Michael's Daily 7 - 30 September

I. EU-sponsored report says Georgia started 2008 war with Russia

Georgia started the 2008 war with Russia by illegally attacking the town of Tskhinvali, a major EU-sponsored report has concluded. "There is the question of whether the use of force by Georgia in South Ossetia, beginning with the shelling of Tskhinvali during the night of 7/8 August, was justifiable under international law. It was not," the study says. Georgia's use of multiple rocket launchers and heavy artillery in the Tskhinvali assault was neither necessary nor proportionate to repel alleged attacks by South Ossetian separatists, the report adds. It said Russia had the right to defend Russian peacekeeping soldiers stationed in Tskhinvali. But it described Russia's subsequent mass-scale incursion into Georgia as illegal and disproportionate. The EU declined to make any political comment immediately after its publication, however. "The EU hopes that its findings can contribute towards a better understanding of the origins and the course of last year's conflict and, in a broader perspective, serve as an input to future international efforts in the field of preventive diplomacy," it said in a statement. The Swiss investigation also put some interesting numbers on the "five-day war." Eight hundred and fifty people were killed in total, with 100,000 people displaced, 35,000 of whom still cannot go home more than one year later. Over 100 US military advisers were "reportedly" in Georgia on 7 August and "an even larger number of US specialists and advisors are thought to have been active in different branches of the Georgian power structures and administration," it said. The 1,150-page long study is the culmination of nine months of work by a 20-strong team of legal and military experts based in Geneva and headed by Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini. EU member states last year launched and paid for the €1.6 million investigation.

II. New Website for Government of Abkhazia Launched

A new English-language website has been launched for the government of Abkhazia. This marks one way in which the Abkhaz government is reaching out to the world following its struggles to maintain its centuries-old culture and identity. For centuries, the Republic of Abkhazia, which is located at a strategic crossroads between Europe and Asia, has struggled to maintain its centuries-old culture and identity. Since the devastating 1992-93 war with Georgia, the Abkhaz government has worked hard to rebuild its economy and reach out to the world. Miles of pristine Black Sea coastline and tree-covered mountains have made Abkhazia a favorite vacation spot for visitors from Russia and other neighboring countries. Our nation is known for its wines and unique cuisine. Last month, Abkhazia celebrated the one-year anniversary of its official recognition by Russia and Nicaragua, an event that has propelled us onto the world stage. They were recently joined by Venezuela. On September 30, we invite the world to join us in celebrating the 16th anniversary of our victory over Georgian forces. This website contains information on visiting Abkhazia, as well as promising investment opportunities in trade, agriculture and manufacturing- please see http://www.therepublicofabkhazia.org/

III. 30 countries under pressure to recognize Kosovo

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić says that Serbia will soon see how successful its attempts were at deterring countries from recognizing Kosovo. He told daily Danas that it would be seen in the next couple of weeks whether Serbia’s delegation at the UN General Assembly had been able to convince about 30 countries under pressure to recognize Kosovo independence not to do so. “Great pressure is being put on over 30 countries. We held meetings with all of them. Lobbying for new recognitions of the unilateral independence declaration continue by those who have done so in the past,” Jeremić told Danas.

IV. Greece on name issue with former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Greece voiced frustration at the lack of progress in United Nations-backed talks for resolving its long-running dispute with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over the latter country’s official name. “Greece has participated in good faith” in negotiations on the name issue over the past 15 years, Anastassis Mitsialis, the country’s ambassador to the UN, stressed in his address to the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate. “The persistence of the leadership in Skopje in pursuing exclusivity over the name by denying a geographic qualifier and the anachronistic rhetoric and policies that run contrary to the principle of good neighbourly relations raise serious questions as to its real motives,” Mr. Mitsialis noted. The Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, which was brokered by the UN, details the difference between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece on the name issue. It also obliges the two countries to continue negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to try to reach agreement. Since 1999, Matthew Nimetz, the UN’s Personal Envoy on the issue, has been holding talks with the two sides and proposed compromise names. Last week, he said he believes some momentum is building on the issue with a number of ideas on the table. The next round of talks will resume once the Greek elections are over and a new government is installed.

V. Cyprus negotiators run out of time

Greek and Turkish Cypriot negotiators are running out of time to avoid a partition of the island that would bring huge costs and increase instability in the Mediterranean. The two sides launched talks last September aimed at reunifying Cyprus, divided along ethnic lines since 1974 when Turkey invaded. The International Crisis Group (ICG) urged Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and President Demetris Christofias, to speed up peace talks on creating a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and to put a final settlement to referenda in their communities in early 2010. "Failure will mean an indefinite partition, leading to more strains in EU-Turkey relations, new frictions in the east Mediterranean, less EU-NATO cooperation, acceleration of the centrifugal forces scattering the Turkish Cypriots and new risks to the prosperity and security of Greek Cypriots," it said in a report. The ICG also said the European Union must "rapidly engage in support of the process" and called on the EU, the United States and Russia to organise a donor conference to commit financial support for a settlement. The ICG said that, if a strong new government emerged from the Greek parliamentary election on 4 October, Greek leaders "might engage with the Cyprus question again," a development that could ease Turkish-Greek tension. "Neither Christofias nor Talat has any desire to walk away from the negotiating table. The danger is that they will simply run out of time," it said.

VI. New reforms to allow minorities to pray at sacred sites, Halki Seminary considered

The government has said it will include demands voiced by minority groups in its democratization package. While the government has started to consider the demands of minorities, topics concerning minorities will be added to the democratization package. The government is planning on meeting a portion of the demands that do not require a constitutional change. A significant amount of these demands consists of matters that require changes to regulations and bylaws. The rest is a matter of determination as the legal groundwork for them is ready but the laws have not been effectively implemented. Taking into consideration EU criticism of Turkey's implementation of reforms, the government will seek to enforce laws on a wider scale. The status of the Halki seminary, which the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate has been struggling to reopen, is still under consideration at the Ministry of Education. While Ministry of Education lawyers have deemed that the seminary cannot be reopened according to the demands of the patriarchate, alternatives the lawyers have offered were rejected by the patriarchate.

VII. SCOBA hierarchs convene for special session

A Special Session of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) met on September 25, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The meeting was hosted by the Chairman of SCOBA, Archbishop Demetrios of America, at the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in Manhattan. The session was attended by SCOBA members: Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese); Metropolitan Philip, Vice-Chairman (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese); Metropolitan Christopher, Secretary (Serbian Orthodox Church); Archbishop Nicolae (Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese);

Metropolitan Joseph (Bulgarian Orthodox Church); Metropolitan Jonah (Orthodox Church in America); Archbishop Antony (proxy, Ukrainian Orthodox Church); Archpriest Alexander Abramov (Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA). Also present were the General Secretary and members of the SCOBA Study and Planning Commission representing the SCOBA member Churches. The entire short discussion responded to the call for an “Organization of Episcopal Assemblies” in North America. These assemblies have been authorized by the Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference which met at the Orthodox Center of Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy, Switzerland, June 6-13, 2009. (The conference is also referred to as "4 Chambésy.") It was decided unanimously by the Hierarchs that the first such Episcopal Assembly shall be convened during Post-Pentecost Week of 2010, which will fall in the last week of May, likely May 26-27, at a location to be announced later. The Hierarchs also outlined an initial staging process, combining Hierarchs of SCOBA with sub-committees, which will formulate the outline of the form and agenda of the Assembly. There is general consensus among the SCOBA hierarchs and qualified ecclesiologists that SCOBA in its current form does not represent a proper response to the stipulations of 4 Chambésy.

Michael's Daily 7 - 29 September

I. Lawmakers Sign Declaration Condemning Iran's Human Rights Abuses

On Tuesday, September 22, 2009, Members of the US Congress, Members of European Parliament and a Member of the Canadian Parliament signed an historic document condemning Iran’s continued human rights abuses. This document was signed at the second Trans-Atlantic Group on Counter Terrorism, or TAG, summit hosted by TAG co-chairs US Representative Sue Myrick (NC-09) and Member of European Parliament Jaime Mayor Oreja (EU-Spain). This is historic because it is the first document signed by a group of international lawmakers addressing the Iranian regime’s human rights atrocities against the Iranian people,” said US Representative Sue Myrick (NC-09), who is also the Co-Chair of the US Bipartisan House Caucus on Counter Terrorism. “We are keeping a close watch on the Iran nuclear weapons situation, but this will not cause us to forget the human rights atrocities committed by the Iranian regime. We say to the Iranian people who continue their fight for freedom, ‘We have not forgotten you. We stand with you". At the signing session which took place inside the US Congress, MEP Jaime Mayor Oreja, who serves as the Vice President for the EPP at the European Parliament, said "it is the first time that legislators from both sides of the Atlantic are coming together to address the threats of Jihadi terror. We are pleased to have accomplished this first step and other important steps will follow." Oreja oversees the European Ideas Network (EIN), the Policy Think Tank of the EPP. Members of Congress who signed this declaration include: Sue Myrick (NC), Kay Granger (TX), Paul Broun (GA), Bill Shuster (PA), Ed Royce (CA), and former Congressman Bud Cramer (AL). Members of the European Parliament who signed this declaration include: Mr. Jaime Mayor Oreja (Spain), a former Minister of Interior, Mrs. Corien Worthmann-Kool (Netherlands), Mr. Timothy Kirkhope MEP (UK), Mr. Othmar Karas (Austria), Mr. Marian Jean Marinescu (Romania), and Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides (Cyprus), a former Foreign Minister. Canadian MP Irwin Cotler, a former Minister of Justice, also joined the delegations and signed the declaration.

