Vaiko Meets European Union Ambassadors in Chennai - Thanthi TV
Vaiko Meets European Union Ambassadors in Chennai...and Urges International Investigation on Genocide...-Thanthi TV Catch us LIVE @ http://www.thanthitv.com/ Follow us on - Facebook ...
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Vaiko Meets European Union Ambassadors in Chennai - Thanthi TV - Video
Nokia closure - Lack of support by the State Government is the reason, says European Union team
European Union representatives are on a three day visit to Tamilnadu and Puduchery. Leader of the team has said that they are unable to understand why there had been lack of support by the...
By: Puthiya Thalaimurai TV
BRUSSELS: The European Union on Wednesday said a US Senate report exposing brutal yet ineffective CIA torture of Al-Qaeda suspects was a "positive step" in recognising the programme's failings.
"The report raises important questions about the violation of human rights by the US authorities," European Commission spokeswoman Catherine Ray said, noting that US President Barack Obama had ended the programme in 2009 when he took office.
"This report is a positive step in confronting publicly and critically the Central Intelligence Agency's detention and interrogation programme."
Ray added that the EU "condemns all forms of torture and ill-treatment, under any circumstances including in counter-terrorism."
But she said she could not address earlier allegations that several EU member states were implicated in the CIA's global anti-terror network, including in the secret renditions of suspects to the US security forces for interrogation.
Asked about the role allegedly played by countries such as Poland and Romania, among others, Ray said the US report made no mention of third countries and so she could not comment.
EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini issued a separate statement earlier Wednesday to mark UN Human Rights Day, calling for the elimination of torture worldwide.
Without specifically mentioning the US report, Mogherini noted that while the UN Convention against Torture was adopted 30 years ago, "torture is still widely practised around the world."
"This demands our urgent attention," she said. The report by the US Senate Intelligence Committee said the CIA had misled the White House and Congress about the effectiveness of the programme which included harsh interrogation techniques such as waterboarding.
It also detailed the use of techniques including "Russian Roulette" to intimidate and humiliate detainees.
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European Union says CIA torture report 'positive step'
BRUSSELS: EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker was back under the spotlight Wednesday after new revelations showed Disney, Microsoft and Koch Industries got bumper tax deals from Luxembourg when he was prime minister.
They were among dozens of companies dragged into the Luxembourg tax avoidance " LuxLeaks" scandal with the release of new documents by investigative journalists on Tuesday.
The revelations -- including that entertainment giant Disney, the home of Mickey Mouse, paid just over a quarter of one percent in tax -- increase pressure on Juncker over Luxembourg's tax policies during his 19 years in office.
They came before Juncker's swearing-in Wednesday as president of the commission, in a ceremony in Luxembourg.
In his defence, European Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso said Juncker is "dedicated and committed to the strategy of looking into unfair tax competition" throughout the European Union.
In an interview published earlier Wednesday, Juncker said he had been "weakened" by the scandal.
"Subjectively speaking, I have no more to answer for than others," Juncker told the French daily Liberation.
"But objectively speaking, I was weakened because 'LuxLeaks' suggests I was party to manoeuvres that do not meet the basic standards of ethics and morality."
But Cardoso rejected suggestions that Juncker, who easily survived a vote of confidence in the European Parliament in November, might stand down.
"Naturally Mr. Juncker will carry on with his duties," Cardoso added. "He remains the president and remains 100 percent committed to both his job and his political guidelines."
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European Union's Jean-Claude Juncker on defensive as new 'LuxLeaks' drag in Disney
BRUSSELS, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Members of the European Union said they want clarity from the Russian government on the status of the South Stream natural gas pipeline.
South Stream is Russia's answer to energy diversification needs in the European market. Most of the gas Russia sends to Europe runs through Soviet-era pipelines in Ukraine, where conflict and political disputes between Kiev and Moscow present risks.
Representatives from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Romania and Slovenia met in Brussels with European Energy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to discuss gas infrastructure priorities in their respective regions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last week declared an end to South Stream, planned to cross the Black Sea to the southern European market.
"The member states directly concerned took note of the currently unofficial nature of this announcement and invited the commissioner to clarify the situation with the Russian side," a note Tuesday from the European Union said.
European leaders are wary of companies like Russian natural gas company Gazprom, which control products and their corresponding transit systems. In August, the government of host country Bulgaria called for a suspension of all actions on South Stream because the project does not meet the legal requirements of the European administration.
"The integration of gas markets and the diversification of gas supplies will namely require putting in place the necessary infrastructure and implementing harmonised rules for the benefit of customers in that region," members said. "New routes operated in line with European law can also contribute to increased security of supply in the region."
Fitch Ratings said last week the South Stream decision reflects low demand for additional natural gas volumes in the European market as much as it does frustration with Russia's role in the market. Austrian energy company OMV, a South Stream consortium member, said it viewed the recent announcements as political in nature.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said the pipeline decision was final.
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Europe seeks clarity on South Stream