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Thursday, February 04, 2010

Michael's List - EU hopefuls, Kosovo, climate offer to UN; UNSG on Cyprus; Israel Peace talks, Hamas in Russia; St Anthony's Monestary, Egypt



MEPs will discuss the European Union aspirations of Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey on Wednesday 10 February. The Foreign Affairs Committee has given a mixed opinion on where the countries stand and we asked Parliament's followers on Facebook what they think. Read on to find out more and check out the photo slideshow. Croatia: must combat corruption. The Committee believes negotiations with Croatia can be concluded in 2010, but it must strengthen public administration, reform the judiciary, combat corruption and organised crime, ensure sustainable refugee return and provide access to documents for use in war crimes trials in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: name issue should be solved. The committee found that negotiations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia could begin "in the near future". Issues to focus on include reform of the public administration and judiciary, the fight against corruption and the improvement of women’s rights and inter-ethnic relations. In addition, it must "redouble efforts to find a mutually satisfactory solution to the name issue" with Greece. Slovenian Socialist Zoran Thaler told us that "the biggest obstacle in the way of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia accession is the lack of regional responsibility and understanding how important good neighbourly relations are." Turkey: "Involvement of civil society" needed. Turkey was criticised for having made only "limited progress". It should better implement existing legislation on women's rights, non-discrimination, freedom of religion/thought/speech/expression, zero tolerance of torture and the fight against corruption and contribute "in concrete terms" to the settlement of the Cyprus issue. See how your concerns and ideas are reflected on the floor of the House. Watch the parliamentary debate live online 0830-1150 CET on Wednesday 10 February.


There are differences over recognition but there is agreement on the substantial program of help that EU is putting in place in Kosovo, says Catherine Ashton. In an interview for the Financial Times, the EU foreign policy chief stated that main challenges of the EU foreign policy were Kosovo, how to rally Chinese and Russian support for a possible effort at tightening sanctions against Iran on account of its nuclear program, the Middle East conflict and building the EU’s own diplomatic service. After adoption of the Lisbon Treaty the potential for enhancing the EU’s ability to speak with one voice is clear, “but so are the limits imposed by the inescapable fact that some governments do not see eye to eye on crucial dossiers”, the Financial Times pointed out. As an example of limitations that Ashton will encounter, the British daily menioned Kosovo and emphasized that five of its 27 members of the EU had not recognized its unilateral declaration of independence. “There are differences over recognition but there’s absolute agreement on the substantial program of help that we’re putting in place in Kosovo. My job is to translate this position into action and represent it. When we don’t have agreement, there are ongoing discussions among member states,” Ashton was quoted.


The European Union has decided to stick to its lowest offer for cutting carbon emissions under a UN climate accord, but will maintain a conditional pledge to do more if others follow suit, EU diplomats said Their comments after EU ambassadors met in Brussels confirmed the 27-nation bloc's commitment to unilateral target carbon dioxide emissions to 20% below 1990 levels over the next decade.Some EU countries such as Poland, Italy, Cyprus and Malta had opposed making the more ambitious conditional offer over concerns that it would be too costly for industry."Italy and Poland said at the meeting that they were concerned but they wouldn't stand in the way," an EU envoy said. Before United Nations-sponsored climate talks in Copenhagen in December, the EU offered to deepen its cuts to 30% of 1990 levels if other rich countries made similar efforts. Ambassadors agreed the EU should sign up to the accord with the 20% cuts in a letter to be sent to the UN on Thursday, but that the 30% conditional offer should still be made, even if the conditions behind it are far from being met. The meeting in the Danish capital ended without agreement on binding cuts to climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions, leaving countries until 31 January to submit their own plans. Experts say the total cuts offered there by rich countries amount to no more than 18% and fall far short of the 25-40% that UN scientists outline as necessary to avert dangerous climate change. The world is on track for temperatures to rise to 3.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century, which would bring catastrophic melting of ice sheets and rising seas, some scientists say. Britain, Denmark and the Netherlands were among the countries that defended the 30% offer. "The UK remains committed to the conditional offer of 30% to stay on the table to ensure that we do not lose the momentum that has been generated over the last few months," said an official from Britain's Department of Energy and Climate Change.


UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he was encouraged by what he saw and heard during his recent visit to Cyprus adding that a settlement of the Cyprus problem is within reach. Ban, who briefed the UN Security Council about his recent visits to London, Ethiopia and Cyprus told journalists that ''Leaders made good progress, but talks need to go farther, faster. My Special Advisor Alexander Downer will work to keep up the momentum of this Cypriot-led process.I do believe a solution is within reach – but it will require even more courage, compromise and commitment,'' he added. Responding to a question, Ban said he was very much encouraged by such a strong commitment by both leaders to continue their negotiations. ''And I was again, very much encouraged and touched by the strong support of the people from both sides who were chanting, in unison, shouting 'resolution now','' he added. As he noted, ''these were all the loud and clear voices from the general population, regardless of where they were from, both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot. That was quite moving for me. I felt a strong sense of responsibility (about) what the United Nations can do more to facilitate this Cypriot-led and Cypriot-owned negotiation.'' He said that his observation was that a solution was possible and a solution was within reach, and, in fact, they made significant progress in power-sharing and governance. ''I was quite encouraged by this. Of course, there are many more important issues: property; border and security issues. I hope they will continue,'' UN Secretary General said. He added that Cyprus President Demetris Christofias told him that he would issue some sort of plan for further negotiations, despite the so called elections in Cyprus occupied areas to be held in April, adding that this "is quite encouraging. And I am going to have my special adviser, Alexander Downer, continuously engaged, so that this negotiation will be facilitated,'' Ban concluded. President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September 2008, with a view to solve the problem of Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974.


