Scores of European dignitaries, including Princess Laurentien van Oranje-Nassue of the Netherlands visited the European Jewish Community Center in Brussels to memorialize the accomplishments of Stanley Crossick, a British native who co-founded the European Policy Centre.

A close friend of Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries throughout Europe, Crossick drew the praise of Rabbi Avi and Nechama Tawil of the EJCC, European Union Commissioner of Culture Androulla Vassilio, and Chinese Ambassador to the EU, He Song Zhe.

“Stanley is gone,” said the ambassador, “but his legacy remains with us.”

http://www.chabad.org/blogs/blog_cdo/aid/1501078/jewish/Princess-Visit...

European Policy Centre: Don’t Host Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister!

The European Policy Centre is inviting Danny Ayalon, a leader of the extremist Israeli party, Yisrael Beitenu, for a breakfast briefing on Tuesday, 1 March 2011 at 8:00 am, to be held at the Silken Berlaymont * Hotel in Brussels.

Yisrael Beitenu was founded by the Soviet-born Avigdor Liberman. It openly calls for the ethnic cleansing initially of the 1.5 million indigenous Palestinian citizens of what is today Israel. Yisrael Beitenu adopts the view that returning any land to  the Palestinians in a peace deal is “fundamentally flawed” and that Jordan should be turned into a Palestinian state. It calls for the “transfer” of 6 million Palestinians (in all of historic Palestine) to Jordan, an independent, sovereign state that has signed a peace treaty with Israel.

As a political party, Yisrael Beitenu, follows an ideology that is anchored in the banned, terrorist designated Kach organization to which Avigador Liberman was a card-carrying disciple.

Inviting representatives of extremist groups whose  political platform calls for committing war crimes against indigenous population is wrong and gives legitimacy to such extremism.

INFORM urges all concerned groups to call upon the European Policy Centre to withdraw its invitation and ask Silken Berlaymont Hotel not to host such an event.

Inviting and hosting Danny Ayalon or any member of Yisrael Beitenu group rewards extremism and the Israeli ideology of ethnic cleansing to create a “purely Jewish” state.

http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/news/3339-euro...

A tribute in memory of Stanley Crossick, senior researcher of BICCS
by Ambassador Song Zhe, Head of the P.R. China Mission to the European Union

It is really difficult to reckon with the fact that Mr. Stanley Crossick has passed away.

Is it true that I will never be able to see him again, the septuagenarian with big stature and sparse silver hair, always a reddish handkerchief in his upper pocket? The frequenter of seminars in Brussels, walking around slowly with unsteady steps because of perpetural ill health? The eloquent pronouncer of his unique views, in his tradmark soft and low voice?

In shock and sorrow, Stanley's image keeps popping up in my mind.

I first met Stanley when I just arrived in Brussels as Head of the Chinese Mission. Stanley briefed me in great details about the EU and his in-depth analysis of China-EU relations. I was very impressed by this old friend of the Mission and esteemed scholar.

After that, I often met him on various occasions, mainly seminars related to China. He always seemed not in good shape but managed to take an intensive part. Last November, he travelled to Beijing for the Seminar on China-EU Strategic Partnership, when the European participants met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. He told me after he returned that he was elated hearing the Chinese leader so staunch in supporting the growth of EU, so firm in promoting cooperation with Europe. I could never forget his beaming smile during our conversation.

Stanley has been calling out loud for deepening understanding between China and Europe, believing that comprehensive and objective understanding serves the prerequisite for friendly and win-win cooperation. He was especially keen on promoting communications between the young people. He himself set an example, giving the young diplomats in my mission a lesson on European integration. Last month, during the China-EU Summit, it was announced that next year will be the EU-China Year of Youth. I believe it must be a consolation for Stanley, an old man ready to embark on an eternal journey.

Stanley never hides what he thinks. He gave relentless criticisms to whatever policies or actions he did not approve, whether they were from the Chinese side or the European side. I may disagree with him on many issues, but I highly appreciate his outspokenness and candidness, knowing Stanley was always forward-looking and presenting constructive approach. Whatever he said, it was for the good of Europe, for the good of China, and for the good of a steady and healthy China-EU partnership.

Stanley has many smart views. He is also smart in expressing them. He launched his blog in his 70s, which offers remarkable opinions and is widely read. I often browsed his blog for inspiring suggestions on China-EU relations, in a way to improve my work here. It was the care and contribution from Stanley and all our friends alike that helped push our relations moving forward.

In Chinese culture, the elderly always receives high esteem. They capsulate their lifetime wisdom and experiences, presenting them as a beacon that sheds light upon our path, warning us against bumps and hurdles, making our journey safe and sound.

In his early years, Stanley was among the pioneers working side by side with Mr. Jean Monet. Their dedication to European integration has made possible the accomplishment of the European Union today. In his late years, Stanley devoted himself to another cause, that is, to promote relations between China and Europe. Because he saw clearly how important it was to Europe, to China, and to the whole world. This is the valedictory message of a lifelong academian, the final appeal of a wise man, and the strategic foresight of an international researcher.

Among the Chinese, nothing weighs more heavily than friendship. We say that, among friends, drops of water should be reciprocated with a fountain of spring. Stanley devoted his heart and mind to building China-EU ties. He worked until the final hours of his life. Now that he's away, what shall we do in reciprocity to such a good friend?

 We have to work hard. We have to forge ahead and dismantle all obstructions ahead. We have to build an ever-stronger China-EU partnership which brings benefits to peoples in China, in Europe and in the world. Only this will serve an effective reciprocity, a grand memorial and the highest salute to our old friend, Stanley Crossick.

http://www.chinamission.be/eng/sthd/t771451.htm

Crossick's old blog at this link: http://crossick.blogactiv.eu/

Stanley Crossick is a political analyst and media commentator on EU internal and external policies, with special expertise on China. He has pursued a widely varied career – Hon Secretary of the London Basketball League, founder of the London University Basketball team, practising solicitor in London, Secrétaire-Général de l’Union Internationale des Avocats, President of the European Liberal Professions (SEPLIS), Deputy Secretary-General of the Council of Bars & Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), practising lawyer and negotiator based in Tehran, co-founder of Belmont (the first Brussels multi-nationality and multi-disciplinary EU law firm), Founding Chairman of the European Policy Centre, Senior Advisor on China to the European Centre for Asian Studies, Conseiller auprès de la Fondation pour l’Innovation Politique, Senior Fellow at the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies (BICCS). Officier de l’Ordre National (français) du Mérite and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).