II. Garoyian: No arbitration, No timeframes in peace talks in Cyprus

House President Marios Garoyian has warned those who still advocate a return to a failed UN solution plan – the Annan plan – that they will fail in their effort to help find a negotiated settlement in Cyprus. “We tell those who wish to reintroduce the Annan plan, impose strict timeframes and arbitration on the ongoing UN-led process of direct negotiations, that they will fail yet again and the UN responsibilities, in such a case, would be great”, he stressed. “If the ask us to make further concessions and more compromises than those we have made since 1974, I would like to send them the message that they are making a mistake and they will fail as they have failed in similar cases in the past, the most recent case is the Annan plan in 2004”, he said. The House President also pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side wishes to solve the Cyprus problem as soon as possible. “Of course, the most important thing is the type of the solution, and it is for that reason that we insist and say that in order to reach a settlement the soonest, Turkey should abandon a policy, a mentality and a behavior which contradict international law and EU principles and values”, he added. “It is Turkey that violates international law, it is Turkey that retains troops in Cyprus, it is Turkey that violates human rights and political freedoms and it is Turkey that occupies European territory since 1974”, he stressed.

III. Latest Turkish radar interference reported in east Aegean

Greece's military general staff on Tuesday reported yet another instance of radar interference over the eastern Aegean islet of Farmakonissi, the apparent "modus operandi" of a specific Turkish radar unit on the opposite Asia Minor coast that has attempted to ward off aircraft by claiming they are flying within Turkish airspace. The latest instance, following similar radar warnings conveyed by radio to Frontex border security patrols recently, was recorded by three Hellenic Air Force F-16s on a routine training flight over the Greek isle. The message was transmitted at 13.32, according to the general staff, while the pilots continued their training flight at 3,000 feet before returning to a base on Crete after the exercise's conclusion.

IV. Serbia protests Kosovo presence at U.N.

The presence of a Kosovo delegation at the United Nations General Assembly violates the world organization's code of ethics, Serbia's foreign minister says. Vuk Jeremic told the Serbian news Web site B92 Tuesday that entry by Kosovo's Fatmir Sejdiu into the U.N. building, which the General Secretariat said most likely was facilitated by Albania, violated U.N. rules. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Brenden Varma told Serbian officials who protested Sejdiu's presence that "the United Nations did not issue passes to the Kosovo representatives to enter the General Assembly hall," and an investigation had concluded that the Albanian delegation had a number of passes that they could "give to whomever they want, allowing them to observe the session from a special room."

V. Russian foreign minister to visit Abkhazia on Oct. 2-3

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will pay an official visit to Abkhazia on October 2-3, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. Andrei Nesterenko said Lavrov is scheduled to hold talks with Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh and Sergei Shamba, the foreign minister of the former Georgian republic. "The sides will discuss issues of further development of friendly relations between our countries, the establishment of full-format intergovernmental interaction, provision of assistance to Abkhazia in the spheres of security, cooperation in international affairs, and training of diplomats for the republic," Nesterenko said. Russia recognized the independence of the former Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia last August after a five-day war with Georgia over the latter, which was attacked by Tbilisi in an attempt to bring it back under central control. Nesterenko said that the sides would also discuss issues concerning international recognition of Abkhazia. "Besides Russia and Nicaragua the independence of Abkhazia has been also recognized recently by Venezuela. Obviously expanding the process of international recognition of Abkhazia will help further establish the sovereignty of the republic," the spokesman said. Under mutual assistance treaties signed last November, Russia pledged to help South Ossetia and Abkhazia protect their borders, and Moscow pledged significant financial support to rebuild the republics, which had been de facto independent since the early 1990s.

VI. ‘Green Patriarch’ backs strong Copenhagen agreement

The Christian Orthodox Church’s most senior leader has issued a statement urging world leaders to join him and his more than 200 million followers in pushing for a strong and fair climate deal in Copenhagen this December. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, nicknamed the ‘Green Patriarch’ for his longtime support of environmental issues, is calling on political leaders participating in climate change talks this week in Bangkok to agree on strong and fair measures to mitigate climate change in advance of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen this December. “The accomplishment of a good agreement within the framework of the international negotiations in Copenhagen does not solely constitute a moral imperative for the conservation of God’s creation,” Patriarch Bartholomew said in a statement issued this week. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is the highest office of the Orthodox Church and is based in Istanbul, Turkey. Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew serves as the spiritual leader to approximately 300 million Orthodox Christian faithful across the globe. Since his election in October 1991, Bartholomew has often spoken publicly about the moral imperative to protect the environment, according to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

VII. Fordham to Honor Ecumenical Patriarch

Fordham University will present an honorary degree to His All Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, in a ceremony on Oct. 27. The Ecumenical Patriarch, the 270th successor of the 2,000-year-old Christian Church founded by St. Andrew, will receive a doctorate of laws, honoris causa, at a ceremony to be held at the University Church on Fordham’s Rose Hill campus. "We are honored, of course, to receive the Ecumenical Patriarch here at Fordham," said Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham. "His All Holiness instructs us in ecumenism and tolerance, in stewardship of the Earth and in fearless defense of faith. Therefore, we welcome Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and look forward to ever-stronger ties between the Orthodox Christian and Catholic churches." Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will be visiting the United States between Oct. 17 and Nov. 5, beginning in Memphis, Tenn., leading his Eighth International Environmental Symposium, this time addressing the needs of the Mississippi River. He then will travel to New York City, where he will celebrate several liturgies before receiving an honorary doctorate from Fordham. The Ecumenical Patriarch has occupied the First Throne of the Orthodox Christian Church since 1991. He is the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians throughout the world, and has worked in close and brotherly association with two Popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI. A citizen of Turkey, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s personal experience provides him a unique perspective on the continuing dialogue among the Christian, Islamic and Jewish worlds. He works to advance reconciliation among Catholic, Muslim and Orthodox communities and is supportive of peace building measures to diffuse global conflict in the region. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew co-sponsored the 1994 Peace and Tolerance Conference in Istanbul. His efforts in environmental awareness, including the organizing of several environmental seminars, are highly noted, earning him the title "Green Patriarch."

Michael's Daily 7 - 28 September

I. Phares: The Jihadists are Mushrooming Inside America

It is unprecedented in American counterterrorism annals: in one day, the nation was dealing with three separate jihadist plots to blow up civilian and other targets inside the homeland. Although the cases were addressed at different time periods by the FBI and other agencies, nevertheless, the thickening web of terror attempts breached the crossing line of U.S. national security. This past week, authorities revealed three conspiracies by American jihadists: Michael C. Finton, a 29-year-old man who wished to follow the steps of American-born Taliban John Walker Lindh, was arrested after trying to detonate what he thought was a bomb inside a van outside a federal courthouse in Springfield, Illinois. Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, a 19-year-old Jordanian national, was arrested after placing what he believed was a bomb at a downtown Dallas skyscraper. But perhaps the most troubling case is of Afghan-born Najibullah Zazi, who set up shop in suburban Denver, scouting the Web and visiting beauty supply stores in a hunt for chemicals needed to build bombs for al Qaeda. Sources called the alleged plot one of the most significant terror threats to the U.S. since 9/11. Add to the list the North Carolina Jihad cell, led by Daniel Patrick “Saifullah” Boyd, which was planning on attacking civilian and military targets across the country. The immediate question being raised by an increasingly worried public regarding all of these terror cases is: are they all connected? While law enforcement and certainly judicial authorities proceed in a bottom up reasoning – that is, to build the case for a global connection between all what is happening with the help of legal evidence – analysts in the field of counterterrorism and conflict are already realizing the meaning of what is happening inside America.

II. Russia voices concern over Iran’s missile tests

Iran’s missile tests cause concern, Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has said. He has also called on Tehran to closely cooperate with the IAEA regarding its nuclear ambitions. "This is not banned by any international treaties. Of course, when missile launches accompany an unresolved situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear programme, this causes concern," Sergey Lavrov said. Further, Sergey Lavrov has urged Iran to fully answer questions related to recent revelations about a second uranium enrichment facility in the country. The comments came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, at the United Nations. “Our meeting was mainly devoted to the situation with Iran’s nuclear issue ahead of talks in Geneva,” Lavrov said. Six-party talks, involving the United States, Russia, Great Britain, China, South Korea and Japan, plus Iran, are scheduled for October, 1.

