings of Christians in the Middle East, and agreeing that such barbaric acts seem to seek also to destabilize certain Countries.
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    Nevertheless, it seems more likely that the specific issues concerning particularly the Middle East Christians might be preferably dealt with at an EU level, given their Historic, Cultural and Geopolitical links with Europe, in parallel with UNO's International role, while, on the contrary, the "Al Quaida" related Islamic Terrorism incidents against various People at the Sahel area, would be rather discussed more thoroughly with the American President in view of possible joint actions against Global Islamic Extremists' Terrorism.                                                                                                                        

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    + In a different way to figt against Islamistic Extremism, the current Global trend to "constitute big Blocks", bringing together many neighbouring Countries in a rational cooperation schema, is one of the main reasons for which EU wants to boost its links with Southern Mediterranean Countries, much of them Energy-producers, stressed new French Foreign Minister, Michelle Alliot-Marie, during a debate on the "Union for the Mediterranean", created since 2008 in a Paris' Summit during the French EU Presidency, and strongly backed by Sarkozy's counsellor Henri Guaino : A supporter of "concrete projects", who focused this time much more on "common Culture", History and World viewpoints, at the same time that Tynesian businessman Tarak Ben Amar was denouncing a multiplication of Satellite TVs spreading controversial Islamistic views, pleading to create new, Modern Media for the area.

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- Adopting a wider scope, EU Commission's vice-President, in charge of Industry, Antonio Tajani from Italy, stressed one day earlier at the same International Conference, that "Africa is EU's Future", while other sources suggested that Development issues concerning particularly the African continent might be included in Sarkozy's G-8/G-20 Priorities, in addition to his recent expression of the wish to discuss personally with South African President Jacob Zuma the forthcoming December 2011 UNO's Summit on Climate Change.
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    Meanwhile, adapting progressively to Inter-Continental Time-change in order to be in shape well before arriving at Washington DC, Sarkozy symbolicaly reminded France's historic dimension as Global player by heading tonight with his wife, Clara Bruni-Sarkozy, towards Popular meetings at Guadeloupe's island at the Caraibes (Fr), not far away from French Gyuanne's European Space Center, where Russian Soyuz launchers are due to be added to Ariadne 5 rocket capacities, while the whole World is notoriously still awaiting for the necessary invention of New re-usable Space Vehicles, after the imminent withdrawal of NASA's Shuttles.


    2011 G8-G20+'s Chairman, President Sarkozy flies from the French Island to Andrews Air Base, near Wash DC, symbolically at the same Year that USA prepares to renew on March 2011 the impressive Headquarters' main Building of the Historic Airport, notoriously used in the past for USA operations in Europe, and now hosting Foreign Heads of States/Government official visits' VIPs as well as US President's Air Force 1.
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French "Square House"' inspired U.S. "White House" :
2011 Obama - Sarkozy talks to "Square the Circle" finding new Global compromises ?
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    Washington D.C.'s  U.S. Presidential White House Architecture, built after the city was burned down by former British Empire's troops on 1812, having been reportedly inspired by Thomas Jefferson (former US Ambassador to Paris)'s sympathy for French Castles as Chateau de Rastignac, itself an expression of the idea earlier found in the .."Square House of Arlac", near Toulouse's modern Air-Space area, hopefuly, now, Presidents Sarkozy and Obama may find workable Compromises on Global Economy in the "Oval office", easier than .. "Square the Circle"...

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    Scientific innovation joined to Faith for Human Rights, Eastern Partnership and fight against the Crisis, but above all, the need to overcome the "Crisis of Trust" from EU Citizens, are the main priorities for new EU Parliament's President, Polish Jerzy Buzek, that a 555-votes-strong majority of MEPs on July 14,  Strasbourg made a living symbol of the fact that, 20 years after the fall of Berlin Wall (1989 - 2009) there is no more an Eastern or Western Europe, but only one Europe, as the head of the largest group of MEPs, ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Joseph Daul, stressed after the event.

    Speaking later to a group of Strasbourg's Journalists, including "EuroFora", the new EU Parliament's President clarified his stance on concrete topical issues, as f.ex. that of Turkey's controversial EU bid, which was one of the main issues of the June 2009 Electoral campain, clearly won by his party of ChristianDemocrats/EPP :  - "At present, Turkey does not fullfil none of EU conditions", he stressed, (See infra).

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    Buzek is well known in Strasbourg and to "EuroFora" as EU Rapporteur for the Framework Program of Scientific Research and Development of Technologies. A Natural Science Professor from the Historic and Religious landmark Polish City of Częstochowa, active in the famous Solidarnosk grass-roots social movement, he served 4 years as Prime Minister (1997-2001), before being elected as MEP in 2004 and 2009, after he brillantly won the latest EU Election at the head of his party (EPP) almost doubling the number of its MEPs from 15 to 28 !

    - "Innovation" and "Energy safety", as well as fight against the "Cimat change", but also "Eastern Partnership", the "Mediterranean", "Strategic partnerships" with Russia, the USA, etc, and the search for "solutions to the Economic Crisis" that EU Citizens "expect" from us, will be his "priorities", announced from the outset the new EU Parliament's President, reminding also that the quest for "Human and Civic Rights" played an important role in his experience with the Solidarnosc grass-roots social movement in Poland's History

    But, the most important of all, is the urgent need to overcome the "Crisis of Trust" between EU Institutions and the People he stressed : - EU "Citizens often don't understand us", denounced Buzek, launcing a call to "do anything for EU Citizens to understand our work" in EU Parliament : "We (MEPs) need to make EU Citizens involved" in "what we are doing every week, in Strasbourg and Brussels", he proposed. Pointing f.ex. to the hot "Debates" with "strong arguments" exchanged between MEPs during the preparation of their Legislative Decisions, in Committees, delivering often hard struggles between initially opposed points of view, long before forging a majority at the final vote, sometimes more than a year..

