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.”
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.”
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."
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.
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.
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.”
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."