III. Turks see no block on EU bid by new German gov't

After forming a new coalition with a more pro-Ankara ally, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is unlikely to try to block the progress of Ankara's EU bid despite opposing full Turkish membership, Turkish analysts say. Merkel, who has long favored a 'privileged partnership' for predominantly Muslim Turkey that stops short of full EU membership, led her conservative Christian Democrats to win a parliamentary majority on Sunday. "We are much more open vis a vis Turkish membership in the European Union and now that we negotiate, we should negotiate with the possibility of Turkey joining," FDP parliamentary foreign policy spokesman Werner Hoyer told Reuters Television. "After winning Sunday's election, Merkel may feel more free to express her well-known position on Turkey's EU membership, but it remains to be seen if she will go out of her way to block Turkey's progress as the French have done," said Turkish analyst Semih Idiz, who frequently writes about foreign affairs. Accession talks have moved slowly because of Brussels' concerns over human rights, complaints about a lack of progress on reforms and a territorial dispute with EU member Cyprus.

IV. Turkish Cypriot leader criticises President Christofias' statements

Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat voiced disappointment Friday with Cypriot President Demetris Christofias' speech to the UN General Assembly. "He destroyed everything that was achieved during the [reunification] talks," Talat told a press conference in New York. "I offered to him a trilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon but he refused. They were afraid that thus the Cypriot issue would attract too much attention among the international community," Talat said, ahead of a meeting Monday with Ban. In his speech last week, Christofias said that "despite our common efforts, the Turkish Cypriot side, supported by Turkey, continues to present positions and proposals which lead us outside the framework of the UN resolutions on Cyprus." Last week, relations between leaders of the two communities took a negative turn over their differing views on Turkish settlers. Greek Cypriots insist that the island could be reunified only if the Turkish settlers return to Turkey. Last Wednesday, however, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in New York with Christofias and told him that the settlers will not leave Cyprus.

V. Bosnian convicted of war crimes

A Serbian court on Monday convicted a former Bosnian security officer to 12 years in prison for ordering a 1992 attack on a Yugoslav army convoy in which at least 50 soldiers were killed. According to the indictment, Ilija Jurisic, ordered an attack on soldiers who were withdrawing in the predominantly Muslim Bosnian city of Tuzla, despite an agreement between authorities that they could leave the city peacefully. The court said in its verdict that the Bosnian troops first killed the truck drivers with sniper fire, and then fired mortars and rocket-propelled grenades at the vehicles. Fifty one soldiers were killed and at least 50 wounded in the attack in May 1992. During the trial, Jurisic admitted to having ordered the attack on the army convoy, but said he was acting on the orders of his superiors. Jurisic was at the time a senior Bosnian police official.

VI. Most EU students learn two foreign languages

The latest figures on language skills in Europe, which relate to 2007, were published by EU statistical office Eurostat last week (24 September) ahead of European Languages Day, which was celebrated across the continent on Saturday (26 September). Secondary schools in the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Finland all reported that 100% of their students learn two or more foreign languages, with Slovenia and Slovakia (both 98%) and Estonia (97%) following close behind. The highest proportions of students studying one foreign language are to be found in Greece (92%), Italy (74%), Ireland (73%), Spain (68%) and Malta (60%). As for the language skills of the EU population as a whole, just under a third (28%) of 25-64 year olds surveyed said they spoke two or more foreign languages, but 36% could not speak any. Slovenia (72%), Slovakia and Finland (both 68%) and Lithuania (66%) record the highest proportion of speakers of two or more foreign languages, while the UK (65%), Cyprus (59%) and Austria (50%) lead those nations whose citizens speak one. However, three quarters of Hungarians, half (51%) of Portuguese and 47% of Spaniards speak only their native language. English is the most widely spoken foreign language in the majority of EU member states.

VII. Ecumenical Patriarch calls for measures to avert climate change

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew issued an appeal to the international community to take measures to avert "more unfortunate consequences of the climate change" in view of the imminent UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December and an environmental conference in Bangkok. "Reaching a good agreement in Copenhagen is a moral obligation in order to save the world and is also the only path to economic and social survival," the Ecumenical Patriarch stressed, adding that "dealing with climate change should not be regarded as economic burden but as an important opportunity for a healthier planet to the benefit of all humanity; the states that are not as developed, in particular." "The crucial nature of the situation, and the scientific and technological progress, show that global economy should turn toward renewable energy sources and avert further deforestation," the Ecumenical Patriarch stressed, adding that this is an obligation toward the children of the world.

Michael's Daily 7 - 25 September

I. Editorial: Baucus bill - Death panels by proxy

Yes, there are death panels. Its members won't even know whose deaths they are causing. But under the health care bill sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, Montana Democrat, death panels will indeed exist - oh so cleverly disguised as accountants. The offending provision is on Pages 80-81 of the unamended Baucus bill, hidden amid a lot of similar legislative mumbo-jumbo about Medicare payments to doctors. The key sentence: "Beginning in 2015, payment would be reduced by five percent if an aggregation of the physician's resource use is at or above the 90th percentile of national utilization." Translated into plain English, it means that in any year in which a particular doctor's average per-patient Medicare costs are in the top 10 percent in the nation, the feds will cut the doctor's payments by 5 percent. The National Right to Life Committee concludes that this provision will cause a "death spiral" by "ensur[ing] that doctors are forced to ration care for their senior citizen patients." Every 10th doctor in the country will fall victim to it. Libertarian columnist Nat Hentoff calls the provision "insidious" and writes that "the nature of our final exit" will be very much at risk. As it is in Great Britain, where thousands of cancer patients each year die prematurely due to lack of treatment, the inevitable result of government care could be the same for many Americans as if an actual panel decided case-by-case to euthanize them. The Baucus provision would only exacerbate this bureaucratic preference for death by proxy.

II. Bin Laden Warns Europe of Retaliation

Osama bin Laden is warning that Al Qaeda could retaliate against Europe for its alliance with the United States in the war in Afghanistan. Bin laden says in a new audiotape posted on Islamic Web sites Friday that Europe should pull out of the coalition with the United States, warning that it shares blame for NATO airstrikes in Afghanistan that have killed civilians. Addressing Europeans, he asks, "how do think you will fare after America pulls out — Allah permitting — for us to retaliate from the oppressor on behalf of the oppressed?"

III. Medvedev 'might approve' of job swap with Putin

President Dmitry Medvedev said he might not object to swapping jobs with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, as the ruling duo kept Russia guessing about their plans. Asked during a meeting with American students at the University of Pittsburgh whether he was prepared to exchange places with his powerful mentor Putin, Medvedev said he wouldn't mind as long as he could be helpful. "If it is useful for the country, I am ready to work in any position," he said. "The job of a president is a rather difficult thing. I can also tell you that the job of a prime minister is also a difficult thing. So there's not much difference in this sense." Medvedev nevertheless reiterated that he would not rule out running for re-election as president, despite speculation that Putin may want to return to the Kremlin post he held before stepping down in favor of his ally. "If I work well, if everything I do turns out fine, if the Russian people trusts me, why not run? This is absolutely normal." Analysts are closely watching Russia's ruling tandem for any signs of possible discord and some wonder whether Medvedev is willing to break out from Putin's embrace and strike out on his own. In the biggest hint so far that he may come back to the Kremlin, Putin said earlier this month he and Medvedev would not compete in the 2012 election but would "come to an agreement" as they were people of "the same blood."

IV. Saakashvili tells UN of 'Berlin wall' in Georgia

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has told the UN General Assembly a "Berlin wall" had divided his country into two parts since the military conflict with Russia in August 2008. Speaking last of 35 state representatives to take the podium on Thursday at the 64th session of the UN General Assembly, Saakashvili added that Georgia's territorial integrity must be restored. Russia recognized the independence of the former Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia last August after a five-day war with Georgia over the latter, which was attacked by Tbilisi in an attempt to bring it back under central control. "Tragically, Georgia today like Germany a generation ago is a nation with a deep wound running through her," Saakashvili said. The Georgian president said the "wall that runs through the middle of Georgia" had been "built by an outside force." He called Abkhazia "the birthplace of Georgian civilization" and vowed that it would again be part of Georgia. "It will take time, but Abkhazia I'm sure will once again be what it was - the most wonderful part of Georgia," he said. Saakashvili did not refer specifically to South Ossetia, but said a year ago his country was "invaded." He did not identify Georgia's attackers, but said "their predecessors" had previously invaded Poland, Finland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Afghanistan, and also "erased" Grozny, the capital of the Russian North Caucasus republic of Chechnya. Saakashvili also defended himself against accusations of autocratic rule from Georgian opposition groups, saying his presidency was very democratic, adding that demonstrations against his government were a manifestation of freedom.

V. Tadić warms up for GA address

Serbian President Boris Tadić will address the 64th UN General Assembly today, which is being attended by over 100 heads of state and government. Tadić has held a series of bilateral meetings during his stay in New York, visited Columbia University where he gave a lecture on the theme “Opportunity amidst Crisis: Consolidating the European Future of the Western Balkans,“ and attended a round table on climate change. He has met with the presidents of the U.S. and Russia, Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev respectively, European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and many other officials. The bilateral meetings Tadić held with international officials in New York focused mainly on the process of Serbia's EU integration and its endeavors to preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty in Kosovo through peaceful means, by insisting on compliance with international law. There was also talk of economic cooperation and prospects for investing in Serbia. The Serbian state delegation headed by Tadić will do all it can during the UN General Assembly session and debate to deter states from recognition of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. The president is convinced there will be no mass recognitions of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence despite international pressure, the state delegation told Tanjug.

