I. ONENEWSNOW - Yemen: a terrorist haven
The retired naval officer who commanded the USS Cole when it was hit by terrorists nine years ago in Yemen says that country is clearly becoming a haven for al-Qaeda activity. The New York Times recently reported that the U.S. government had intelligence from Yemen before Christmas that leaders of an al-Qaida branch there were talking about "a Nigerian" being prepared for a terrorist attack. A Nigerian man, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, is now charged with trying to destroy a Northwest Airlines aircraft that was headed to Detroit from Amsterdam on Christmas Day. The Times reports that Abdulmutallab told FBI agents he was connected to the al-Qaeda affiliate, which operates largely in Yemen and Saudi Arabia by a radical Yemeni cleric whom he contacted online. If corroborated, Abdulmutallab's travel to Yemen for explosives and terrorist instruction underscores the emergence of that country as a major hub for al-Qaeda, perhaps beginning to rival the terror network's base in Pakistan. Kirk Lippold was the commander of the USS Cole when it was attacked by al-Qaeda terrorists on October 12, 2000, while at anchor in the Yemeni port of Aden to obtain fuel. He weighs in on the situation. "Clearly Yemen has become a key place for al-Qaeda to recruit, train, and now conduct operations from," he says. "We should not be returning any [Guantanamo Bay] detainees back to them like the administration did just before Christmas. We should in fact be trying to figure out if Yemeni's government can't do it, then we will." Lippold explains that he does not want to put troops on the ground any more than anyone else does, but he feels the United States must be able to defend its national interests if that country is on its way to becoming a failed state.
Georgian public broadcasting has launched one of its most ambitious projects. The new TV channel claims to give an alternative perspective on world events. But many experts see it as an anti-Russian info campaign. The First Caucasian TV channel is broadcasting news in the Russian language, but from a Georgian perspective. Giya Chanturia, general director of Georgian Public Broadcasting, says that there are many things to talk about for the new channel. “There are many controversial questions we want to address in Georgia, as well as all over the post-Soviet space,” Chanturia said. “We believe people have the right to hear the truth straight from us about Georgia.” Producers say there was a dire need for a Russian-language channel in the Caucasus. Zurab Dvalia, general producer at First Caucasian, claims that Russian remains the main language for a great number of people. “We all came out from the Soviet Union, so we want to tell the truth in this language,” Dvalia told RT. But it’s the truth with a Georgian twist. Ahead of its launch, First Caucasian made assurances that they will not feature any propaganda, just news about Georgia. But the very first broadcast made it clear that its rhetoric is not much different from that of the Georgian government, except that now it is being voiced in the Russian language. The channel has already compared Russian President Medvedev to Vladimir Lenin when it comes to choosing a political course, blatantly accused Moscow of preparing for a war with Ukraine over the Crimean peninsula, and featured extensive clips of an interview with President Mikhail Saakashvili saying Russia lacks democratic culture, which his country has already achieved – all within the first half hour of its broadcast. Former Georgian Ambassador to Russia Erosi Kitsmarishvili says he will avoid watching First Caucasian at all costs. He himself runs an opposition TV channel, and knows the power the media wields firsthand. “It would’ve been a good idea for the Caucasus region, if it weren’t another propaganda outlet for the Georgian government to voice its viewpoint,” Kitsmarishvili said. “It will not make relations between Russia and Georgia better – quite the contrary, it has a good chance of complicating them further.” First Caucasian topped off its New Year’s broadcast with an astrological forecast. Bleak predictions of an impending unrest in the Caucuses, ethnic and political conflicts – the future of Russia-Georgia relations look anything but rosy, according to the channel. And while the channel’s management continues to stress that they are focusing on facts, so far there is very little evidence the channel will say anything that hasn’t already been heard from Saakashvili’s government. Feliks Stanevsky, Russian ambassador to Georgia from 1996 to 2000, also said that it is a clear and blatant attempt to erode the friendship that has grown through the centuries between the Russian and Georgian people. “It's out-and-out propaganda, no doubt about that,” Stanevsky said. “It's going to be an anti-Russian TV station. The channel's target audience is Russian speakers in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and I do not rule out the possibility it might also be broadcast in southern Russia. I am sure the channel will aim to turn all possible countries against Russia, above all the West and… Ukraine.”