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that peace talks with the Palestinians could resume in the coming weeks. The Israeli Prime Minister spoke at an annual security conference in the seaside community of Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv. He said Israel hopes for peace talks soon. Mr. Netanyahu said he has reason to hope that in the coming weeks Israel will restart peace talks with the Palestinians without preconditions. The Israeli leader did not give details of why the resumption of talks could be imminent. The Palestinians have insisted that Israel halt all construction inside Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank before they return to talks. There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials about Mr. Netanyahu's remarks. One factor complicating the peace process is the division between the two major Palestinian groups. The moderate Fatah faction that runs the West Bank is locked in an impasse with Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. Israel is willing to talk with Fatah, but regards Hamas as a terrorist group with which it will not negotiate directly. On Wednesday, there was a sign that tensions between the two Palestinian groups could be easing. A senior Fatah official, Nabil Shaath, went to Gaza for meetings with Hamas. It was the first time there has been such high-level contact between the two groups since Hamas violently seized power and forced Fatah out of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Fatah and Hamas officials said they are pursuing reconciliation talks. In his speech, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the Palestinians' efforts to build their economy and institutions, and called on them to pursue peace. He said that if that willingness exists among the Palestinians, there will be a resumption of peace talks in the coming weeks.


Hamas leader Khaled Meshal will visit Russia next week for talks on ending a Palestinian split and bringing about a resumption of peace talks with Israel, the Russian government said on Thursday. Hamas, which is backed by Syria and Iran, has been shunned by the West over the Islamist group's refusal to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept existing interim Israeli-Palestinian peace deals. "The main topic that will be discussed is the way to end the Palestinian divisions and how to resume the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told reporters in Moscow. Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 in fighting with Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whom Israel and the United States have been trying to woo back to peace negotiations suspended since 2008. Talks to reconcile Hamas and Fatah have yielded no results since Egypt began mediation in late 2008. Meshal's last official visit to Moscow was in 2007. Various Hamas officials have at times indicated a willingness to negotiate a ceasefire with Israel, possibly decades long. But Hamas continues to say that it will not recognize Israel officially. Last month, Meshaal met with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov in Syria, after which LAvrov said that the Hamas had adopted a more realistic approach since Operation Cast Lead in December 2008. Senior officials in the Foreign Ministry were furious over the news and said one of the reasons for their displeasure stems from the fact that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was due in Moscow a week later for his first visit, which aimed at beginning talks on upgrading strategic relations between Israel and Russia.


Egypt's antiquities chief on Thursday unveiled the completion of an 8-year, $14.5 million restoration of the world's oldest Christian monastery, touting it as a sign of Christian-Muslim coexistence. The announcement at the 1,600-year-old St. Anthony's Monastery came a month after Egypt's worst incident of sectarian violence in over a decade, when a shooting on a church on Orthodox Christmas Eve killed seven people. The attack raised heavy criticism of the Egyptian government abroad and at home, by critics who say it has not done enough to address tensions between the country's Muslim majority and its Christian population, estimated at 10 per cent of the 79 million population. The government insists the shooting was a purely criminal act with no sectarian motives, and officials persistently deny the existence of significant Muslim-Christian frictions. Top archaeologist Zahi Hawass took the opportunity to reiterate that stance as he showed journalists the work at St. Anthony's, an ancient compound at the foot of the desert mountains near Egypt's Red Sea coast. "The announcement we are making today shows to the world how we are keen to restore the monuments of our past, whether Coptic, Jewish or Muslim," he said. St. Anthony, widely revered as the founder of Christian monasticism, settled in this remote mountainous area at the end of the 3rd century to live in isolation. Upon his death, his followers built the monastery, which was completed around A.D. 350 remains in use to this day. In the government-sponsored project, workers renovated the fortress-like ancient wall surrounding the monastery and the walls of its two main churches - the 14th century Church of the Apostles and the 6th century Church of St. Anthony. They also renovated monks' quarters and a 6th century tower into which monks would retreat during attacks by marauding Bedouin tribes throughout the Middle Ages. A modern sewage system was also installed for the monastery, which is home to several dozen monks and is frequently visited by Christian pilgrims. Amid the renovations, archaeologists from the American Research Center in Egypt discovered the remains of the original monks' cells dating back to the 4th century under the Church of the Apostles. After they were excavated, archeologists in 2008 covered them with thick glass so that visitors to the church can see them below their feet. ARCE also renovated stucco paintings in Church of St. Anthony. To read more about St. Anthony the Great, click here.To read more about St. Anthony's Monestary, click here.