VI. Letters: Turkey must accept Cyprus agreement

Allow me a few observations on Simon Tisdall's World briefing on Cyprus (23 September). Cyprus's forcible division, following the Turkish invasion and occupation, dates back to 1974. In 2004, most Cypriots (75%) did not think that the Annan plan was "their best chance"; a plan which, if approved, would have given Turkey the right of unilateral military intervention all over Cyprus, with the permanent presence of its troops on the island. A democratic decision of a sovereign people should be respected. We demand nothing more. Cyprus acceded to the EU after long negotiations, having fulfilled all relevant requirements. Due to the Turkish military occupation of part of the island, the European acquis was suspended in that part. This suspension has a temporary geographical character. The Turkish Cypriots, who are citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, enjoy all rights and benefits that membership in the EU entails. These cannot, however, be extended to the illegal settlers, who are citizens of Turkey. When Cyprus was granted candidate EU status, in March 1995, Turkey was given, in return, the customs union agreement. This remains unimplemented by Ankara, vis-a-vis the Republic of Cyprus. I will not disagree with David Hannay that Turkey's ambition is inseparable from a Cyprus settlement. But I will reverse the argument: as long as Turkey fails to comply with its European obligations, as long as it violates international law, human rights and UN security council resolutions, and continues in practice to pursue a two-state solution in Cyprus, it is obvious that its prospects for membership will not be advanced. Alexandros Zenon, Cyprus high commissioner.

VII. Christianity and Judaism in the First Four Centuries

On this week's CRTL podcast, Fr. Demetrios Tonias will begin the first of a four part series. We'll be discussing Christianity and Judaism in the first four centuries, which is something many of us don't know a great deal about. In a short segment, we will continue discussing issue of unity of the Orthodox in North America with Rev.Nicholas Apostala, a member of the Study and Planning commission of SCOBA.

Michael's Daily 7 - 24 September

I. Expanding government-run health insurance means expanding discrimination against gays

The conventional wisdom says that gays and lesbians should support Democrats’ efforts to expand the federal government’s role in healthcare. After all, in 2008 more than 70 percent of gay voters supported Barack Obama for president, and Democrats up and down the ballot count on gay dollars to fuel their campaigns and advocacy work. The Democrats would never push healthcare reform that actually hurts gay and lesbian Americans, right? Wrong. The truth is that Democratic efforts to expand government-run healthcare will expand discrimination and make quality, affordable healthcare even less available to gay and lesbian families all across the country. The Defense of Marriage Act, passed by Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support, and signed by a Democratic president — Bill Clinton — prohibits the extension of domestic partner healthcare benefits and denies recognition of any same-sex relationship. Indeed, even the Obama administration admitted that this legislation would bar the extension of domestic partner healthcare benefits. The left’s demand for government-run healthcare, the so-called “public option,” will leave gay and lesbian families completely and totally out. Gays, who currently are able to secure health insurance that provides for domestic partner benefits for their families, will find no such options when it comes to government-run healthcare. Worst, low-income gay and lesbian families, who can’t afford private insurance and will be forced by federal mandate into government-run healthcare, will be hit the hardest. This isn’t the first time that the Democratic Party has put its allegiance to big government over the best interests of gay Americans. GOProud, the only national organization representing gay conservatives and their straight allies, has endorsed the bicameral Patients’ Choice Act, which would make quality, affordable healthcare available to all Americans without creating government-run healthcare.

II. U.N. climate meeting was propaganda

Czech President Vaclav Klaus sharply criticized a U.N. meeting on climate change on Tuesday at which U.S. President Barack Obama was among the top speakers, describing it as propagandistic and undignified. "It was sad and it was frustrating," said Klaus, one of the world's most vocal skeptics on the topic of global warming. "It's a propagandistic exercise where 13-year-old girls from some far-away country perform a pre-rehearsed poem," he said. "It's simply not dignified." Klaus said there were increasing doubts in the scientific community about whether humans are causing changes in the climate or whether the changes are simply naturally occurring phenomena. Klaus published a book in 2007 on the worldwide campaign to stop climate change entitled "Blue Planet in Green Chains: What Is Under Threat -- Climate or Freedom?" In the book, Klaus said global warming has turned into a new religion, an ideology that threatens to undermine freedom and the world's economic and social order.

III. Obama Winning Russian Support on Iran

With a diplomatic wink and nod, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev opened the door Wednesday to backing potential sanctions against Iran as a reward to President Obama's decision to scale back a U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe. While U.S. and Russian officials denied a flat-out quid pro quo, Medvedev told the U.N. General Assembly that Obama's pivot on a missile defense plan long loathed by Moscow "deserves a positive response." Obama himself has said his missile decision may have spurred Russian good will as a "bonus." "We believe we need to help Iran to take a right decision," Medvedev said after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the U.N. assembly. The prospect of a unified U.S.-Russian stance on new sanctions would put Iran under added pressure to yield some ground on its nuclear program. A member of the Russian delegation, speaking on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the Russians, said Moscow's final position on the question of imposing further sanctions would be determined, to a large extent, by Medvedev's consultations here. The U.S. and Russia are among six countries that will hold talks in Europe next week with Iran over its nuclear ambitions. Obama wants to reserve the possibility of pursuing tougher sanctions if those meetings lead to no restraint by Iran in the weeks ahead.

IV. NY Times Oped: Turkey’s Stance on Cyprus

Your Sept. 13 editorial “A Clear Assault on the Press” is a timely reminder that Turkey has a considerable distance to cover before meeting the criteria qualifying it for membership in the European Union. It is timely because there is now a concerted effort to promote Turkey’s European Union accession. Cyprus supports its accession, provided Turkey satisfies the necessary criteria. Turkey supported the 2004 Annan plan for Cyprus only because its key conditions were incorporated into it. A balanced, functional compromise would have been acceptable to the Greek Cypriots in 2004, as it would be today if such a plan emerges out of the current talks. The main difficulty is that Turkey has not moved one inch in its key demands (Turkey’s guarantee of a settlement, including the right of military intervention, and legalization of mainland Turkish settlers, among others). The foreign minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, has demonstrated diplomatic acumen and achieved remarkable results in several areas. One could ask why it is only on Cyprus that Turkey’s positions remain inflexible and anachronistic. If Turkey moderated its position and reunification of Cyprus occurred, it would be a win-win situation. The moment should not be squandered. Andreas Jacovides. New York, Sept. 19, 2009. The writer is former ambassador of Cyprus to the United States.

V. Who’s Afraid of Sibel Edmonds?

Sibel Edmonds has a story to tell. She went to work as a Turkish and Farsi translator for the FBI five days after 9/11. Part of her job was to translate and transcribe recordings of conversations between suspected Turkish intelligence agents and their American contacts. She was fired from the FBI in April 2002 after she raised concerns that one of the translators in her section was a member of a Turkish organization that was under investigation for bribing senior government officials and members of Congress, drug trafficking, illegal weapons sales, money laundering, and nuclear proliferation. She appealed her termination, but was more alarmed that no effort was being made to address the corruption that she had been monitoring. A Department of Justice inspector general’s report called Edmonds’s allegations “credible,” “serious,” and “warrant[ing] a thorough and careful review by the FBI.” Ranking Senate Judiciary Committee members Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) have backed her publicly. “60 Minutes” launched an investigation of her claims and found them believable. No one has ever disproved any of Edmonds’s revelations, which she says can be verified by FBI investigative files. John Ashcroft’s Justice Department confirmed Edmonds’s veracity in a backhanded way by twice invoking the dubious State Secrets Privilege so she could not tell what she knows. The ACLU has called her “the most gagged person in the history of the United States of America.” But on Aug. 8, she was finally able to testify under oath in a court case filed in Ohio and agreed to an interview with The American Conservative based on that testimony. What follows is her own account of what some consider the most incredible tale of corruption and influence peddling in recent times. As Sibel herself puts it, “If this were written up as a novel, no one would believe it.”