III. EURACTIV - Cyprus talks accelerate ahead of crucial poll
The president of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot leader have expressed their strong hope that 2010 will be the year that the Cyprus problem is resolved. But observers note that they have little time left, with elections in the occupied northern part of the island expected to bring to power a hardliner. In a joint statement released after their last meeting in 2009, held under the framework of direct negotiations aimed at solving the Cyprus problem, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat also announced the dates of intensified talks to be held in January 2010, the Cypriot press reported. The meetings will take place on 11-13 and 18-20 January at the residence of the UN's Special Representative to the UN Protected Area. According to their statement, ''in these meetings, the leaders will strive towards more convergence on governance and power-sharing, the economy and EU matters. They also will continue their discussions on the property issue". Christofias noted that there is no goal of reaching a settlement before April elections in the northern, Turkish-occupied area of Cyprus, and that talks will continue after the "so-called elections" with whoever becomes leader of the Turkish Cypriot community. Christofias rejected any notion of an interim settlement, noting that there is no such prospect. Asked about the matter, he said Turkey violates international law, UN principles and human rights conventions. The press in Cyprus also quoted Christofias as saying that his government is lobbying the international community to put pressure on Turkey to change its stance on the Cyprus problem.
The religious feast of Epiphany was celebrated throughout Greece on Wednesday with the traditional Blessing of the Waters. The ritual commemorates Jesus' baptism in the river Jordan, and according to St. John Chrysostom the day is called Epiphany, (from the Greek word for 'manifestation', 'epifaniea') because Jesus Christ manifested Himself to all people not when He was born but, rather, when He was baptized. On Epiphany daring Greeks brave the cold waters to dive for the cross after it has been blessed by a priest and thrown into the water, and the one who recovers the cross is blessed with good luck throughout the year. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece officiated at the main ceremony in Piraeus, Greece's largest port, attended by President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, while members of the Greek Seals dove for the cross. Representing the government at the ceremony was economy, competitiveness and shipping minister Louka Katseli, while main opposition New Democracy (ND) was represented by MP Yiannis Tragakis. Other officials in attendance included Parliament's first vice president Grigoris Niotis, MPs from the Piraeus electoral districts, mayor Panagiotis Fassoulas, and prefect Yiannis Michas. Prime minister George Papandreou attended the Epiphany ceremony on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos, while main opposition ND leader Antonis Samaras attended the ceremony in his home town of Pylos. In Athens, the city's mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis and culture and tourism development minister Pavlos Geroulanos attended the Blessing of the Waters at the Reservoir (Dexameni) in Kolonaki district. In Thessaloniki, the ceremony was officiated by Metropolitan Anthimos, and attended by defence minister Evangelos Venizelos, Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) leader George Karatzaferis, Thessaloniki prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis and mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos.
V. RADIOSRBIJA - Today is Christmas Eve
The Serbian Orthodox Church and its believers are celebrating the Christmas Eve today and Christmas tomorrow. On this day the believers go to the woods for an oak tree, which is burned later in the household fireplace, as a symbol of light and warmth that brings the family members closer. The floor is covered in hay in order to represent the cave in Bethlehem where Christ was born. In churches all over Serbia the evening liturgies are served, and in Belgrade the midnight liturgy will be served by Episcope Atanasije. On Christmas, the holy liturgy will be served by Metropolitan Amfilohije, who is the guardian of the Patriarch throne. Christmas is preceded by 40 days of fasting, but on the holiday the food is plentiful. Christmas is a family holiday and is traditionally celebrated at home. It is believed that on that day all those who had quarrels over the year should make peace and forgive all the insults.
VI. ITAR-TASS - Orthodox Christians all over Russia mark Christmas Eve
Christians conclude a four-week fast during which they confess their sins and receive communion. Divine services reminding one of the great event marking the advent of the new era are to be held closer to midnight. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia is to recite Christmas Eve liturgy in the Novospassky Monastery (the New Monastery of the Saviour). He will begin a nightly festive service in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour at ten p.m. In the evening of January 7, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church *ROC) will officiate Christmas Great Vespers. Festive services are to be held at night and in the morning in almost 30, 000 churches of the ROC worldwide.
Over 200 young adults attending the annual Christmas conference at Antiochian Village here during the last week of December 2009 listened intently as His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah challenged them to "shatter the idols" worshiped by today's society. "The gods so many have been taught about don't exist," Metropolitan Jonah said in his keynote address, adding that only by surrendering to Jesus Christ can the true meaning of life be discovered. "By becoming vessels of God's will, we actively cooperate with God, allowing Him to work through us to bring others to salvation," Metropolitan Jonah told the students. "For example, think about your friends who went to war and are now experiencing difficulties in their lives. How can you reach out to them? With love and compassion." Metropolitan Jonah also touched on the importance of maintaining a serious prayer life, the centrality of the resurrection as "the lens through which we see everything," the importance of engaging non-Orthodox Christian peers in exploring the faith, and the need for outreach ministries and mission work. "In the end, however, it's all about salvation," Metropolitan Jonah stated. "We have a wonderful gift, but we must share it."