His All Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Christian Church, made a historic visitation to AHEPA International Headquarters on Thursday, November 5. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios accompanied His All Holiness. The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed appreciation for the AHEPA family's support and the great relationship it has with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Moreover the Ecumenical Patriarch noted the tremendous respect the AHEPA family has for His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios. Finally, His All Holiness stated that he looks forward to hosting the AHEPA family at the Phanar for Easter this spring. "We are extremely honored and deeply grateful that His All Holiness agreed to make this historic visitation to our international headquarters, and that His All Holiness was joined by our spiritual leader in the United States, Archbishop Demetrios," said Karacostas. "The AHEPA family cherishes its long-standing relationship with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and we look forward to continuing our strong support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Archdiocese. This was truly a momentous and joyous occasion."
Sources say Turkey's prime minister has personally proposed a new level of cooperation with Greece, its neighbor and long-time rival. The proposal was delivered to the Greek government this week in the form a personal letter from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Greek counterpart George Papandreou that was hand delivered by Turkey's new ambassador to Athens. The letter specifically proposes a joint council to discuss key Aegean matters including the reunification of Cyprus and illegal immigration. A top Turkish diplomat told the Daily Zaman that his government acknowledges there are long-running issues between the two nations but nothing serious enough that it should prevent an increased level of cooperation between governments.
77.9% of Cypriot Turks want two countries in Cyprus as a solution to the Cyprus issue, iKypros reports citing a sociological research executed by Cyprus Social and Economic Research Centre (KADEM). Great number of the respondents – 75.1%, would like for the issue to be solved on the basis of a confederation with restricted authorities of central government, while some 50.4% support the idea for a federation with strong central government. Asked how they would have voted on the “Annan” plan today, 30% of the people inquired gave a positive answer. Great part of the respondents – 63%, thinks that the direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities will not bear any positive result.
Cyprus' foreign minister says Serbia is ready to start talks to join the European Union. Markos Kyprianou says Serbia's refusal to recognize the independence of its breakaway province Kosovo should not hurt its EU membership bid. Kosovo declared its independence last year. About 60 countries have recognized its independence, including the United States and most of the European Union. Cyprus is among several EU members, including Spain and Greece, that do not recognize an independent Kosovo. Kyprianou says he's disappointed that the implementation of an EU-Serbia association agreement is being delayed because of "objections by some EU partners." Kyprianou spoke Friday after meeting his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic.
The United States vetoed an Israeli plan to attack a ship bearing weapons allegedly from Iran to Hezbollah, according to a report in an Arabic-language newspaper. A-Sharq Al-Awsat reported Friday that Israeli sources said Israel wanted to attack the ship this week but the United States had insisted it not to do. Instead, the Israeli navy captured and boarded the vessel early Wednesday off the coast of Cyprus and brought it to the port of Ashdod, where 500 tons of weapons were taken off the ship. Ha'aretz reported that the ship's cargo of arms first traveled on an Iranian ship, but was unloaded in Egypt and put on the Francop, a German-owned ship run by a Cyprus company. The crew of that ship apparently had no knowledge that the cargo it received was weapons, including ammunition, artillery shells, rockets and hand grenades. The Israeli navy estimates that it included 300 tons of weapons and more than 3,000 rockets. Israel believes the cargo was headed for Hezbollah; Hezbollah has denied any connection to the ship.
Russia and Georgia are in secret negotiations to reopen the only checkpoint on their land border, according to Kommersant newspaper. The Upper Lars checkpoint was closed by Russia back in 2006. While officially it was explained by a need for reconstruction, the move came soon after a spy scandal between Moscow and Tbilisi. Several Russian officers were arrested in Georgia in late September of that year and accused of espionage. The Russian military and diplomats said that the charges were ungrounded, but in just a few days Russia stopped issuing visas to Georgians and started evacuating its citizens from Georgian territory. Also, the Russian consumer watchdog banned the imports of some Georgian goods, including wine and mineral water. The closure of Upper Lars – the only legal crossing of the land border – was viewed by many as another episode in the confrontation. In late 2008, Moscow reported that the construction work at the checkpoint was over, but it was not re-opened due to Tbilisi’s reluctance. In addition, the two countries have completely severed diplomatic relations after the war in South Ossetia. Now the issue is close to a resolution, the Kommersant daily reports.
Two monks for the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood monastery in Platina, California, publish a punk zine Death to the World. "These kids (punks - IF) are sick of themselves. They feel out of place in this world. We try to open up to them the beauty of God's creation and invite them to put to death 'the passions,' which is what we mean by 'the world,' Father Damascene (Christensen). He publishes the zine together with Father John, previously a punker himself. Their monastery under protection of the Serbian Orthodox Church was established by a well-known Orthodox theologian and ascetic hieromonk Seraphim (Rose), Miloserdie.ru reports. "We talk about the idea of suffering because that is what the kids feel most strongly. We show that there can be meaning in suffering," Father Damascene says. The first issue was published in December 1994. Its front cover shows an elderly monk wearing glasses and holding a skull. The upper caption reads "Death to the World: The Last True Rebellion", and the back cover shows the caption: "They hated me without a cause".