VI. Muslim Man Beheads Christian in Egypt

Osama Araban, a Muslim man riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, went on a rampage last week in Egypt, killing 63-year old Coptic Christian Abdo George Younan, in the village of Bagour, before traveling onwards and stabbing with intention to kill two other Copts in two different villages, at least 10 km apart. The funeral procession of Abdo Younan was attended by thousands of Copts, led by Metropolitan Archbishop Benjamin of Menoufia Diocese and seventeen clergymen. Hundreds of banners were held, showing the amount of anger and injustice felt by Copts. Anti State Security chants were heard during the procession, besides calling on President Mubarak and the government to save the Copts from the hands of the fundamentalist who are killing them. The details of the attacks, not told by the media, but exposed by Coptic lawyers and activists, reveal that 35-year old car painter Osama Araban not only stabbed Abdo nine times but also severed his head from his body -- an Islamic ritual beheading. He then meticulously washed his bayonet with the water hose the victim was using, before setting off on his motorcycle to the next two villages, looking for more Coptic victims. Egyptian State Security, which is in charge of drafting press releases and news related to Muslim attacks on Christians, decided from the start which route they wanted the incident to take, and tailor the news accordingly. In an attempt to influence public opinion for the forthcoming acquittal of the Muslim killer, the media reported that the reason for the killing was a "material dispute." No Muslim has ever been sentenced justly for killing a Copt. Consequently, the Egyptian Government's manipulation of facts is not to save the Copt's murderer from a just punishment, but more to save its face in front of the Western world for being blatantly unjust towards the Coptic victim, given that Egypt is a member of the UN Human Rights Council which is responsible for the protection of human rights around the globe.

VII. Green Patriarch: His All Holiness Bartholomew I, to convene environmental meeting in New Orleans

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, will convene dozens of environmental scientists, business leaders and public officials in New Orleans next month to discuss environmental challenges facing people in the Mississippi River Valley. Bartholomew, known in some quarters as the "green patriarch" for his interest in the intersection of religion and the environment, has convened seven prior environmental gatherings around the world since 1995. Although based in Istanbul, Bartholomew has sponsored meetings to focus attention on environmental challenges to the Arctic, the Amazon, the Adriatic, Baltic and Black seas and the Danube river. Beginning Oct. 18, the week-long meeting, which opens in Memphis and continues in New Orleans, will assemble scientists, business leaders and policy makers to discuss environmental challenges to people along the Mississippi River, the patriarch’s office said. Bartholomew recognizes that, "while climate change didn’t cause the levees to break and cause the terrible disaster of Hurricane Katrina, he does recognize that what climate change is doing is causing natural phenomena like storms and droughts to be more severe," with implications for New Orleans, she said. Bartholomew’s visit will be his second to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Four months after the storm he stood on the breached levee overlooking the ruined Lower 9th Ward with Archbishop Alfred Hughes and offered prayers for the living and the dead. Bartholomew is one of several patriarchs of Eastern Orthodox churches, which date from the earliest days of Christianity. Members of the Orthodox world include Greek, Armenian and Russian Orthodox churches, as well as smaller churches based on various nationalities. Bartholomew, sometimes called the Ecumenical Patriarch, has no governing authority over the Orthodox world, but his office is often referred to as a first among equals.

Michael's Daily 7 - 23 September

I. The UN loves Barack Obama because he is weak

Barack Obama’s Gallup approval rating of 52 percent may well be lower at this stage of his presidency than any US leader in recent times with the exception of Bill Clinton. But he is still worshipped with messiah-like adoration at the United Nations, and is considerably more popular with many of the 192 members of the UN than he is with the American people. The latest Pew Global Attitudes Survey of international confidence in Obama’s leadership on foreign affairs shows strikingly high approval levels for the president in many parts of the world – 94 percent in Kenya, 93 percent in Germany, 88 percent in Canada and Nigeria, 77 percent in India, 76 percent in Brazil, 71 percent in Indonesia, and 62 percent in China for example. The Pew survey of 21 countries reveals an average level of 71 percent support for President Obama, compared to just 17 percent for George W. Bush in 2008. As the figures indicate, Barack Obama is highly likely to receive a warm reception when he addresses the United Nations General Assembly today. Simply put, Barack Obama is loved at the UN because he largely fails to advance real American leadership. This is a dangerous strategy of decline that will weaken US power and make her far more vulnerable to attack. The Obama administration is now overseeing and implementing the biggest decline in American global power since Jimmy Carter. Unfortunately it may well take another generation for the United States to recover.

II. Turkish Diplomats Cause Scuffle Around Obama

A group of Turkish diplomats breached the security bubble around President Obama on Tuesday, provoking a frenzied reaction by security personnel, around the president who pushed and shoved the intruders away from the president's limousine. The incident occurred as Mr. Obama was preparing to leave the Sheraton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan after speaking to an annual meeting of former President Bill Clinton's Global Initiative. Mr. Clinton was seen escorting Mr. Obama to the limousine moments before the incident occurred. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was among those swept up in the confrontation, the U.S. Secret Service confirmed to the Washington Times Wednesday morning. Mr. Erdogan was arriving at the same meeting as Mr. Obama was leaving when the scuffle between Turkish security surrounding the prime minister and U.S. security -- Secret Service along with New York City police -- broke out. The skirmish, which involved shoving, pushing and loud shouting, reached the corner of the large white tent that housed Mr. Obama's limousine just as the president was preparing to get in the vehicle and leave. The Turkish press reported that Mr. Erdogan may have even grabbed a U.S. security agent to stop him from throwing a punch. "A foreign delegation got confused and were trying to enter the president's departure tent and didn't understand the verbal instructions being given. They had to be physically restrained," said Ed Donovan, a spokesman for the Secret Service. Mr. Donovan denied that the incident was a breach of security because he said that the Turks had Secret Service escort. But he would give no details on why the fracas occurred other than that a language barrier caused a breakdown of communication. The incident comes at an inopportune time. Turkey is key to Mr. Obama's strategy to build a more strategic and multilateral foreign policy, and the president has spent a good amount of effort trying to improve U.S.-Turkish relations. He visited Turkey during his first foreign trip and the administration has proposed the sale of $8 billion in anti-missile weapons systems to Turkey, which could play a role in containing the Iranian nuclear threat.

III. Greek and Turkish Cypriot parties reiterate support for Cyprus peace process

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties have reiterated their support for the efforts of the leaders of the two communities to reach an agreed solution to the Cyprus problem. The leaders and representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties had their regular meeting, under the auspices of the Slovak embassy to Cyprus. A joint communique issued after the meeting noted that ''they expressed opinions on the issue ‘The right of Cyprus to its sea, the Law of the Sea and their relevance to Cyprus’ as proposed by the hosting party, the New Cyprus party.'' ''The participants reiterated their support to the two leaders of the two communities in the efforts to find an agreed solution to the Cyprus problem as soon as possible'' the communique, read out by the Slovak Ambassador Anna Turenikova, added. The next meeting will be held on 21st of October. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat began UN-led talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem on September 2008.

IV. Taliban demands ransom for Greek volunteer

The Taliban has demanded two million dollars, as well as the release of three of its leaders, for the safe return of Greek national Athanasios Lerounis, reports the Greek Kathimerini on September 22. The volunteer teacher was snatched from his home in northwestern Pakistan on September 14, "selflessly serving the people of Kalash" the Pakistani News International had reported on September 15 2009. Taliban representatives detaining Lerounis said that the volunteer was "safe and sound", Kathimerini reported. "I am living with a group of Taliban. They are very hospitable and do their best for my well-being and security," one extract reads from Lerounis' diary released by the Taliban. Lerounis had been working as a volunteer teacher for a humanitarian organisation in Pakistan since 1995. His abduction, however, has caused a shock wave of discontent both in Pakistan and in Greece, home to a large Pakistani community in Athens. Athen's mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis, has submitted to the Pakistani ambassador in Greece a letter of protest, demanding his immediate release and safe return. The Greek Teachers’ Association, of which Prof Athanasios was a member and which had done some pioneering work in Chitral for the welfare of the Kalash people, has also expressed deep concern over his kidnapping.

V. Serbia not to give up defense of sovereignty

At reception organized for representatives of Serbian Diaspora attended also by Senator George Voinovich and Ohio National Guard Commander Gregory White, Tadic pointed out that ‘Serbia shall not lead a policy that would expose people to risks’ but ‘a policy that defends national and state interests in a rational and dignified manner’. ‘We want to join the EU with our identity and culture. I see no alternative to such policy’, Tadic added and asked the Diaspora in Ohio to deliver that message to all Serbs living in the US. ‘We are leading a policy of peace and we are defending Kosovo with diplomatic and political means. Today Serbia is a democratic country wanting to become the EU member. Serbia wants to be a strong partner of the USA. We have to solve some problems, but I am positive that we shall be real allies in the end’, Tadic pointed out. He thanked Senator Voinovich who was a very important person for both Serbia and the USA. ‘I am very glad that we met. Senator Voinovich has been always available for us and he supported our country in many fields’, Serbia President Boris Tadic said.

VI. EU seeks Kosovo solution

The European Commission is preparing a report for October, which will determine the European future of Kosovo, Pristina daily Koha Ditore says Tuesday. In Brussels, due to the opposition of Kosovo's independence by some EU members, it is speculated that the document will bring nothing radically new. There is a situation, even weirder than in the time of UNMIK. Some EU states, which are against the independence of Kosovo, especially Cyprus and Spain, have become even more aggressive in insisting that Kosovo should not be treated as a state, an unnamed EU diplomat told the newspaper. He stated that "it is incredible how Cyprus and Spain insist about it in every sentence, each comma and full-stop and do not forget to add in line with the resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council whenever Kosovo is mentioned." On debates about Kosovo, Cyprus and Spain support the EU policy of long-term stabilisation of the Balkans and regional development, without letting some concrete steps to be made in relation to or with Kosovo, add the daily. Diplomats said the first test for them would occur in October, when the European Commission is to reveal its feasibility study.