    Therefore, EU Parliament will be "open to your criticism, for discussion and exchange of views", he promissed to Journalists in Strasbourg.

    In this way, Buzek, in fact, highlighted "EuroFora"s main idea, that we strongly advocate since 1997-2007, to systematicaly and actively involve EU Citizens in public debates during the decision-making process of important EU measures, which affect their lives and the society in which they live, (and not only just a few weeks each 4 or 5 Years at the eve of EU Elections)...
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    This is related also to the symbolic gift that Buzek chose to give to the out-going former EU Parliament's President, Hans Gert Poettering, (2007-2009), his collegue in the ChristianDemocrats/EPP, who brillantly won 2009 EU Elections in Germany : A genuine statute of sainte Barbara crafted in Silesia's black Coal by Polish Miners : Those simple but strong people who fought for social change against some technocrats and bureaucrats disguissed into so-called "real-socialists" of old times. (PHOTO).

    It's enough to have seen a popular open air mass, at Warsaw's center, with many thousands of people, old and young, simple workers and intellectuals mixed together, with references to Poland's history and struggles for survival and liberty, through various ages, (as fex. that organized at the eve of CoE's 2005 panEuropean Heads of State and Government for the beatification of late Pope John-Paul II), in order to understand what such symbols mean..

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    But, overcoming the "Crisis of Trust" with EU Citizens obviously implies also to rectify any errors done in the past, fex. on Turkey's controversial EU bid, with controversial decisions taken in 1999 and 2004 to give a "candidate" status and to start EU negotiations, provoking an unprecedented series of 3 "No" to EuroReferenda and 3 Majoriy Abstentions in EU Parliament Elections : 1999, 2005 and 2009, (even if the latest one succeeded to decelerate and almost stop the drop of participation rates, opening hopes for vote's revival after an electoral campaign clearly critical to Turkey's claims in several mainstream EU countries)
    
    Therefore, Buzek was faced with manifold critical Questions on EU Enlargement, most of them citting concrete examples of certain political problems  :  But his replies were almost always given as a matter of general principle :

    F.ex. Questioned on the suspension of EU - Croatia talks because of a Border conflict with EU Member Slovenia, Buzek prefered to speak about principles :

- "We know that during Enlargement, the process can be blocked by failure to resolve this kind of issues",  This concerns also other enlargments' cases", and "these rules are always in force" he warned.


But Buzek avoided to directly reply to a queston on "French and German EPP' calls to define the Borders of Europe", as a German journalist asked him by making a reference to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and German Chancellor Angie Merkel's, critical statements on Turkey at the June 2009 Electoral campain.    

- "Concerning Enlargement, there's always the same rules : There have to be Criteria, which have to be respected if a Country wants to join the EU", he started to simply reply.

- "For my country (Poland) it took us 15 Years to fullfil these Criteria", Buzek reminded, indicating, if proportions are kept, that Turkey, fex. would have to spend some 25 years before eventually joining the EU..

- "Countries wishing to join the EU need to Change their Systems", as we (Poland and other former Eastern European Countries) did, he stressed.

- "'For me, meeting the condition of Human Rights is one of the Key conditions for membership in the EU", preferring again to speak from the point of view of General Principles, on the occasion of an untimely question on Serbia (which is not even a candidate yet)...

- "Turkey" has, "first of all", to fullfil (EU) Copenhagen criteria". Bevause, currently, none of them is fullfiled by Turkey", New EU Parliament's President, denounced, speaking later to a group of Journalists, including "EuroFora".

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In particular, on Human Rights :  - "We (EU) can never forget Human Rights", because "this is at the very Foundations of the EU", Buzek added.

On the contrary, when he referred to EU Enlargment for the  "Western Balkans Countries ", Buzek appeared upbeat, finding "promising situations", despite "difficulties" in the Past, since "Countries are queuing to become EU members", and this "generated changes", as he said.

As for Russia, Buzek observed that it was a "very important" country, located "in the same Continent", Europe,  "close to our borders", and "we need eachother". "But Russia' has 'differend poblems : "They claim that their system is Democratic, but rules are differend", and we must be "aware of such differencies", fex. "on Human Rights", that we can't ignore, as he said;

Concerning China, where a journalist observed that the recipient of EU Parliament's latest "Sakharov prize" for freedom of thought is "still in prison", Buzek found that since the 1999 events in Tien Amin square, "we see differencies on Human Rights still today", and expressed his "support" for those who try to ameliorate the situation.

On the contrary, speaking recently to "EuroFora" he strongly supported the idea for an EU - Ukraine cooperation, fex. between Airbus and Antonov, in order to build a  less costly but more performant than the old and problematic A400M, new Military Transport Airplane : - "They (Ukranian Antonov Company) can certainly do it. I'm sure they can. It's a good Idea, and I'd be glad if it was done", he told us. (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/airbusantonov.html )


(../..)

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