VII. Orthodox and Catholic : Will the 'Third Rome' Reunite With the 'First Rome'?

Sometimes there are no fireworks. Turning points can pass in silence, almost unobserved. It may be that way with the "Great Schism," the most serious division in the history of the Church. The end of the schism may come more quickly and more unexpectedly than most imagine. On Sept. 18, inside Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer palace about 30 miles outside Rome, a Russian Orthodox Archbishop named Hilarion Alfeyev, 43 (a scholar, theologian, expert on the liturgy, composer and lover of music), met with Benedict XVI, 82 (also a scholar, theologian, expert on the liturgy and lover of music), for almost two hours, according to informed sources. (There are as yet no "official" sources about this meeting -- the Holy See has still not released an official communiqué about the meeting.) The silence suggests that what transpired was important -- perhaps so important that the Holy See thinks it isn't yet prudent to reveal publicly what was discussed. A report from Interfax, the news service of the Moscow Patriarchate, on Sept. 18 revealed that Archbishop Hilarion spoke to the Pope about "cooperation between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches in the area of moral values and of culture" -- in particular during the "Days of Russian Spiritual Culture," a type of exhibit with lectures scheduled for spring 2010 in Rome. "Orthodox divine services are a priceless treasure that we must carefully guard," Hilarion has written. "I have had the opportunity to be present at both Protestant and Catholic services, which were, with rare exceptions, quite disappointing… Since the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, services in some Catholic churches have become little different from Protestant ones." Again, these words of Hilarion seem to echo Benedict XVI's own concerns. The Pope has made it clear that he wishes to reform the Catholic Church's liturgy, and preserve what was contained in the old liturgy and now risks being lost. Hilarion has cited the Orthodox St. John of Kronstadt approvingly. St. John of Kronstadt wrote: "The Church and its divine services are an embodiment and realization of everything in Christianity... It is the divine wisdom, accessible to simple, loving hearts." These words echo words written by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI, who often said that the liturgy is a "school" for the simple Christian, imparting the deep truths of the faith even to the unlearned through its prayers, gestures and hymns.

Michael's Daily 7 - 22 September

I. Cyprus: Turkey must admit that influx of settlers is a war crime

Ankara must recognise that the influx of illegal settlers from Turkey to Cyprus’ northern occupied areas is a war crime, House President and Acting President of the Republic Marios Garoyian has stressed, pointing out that once this is acknowledged, Cyprus would be ready to discuss the possibility of Turkish settlers remaining in Cyprus, on humanitarian grounds. Garoyian said the objective is not to have settlers after the solution of the Cyprus problem. “Turkey must, first of all, accept that illegal colonisation is a war crime and once this is done, we are ready to discuss – not accept – the stay of settlers on humanitarian grounds,” he stressed. He said that this message has to be communicated abroad and the matter has to be pointed out at the current UN-led negotiations.

II. Turkey: Archaeologists find suspected Trojan war-era couple

Archaeologists in the ancient city of Troy in Turkey have found the remains of a man and a woman believed to have died in 1,200 B.C., the time of the legendary war chronicled by Homer, a leading German professor said on Tuesday. The discovery could add to evidence that Troy's lower area was bigger in the late Bronze Age than previously thought, changing scholars' perceptions about the city of the "Iliad." "If the remains are confirmed to be from 1,200 B.C. it would coincide with the Trojan war period. These people were buried near a mote. We are conducting radiocarbon testing, but the finding is electrifying," Pernicka told Reuters in a telephone interview. Ancient Troy is located in the northwest of modern-day Turkey at the mouth of the Dardanelles not far south of Istanbul.

III. Europe must not forget Western Balkans

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis says that Europe must not forget about Serbia and the Western Balkans. “Greece is a strong and committed partner to Serbia on her path to EU membership and an advocate of her interests in overall international relations,” the minister said. “Greece's position is very well-known. As far as we are concerned, everything is clear. When it comes to Holland, we cannot exert pressure. But every chance we get, we try to explain to our Dutch colleagues that it is very important for Serbia to be closer to the EU and that the Interim Trade Agreement and the SAA should be unblocked, “ she explained. “The region needs help. A very clear message needs to be sent that the EU hasn’t forgotten the Balkans. It’s very important for this to be the EU’s united message, and to the whole of the Balkans,” she stressed.

IV. EU nations fail to agree on bluefin tuna ban

European Union nations have failed to agree on a ban on fishing bluefin tuna despite an appeal to do so from the EU head office. Stocks of the iconic threatened bluefin have dwindled for years. It has been ferociously hunted in the Mediterranean as a key ingredient in the world's finest sushi dishes. The European Commission said Tuesday that EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas "regrets" the failure of the 27 EU governments to support the ban. The tuna's precarious status has driven up prices and prompted fishermen to sidestep stringent quotas to fish illegally. The European Commission wants to impose a temporary ban until the stocks have recovered. Conservation groups condemned the EU failure.

V. FYROM: Changing name necessary to guarantee sovereignty of territorial boundaries

Leader of the oppositional party PASOK George Papandreou said his party wants different proposals on Macedonia’s name in reference to the name dispute to become clear the matter in point is about two countries and to guarantee sovereignty of territorial boundaries has been kept, A1 television informed. Speaking with BBC why this is necessary after it has become clear the matter in point is about two countries Papandreou pointed it has not been clear how (in Macedonia) have to use the name. He .noted Macedonia is geographically located in three different countries-Greece, Bulgaria and FYROM and this is the reason Greece to insist on complicated name for the neighbor country. “There has been a proposal the country to be called “North Macedonia”, which to be used by everybody to avoid complications in diplomatic talks all over the world,” Greek politician said.

VI. Chess Legends Kasparov and Karpov Face off Again

Chess legends Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov reignite one of the greatest rivalries in the history of chess this week with a re-match of their classic 1984 world championship contest. The two Russian grand masters, who are widely considered the greatest chess players ever, will play the first of a 12-game re-match in Valencia, Spain, starting on Tuesday, 25 years after the pair first competed for the world title. The event will be broadcast live on Valencia's regional government website (www.gva.es) with organizers expecting up to 10 million chess fans to follow the matches. The epic 1984 duel ended in controversy and without a clear winner when the World Chess Federation unexpectedly called off the match after five months of play, citing health concerns for the players who were both representing the Soviet Union. Then reigning champion Karpov, now 58, had won five matches while Kasparov, now 46, had won three with 40 other games ending as draws. Both players said they wanted to play on.

VII. Ohio Legislators asked to back religious freedom resolution for the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Resolutions for religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate continue to become introduced to state lawmakers around the country. Two new resolutions have been introduced to the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives: SCR 14 was introduced by Senator Joe Schiavoni and HCR 29 was introduced by Rep. Tom Letson. In Ohio, Fr. Thomas M. Constantine of St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church has been a main advocate for the Mother Church of Constantinople, testifying in Columbus, Ohio before the Senate's state and local government affairs committee in support of a religious freedom resolution. To learn more about the Archons' Religious Freedom Resolutions Project, please click here.

Michael's Daily 7 - 21 September

I. UN says it is "pleased" with Cyprus talks

A top UN diplomat says he is "pleased" with progress on talks aimed at solving the Cyprus problem. But Alexander Downer, a special adviser of the UN secretary general, stressed it was up to the two sides on the divided island to resolve their differences between them. Cyprus president Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have since held a second phase of the UN-led direct negotiations. In a statement following the meeting, former Australian foreign minister Downer said, “They had positions which they articulated on the question of the election of the executive in the first round. They had different positions. They have come back here with new bridging proposals and they initially presented those bridging proposals today." Downer said the UN wants to see the leaders work it through in their own way and are there only to help. During the 40 meetings of the first round of talks, the leaders have discussed six chapters: governance and power sharing, EU matters, security and guarantees, territory, property and economic matters, writing down the agreed and disagreed issues. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island.

II. Russia’s position on Cyprus issue remains unchanged

The position of the Russian Federation as regards the settlement of the Cyprus problem remains unchanged: We stand in favour of the implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and against the foreign imposition on the sides of any ‘recipes’ and artificial timeframes for the settlement. The leaders of the Russian Federation have repeatedly underlined that the final settlement of the dispute is only feasible through the attainment of a comprehensive agreement between the Cypriot communities with the support of the international community, taking into consideration the positions of each one and with respect to the agreed negotiating and peace-keeping processes. And it is of course imperative that there has never been an issue, on behalf of Russia, of recognising the so-called ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’.

III. Russia begins patrolling Abkhazian waters

The first Russian patrol boat has arrived in the Republic of Abkhazia to protect the sea borders of the young state which declared independence from Georgia last summer following Tbilisi's attack on South Ossetia. It was recognized by Moscow in 2008. The Novorossiysk is the first of a flotilla of ten vessels to be based at the Black Sea port of Ochamchira. Russia’s Federal Security Service also announced that a base for Black Sea Fleet ships is to be established in Abkhazia, while illegal trespassers from neighbouring Georgia would be detained by Russian border guards. Vyacheslav Chirikba, a foreign policy adviser to the Abkhazian President, says the decision to send patrol boats to the republic is a lawful response to Georgian actions.

IV. Slovakia: No recognition of Kosovo

"Our position on Kosovo is not just a matter of affection towards Serbia, nor does it have anything to do with our position towards the U.S. or Russia,” Fico told a joint press conference after meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković. According to the Slovakian TASR agency, Fico also warned that his government’s refusal to recognize Kosovo showed how far Slovakia would go to defend its own state interests against the “dangerous policies pursued against Slovakia’s sovereignty” by one of the two relevant Hungarian parties in Slovakia, the Party of the Hungarian Coalition. The minister said that Belgrade had achieved a diplomatic success by bringing the question of Kosovo’s unilateral independence before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Earlier today, Cvetković told Slovakian President Ivan Gašparovič that Belgrade intended to launch new talks on Kosovo’s status after the ICJ’s ruling.

V. FYROMacedonia has no other open issues besides name dispute

The name dispute with Greece is the only obstacle for FYROMacedonia’s European Atlantic ambitions, said Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. “I assess positive good neighborly relations besides name dispute with Greece. We do not have any other serious problems despite these are the Balkans,” Gruevski pointed. In his words Macedonia has the ambition to improve its relations with the neighbor countries and would continue in this direction.

VI. Turkish coast guard caught escorting smugglers into Greece

During cooperative Frontex patrol in the Aegean sea, a Latvian helicopter detected a Turkish coast guard vessel close to the islet of Farmakonisi, which not only failed to thwart a smuggling vessel from entering Greek waters but actively assisted it, the Greek daily Kathimerini reported on September 21 2009. Frontex, is a European Union agency with headquarters in Warsaw, Poland. The agency was established as a specialised and independent body tasked to coordinate the operational cooperation between European member states in the field of border security. "We have to mention... at 8.01 [am] a suspicious target detected in Greek territorial waters moving to the east... At 8.02, the suspicious target has been recognised as a Turkish coast guard vessel," Kathimerini said, quoting the official report from the Latvian aircraft. The pilots have submitted documentation and pictures on September 14 to European authorities, implicating a Turkish coast guard vessel providing escort for a smuggling boat into Greek national waters.

VII. Conference Details Patriarchate's Struggles in Turkey

Though recent developments shine a glimmer of hope toward religious freedom in Turkey, there is still a long way to go, scholars and legal experts said at the Fordham School of Law. The conference "Religious Freedom in Turkey: The Case of the Ecumenical Patriarch" featured discussion about efforts to end the sometimes daily persecution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Consider: Almost all of its property has been seized by successive Turkish governments. Its schools have been closed and its prelates taunted by extremists who demonstrate almost daily outside the Patriarchate, calling for its ouster from Turkey. His All Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome is denied his title of “Ecumenical” Patriarch. His All Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, will visit Fordham in late October. Archbishop Demetrios, the primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, attended the conference and thanked organizers for "shedding light on a complex issue." The conference was sponsored by the Law School’s Institute on Religion, Law and Lawyer’s Work and Fordham’s Orthodox Christian Studies Program.

Michael's Daily 7 - 18 September

I. U.S. plan to sell missiles to Turkey raises eyebrows

Turkey’s plan to buy a massive missile system, probably from the United States, has left experts wondering whom Ankara sees as a threat in the region and how the multibillion-dollar project would be financed amid an economic crisis. The Pentagon has said it is ready to sell Turkey a Patriot missile defense system worth $7.8 billion (5.3 billion euros) in a move aimed to bolster its only NATO ally which borders Iran. If realized, the project would be the largest single Turkish purchase of military equipment. It is not yet known when the government will make the final decision, but the plan has already come under fire, with critics questioning Ankara’s motives for the costly purchase. Analysts agree that Washington’s interest in stationing a missile system in a country bordering Iran is obvious amid ongoing tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program, but say they are perplexed as to why Turkey should do so at a time when it has notably improved ties with its eastern neighbor. The Pentagon defense agency stressed the sale was essential for Turkey to maintain “a strong and ready self-defense capability that will contribute to an acceptable military balance in the area.”

II. Cyprus leaders accelerate UN-backed process of talks to unify island

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders held further discussions today on the presidency and vice presidency of a bi-communal republic in ongoing United Nations-backed talks to unify the Mediterranean island, but have not yet reached any decision. Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat decided to accelerate the pace of their sessions, meeting twice a week in two consecutive weeks next month. The talks seek to forge a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality. The decision to meet twice a week is “quite positive and they (the leaders) are upbeat about it themselves.”

III. Greek PM Addresses Expatriate Greeks

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis sent stern messages to Skopje and Turkey while addressing Greeks living in Belgium. Referring to Skopje, he made it clear that solving the name row is a key prerequisite for the country to earn an EU and NATO membership. “There is no other path,” commented the Greek Premier, also adding that the cries of the neighbouring country’s nationalistic leaders will fall flat. “There is a crystal clear red line,” continued Karamanlis. “We want a stable country with EU behavior,” as well as a mutually acceptable solution to the name row, commented Karamanlis while referring to FYROM. “We are after a composite name for all uses,” said the Prime Minister, further adding that good neighbourly relations are a necessary prerequisite for Skopje to join both the EU and NATO institutions. “We have shaped a crystal clear red line, from which we won’t step back.” Shifting his attention to the Cyprus standoff and Turkey’s stance, Kostas Karamanlis underlined that the violence dividing the island into two and the occupation of EU land has to come to an end. He then urged Turkey to commit to the agreement for the readmission of illegal immigrants. The Prime Minister then stated that the regime in the Aegean won’t change, neither with threats nor with provocations. "Our national security, sovereignty and pride are what matter the most."

IV. New finds at rich ancient cemetery in Greece

Archaeologists in Greece say a sprawling ancient cemetery dating to the 6th century B.C. has yielded dozens of rich grave offerings, including weapons and gold ornaments. Archaeologist Pavlos Chrysostomou says 50 new graves were discovered at Arhontiko, near the ancient city of Pella, birthplace of Alexander the Great. Among the finds were two bronze helmets with gold inlay, iron weapons, statuettes and pottery. He said Thursday that some of the dead had ornaments of gold foil — specially made for funerals — covering their mouths and chests. A total of 965 graves have been excavated over the past nine years at Arhontiko, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Thessaloniki. Archaeologists estimate this represents little more than five percent of the cemetery.

V. Serbia to strengthen relations with the US

Serbian President Boris Tadic will head Serbian delegation at the 64th General Assembly of the UN in New York which will take place between September 21 and 26, it has been stated by the President’s office. Tadic will attend series of meetings with the world politicians, where they will discuss bilateral relations, economic collaboration, maintaining sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia. One of the priorities during Tadic’s stay in the US will be improvement of bilateral relations with Washington, “Blic” learns from the cabinet of Serbian President. Tadic will have an opportunity to meet the US President on September 23 at a reception organized in New York by Barrack Obama. As it is announced by Belgrade officials, Serbian delegation will have a complex assignment to parry lobbying of Pristina to increase the number of countries which will recognize Kosovo independence. This is the last opportunity of Pristina to lobby before the beginning of the process at the Hague Tribunal scheduled for December 1.

VI. Putin Applauds "Brave" U.S. Decision on Missile Defense, NATO calls for "new beginning"

Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin praised President Obama Friday for canceling a plan for an antiballistic missile system in Eastern Europe that Russia had deemed a threat, suggesting that the move would lead to improved relations between their countries. “I very much hope that this correct and brave decision will be followed by others,” Mr. Putin said. The Obama decision on Thursday replaced the Bush administration antimissile plan with a reconfigured system focused on short- and medium-range missiles. Mr. Putin and other Russian officials who spoke to reporters on Friday did not say whether Russia would respond with concessions to the United States, particularly on the issue of Iran’s nuclear program and its overall military capabilities. in another sign of warming in relations, NATO called for new cooperation between the alliance and Moscow, including possible coordination between antimissile systems. In his first major foreign policy speech, which was coordinated with the White House, NATO’s new secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, called for a “genuine new beginning of our relationship with Russia” and said the West and Russia have a shared interest in opposing the proliferation of ballistic missile technology in other countries. “We should explore the potential of linking the U.S., NATO and Russian missile defense systems at an appropriate time.”

VII. Moscow Patriarchate opposes Abkhazia split with Georgia church

The leader of Orthodox Christians in Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia, has declared that his diocese is breaking with the Patriarchate of Georgia in defiance of the Moscow Patriarchate. "Seventeen years ago Georgia committed, not only a military and political, but also spiritual aggression against Abkhazia," said the Rev. Vissarion Apliaa, who has been the de facto leader of the Orthodox church in Abkhazia since the Georgian bishop could not safely attend meetings. He was speaking on Abkhazian television on 16 September, the Itar-Tass news agency reported. "Abkhazia in no way can be an integral part of Georgia, and the Sukhum-Abkhazian Diocese that was within the Georgian Catholicosate ceased to exist," said Apliaa. He stated that the church would be known as the Abkhazian Orthodox Church, and he told the RIA Novosti news agency he would seek the assistance of the Moscow Patriachate. But in statements on 16 September, officials of the Moscow Patriarchate said the Russian church supports the canonical borders of the Georgian church. The Rev. Nikolai Balashov, deputy chairperson of the Moscow Patriarchate's external church relations department, told RIA Novosti the Russsian Orthodox Church had yet to receive official information on the issue. "At the same time, we remain convinced that the complex question of the pastoral care of Orthodox believers in Abkhazia must be resolved in a process of fraternal consultations between representatives of the Russian and Georgian Orthodox churches," said Balashov. After President Dmitri Medvedev announced in August that Russia was recognising the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the Moscow Patriarchate stressed that canonical borders cannot be dictated by changes in political borders. The Georgian Orthodox Church said on 16 September that the world's canonical Orthodox churches would not recognise the independence of the Abkhazian church. Patriarch Ilia of the Georgian Orthodox Church told reporters in Tbilisi that the Abkhazian decision could not be taken seriously. "We should not take it into consideration," he said, according to the GeoHotNews agency. "Nobody has a right to declare independence without the Mother Church."

Michael's Daily 7 - 17 September

I. Obama scraps U.S. missile shield plan

Czechs and Poles expressed rancor and relief Thursday that President Barack Obama had pulled out of plans for a U.S. missile defense shield — reflecting deep divisions over a proposal that some feared would make them a target for terrorists. NATO's new chief hailed the move as "a positive step" and a Russian analyst said Obama's decision will increase the chances that Russia will cooperate more closely with the United States in the dispute over Iran's nuclear program. Ex-leaders in the Czech Republic and Poland bristled at Obama's reversal, saying it reinforced a growing impression that Washington no longer views the region as indispensable to U.S. and European security interests. Yet many ordinary citizens who had been skeptical of the shield's benefits expressed relief that the system wouldn't be built on their soil. "It is a big victory for the Czech Republic. We are happy that we will be able to continue to live in our beautiful country without the presence of foreign soldiers." The U.S. plan had deeply angered Russia, which expressed outrage that missiles would be stationed so close to its borders, and many Czechs and Poles felt caught in the middle of escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow.

II. Russia's Lavrov to meet new NATO chief in New York

Russia's foreign minister will hold a one-on-one meeting with the new head of NATO during the United Nations General Assembly session in New York on September 24, Russia's envoy to the alliance said. Sergei Lavrov's meeting with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who became NATO's secretary general last month, "has been coordinated, and the time confirmed. It will take place on the afternoon of September 24 in New York," Dmitry Rogozin told RIA Novosti. The discussions will focus on "issues relating to the development of initiatives by the new NATO secretary general concerning Russia, and also, perhaps, the issue of a visit by Rasmussen to Moscow," the envoy said, adding the timeframe of the visit has yet to be agreed. Rasmussen will hold an un-scheduled meeting later today with Rogozin in Brussels. After taking office on August 3, the new NATO chief said improving relations with Russia, which collapsed after the August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia, is a top priority for the alliance. "Clearly, Moscow is studying with great interests all recent statements by Rasmussen," Rogozin said.

III. Ohio Priest asks Senators to back Turkish anti-persecution resolution

A Boardman clergyman is hoping state lawmakers will take a symbolic stand against persecution of Eastern Orthodox Christians by the Turkish government. “In Turkey, one is not allowed to express his religious freedom,” said the Rev. Thomas M. Constantine, from St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church, Glenwood Avenue. “One cannot wear a cross or any other religious symbols. A clergyman must wear secular clothes and is not allowed to celebrate freely. Many Christians in Turkey must worship secretly.” Father Constantine testified Tuesday in Columbus before the Senate’s state and local government affairs committee in support of a resolution offered by Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd. Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 urges Turkish officials to “respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox Church,” which has existed in Istanbul since the mid-1400s. The church has some 300 million members worldwide. But the Turkish government does not acknowledge the church’s international status and has confiscated its properties and taxed a church hospital. “Over the years, the government of Turkey has pared away at the institutional presence of the Patriarchate, including closing down the Halki Seminary, the only school of theology in the country for training Orthodox clergy,” said Thomas Kasulis, a professor of cultural studies at Ohio State University and former head of the American Society for the Study of Religion. He added, “This is clearly a violation of the kinds of religious freedoms we would expect of a nation known to be a loyal ally of the United States and an important representative democracy in the region.” Father Constantine said there have been increased physical attacks on Christians in the country, as well. “Hand grenades, cluster bombs, gasoline bombs have been thrown into the Patriarchate compound, which have damaged the buildings and injured some people,” he said. “The Turkish government has not taken any decisive action to stop these attacks.” Schiavoni’s resolution is a symbolic gesture, offering the state’s official opinion of the matter. “It is our prayer the persecution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate cease, as well as the persecution to all the Christians,” Father Constantine said. “We pray that there will be religious freedom in Turkey. The passage of this resolution is a major step in that direction.”

IV. Cyprus: Turkish side shifts stance on the powers of the executive

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias said on Thursday that the Turkish side had shifted its stance on the issue of executive powers, in the context of negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem, adding that the new revised proposals on governance would be sent to experts for further consideration. Speaking on his return to the Presidential Palace from his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, President Christofias said ''We had a tete-a-tete meeting. It was short because I will be departing for Brussels. We have decided that the proposals given by the two sides on the issue of governance, the new revised proposals, will be sent to the experts for further processing. We will hold two meetings per week and will see if we can arrange more.'' Asked if the new proposals bring the two sides closer together, President Christofias said ''the proposals are, in any case, improved,'' adding that ''there is a shift by the Turkish side on the issue of the executive powers.'' To a comment that there have been suggestions at the talks that the president and the vice-president should be elected by the senate, of a reunited Cyprus, President Christofias said ''we have our views, which we will discuss, in any case, and of course our reservations. We have a different view. We want the President and the Vice-President to be elected by the people."

V. FYROMacedonians walkout sport event in protest of Greek blackmail

Macedonia withdrew from the Balkan Badminton Championship in Greece in a protest of host's blackmail related to Macedonia's name, Makfax news agency reported. Greek town of Polikastro hosts the Balkan Badminton Championship for youths under 19, which brings together young players of Balkan nations. Six Macedonian players, accompanied by two coaches, were to take part in the event. Macedonia's badminton players, angry that they were told by the host to remove the name "Macedonia" from their national dress, withdrew on the eve of the tournament Thursday in protest at the host's improper conduct. Greece, the host country, offered Macedonian players to wear T-shirts with FYROM reference. Macedonia has been admitted to the World Badminton Federation by the name FYR of Macedonia. The country has been admitted to the European Badminton Federation by the name Macedonian Badminton Federation.

VI. Kosovo debate before ICJ will start on 1 December

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said on Sept. 16 that the official list of countries that will take part in the debate on the legality of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo before the Hague-based International Court of Justice has not been unveiled yet, adding that unconfirmed reports indicate that all five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council will participate. "What we can confirm unofficially is that all five permanent U.N. Security Council members will take part in the debate, for the first time in history, just as this is the first ever debate on the legality of unilaterally declared secession," Jeremic said after a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Belgrade. Sept. 15 was the last day for applying for the public debate before the ICJ, which will start on Dec. 1. In the first stage of the process, written statements were submitted by 36 U.N. members and the Pristina authorities, which have a special status, as Kosovo is not a U.N. member. In the second stage, 14 states submitted comments on other countries' statements. The Pristina authorities also have the right to orally elaborate their petition and respond to the arguments of secession opponents. In August 2008, Serbia sent the U.N. a resolution calling on the General Assembly to ask the ICJ for an advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence.

VII. Pope to Receive Russian Orthodox Archbishop

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s dept. of external relations has been on a first official visit to the Vatican this week. Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev, a renowned theologian, church historian and composer, is to meet with Pope Benedict on Friday at Castelgandolfo. He’s also spent the past two days holding talks with top Vatican officials, including the secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and the head of the Pontifical council for Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper to talk about Catholic-Orthodox relations. “Bishop Illarion said from the very beginning that the pontificate of Benedict XVI was very important for them because Pope Benedict XVI is highly regarded by the Russian Orthodox Church for his moral positions, because he does not take into account political correctness and also they hold him in high esteem. My most important impression is that we have improved very much our relations in the last years. We spoke about several points, firstly about dialogue with all of the Orthodox Churches together which will take place in some weeks now in Cyprus, and the Russian Orthodox delegation wants to return to the discussion table they have resolved the problem of Estonia which was between Constantinople and Moscow. We are looking forward to the discussion on the role of the Bishop of Rome in the first millennium in the universal Church, which will be the issue in Cyprus. Then we spoke about our bilateral relations were the proposal was also made to form a kind of bishops conference on a European level”.