I. FINANCIALMIRROR - Russian President to pay official visit to Cyprus in October
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will be arriving in Cyprus on October 7 for a two-day official visit. Announcing the visit, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said President of the Republic Demetris Christofias had sent a letter to Medvedev in January, regarding Turkish provocations, and in his reply, the Russian President expressed his country's appreciation for President Christofias' stance in talks for a solution of the Cyprus problem, in line with UN resolutions. Medvedev reaffirmed Russia's position that a solution could only be found through talks between the two communities, and that any efforts to impose ready solution plan, including an artificial negotiating framework and pressure from third parties, would be unconstructive. Stephanou added that Medvedev also reaffirmed Russia's readiness to assist in creating a favourable environment for successful bicommunal talks. The Russian President also announced that he accepted an invitation by President Christofias to visit Cyprus in October, and said he considered the time of visit symbolic, since it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the then Soviet Union, a fact that would further contribute to promoting cooperation between the two countries.
II. ANA - Droutsas, Downer meet in Athens
Alternate foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas on Thursday discussed the course and prospects of the ongoing inter-communal negotiations in Cyprus with the UN secretary general's special advisor on the Cyprus issue, Alexander Downer, in the latter's first meeting with the new Greek government. Foreign ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras described the meeting as "useful" and stressed that the Greek side had the opportunity to reiterate that the process must continue smoothly and freely by the two sides, without 'manufactured timetables' being set. "The solution must be in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and totally respect the European acquis," Delavekouras stressed. Replying to questions, the spokesman said that the role of Greece and the role of Turkey in the process need to be clearly delineated. Greece, he said, is at the side of the Cypriot people and leadership, and its support is given, constant and non-negotiable, whereas Turkey's role is different, since "Turkey plays a decisive role with its occupation forces (on the island) and the degree of its influence". Turkey could, however, "release" the Turkish Cypriot leadership so that the latter itself could proceed in the negotiations, the spokesman added. He opined that, if Turkey so desired, a result could be forthcoming, "but this is a matter of political will". To another question, he denied that a trilateral conference between Greece, Turkey and the UK is planned. Downer, in turn, told reporters that Greece supports the ongoing process, while the UN "is doing everything it can to facilitate the talks". He said that the two leaders on Cyprus are currently discussing matters concerning the Cyprus economy and how it will function inside the EU. Next on the agenda will be matters concerning how a unified Cyprus will cooperate with the EU, whether there will be transitional arrangements for the Turkish Cypriots' full and form integration into the EU, and how a united Cyprus will function as a federal system, Downer added. The UN official said that both sides want the process to continue up until the 'elections' in the Turkish Cypriot sector, stressing that the momentum of the negotiations must be maintained. The challenge at this time is the reunification of Cyprus, of no longer seeing the dividing line that separates the island in two today, Downer concluded.
III. NOVINITE - Spain Has No Intention of Recognizing Kosovo
Spain is not going to recognize Kosovo in the foreseeable future, Spanish Ambassador to Bulgaria, Jorge Fuentes, told Novinite.com in an interview. Ambassador Fuentes has made it clear that the Spanish position was not motivated by fears that an independent Kosovo could serve as example for separatism in Spain but was a matter of legal principle because the act of declaration of Kosovo’s independence was “legally incorrect.” His Excellency said that Spain was not likely to recognize Kosovo unless more than 100 sovereign states do so. Fuentes has forecast that the ruling of the Hague Court on the legality of Kosovo’s independence would not be very clear because of the enormous political stakes of a clear-cut “yes” or “no” decision. He also expressed his conviction that Kosovo did in fact set a political precedent after all, and that without it, separatism in Georgia’s regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia would have been unlikely. Kosovo has been recognized by 65 sovereign states, including 22 EU members. Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Cyprus do not recognize it. Full Text of Novinite.com's Interview with Ambassador Fuentes read here.
IV. MOSCOWTIMES - Medvedev Objects to 'Endless' NATO Expansion
France's defense minister defended on Thursday the sale of a modern assault ship to the Russian Navy, saying critics should not treat Russia as if it were the Soviet Union. Herve Morin said he understands the concerns of Baltic and other nations "given the past history of their relations with Russia." "At the same time, we cannot build a partnership of peace and security in Europe if we continue to view Russia as if it were the Soviet Union," Morin said while attending a meeting of EU defense ministers on this Spanish island. The potential sale is expected to come up when President Dmitry Medvedev meets French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a visit to Paris next month. Medvedev confirmed Moscow's interest in buying the warship in an interview with French weekly magazine Paris Match, a transcript of which was published in Russian on the Kremlin's web site Thursday. Besides the three Baltic nations, the United States and several other countries have expressed concerns about the sale, the largest such deal between a NATO member and Russia since the end of World War II. NATO has described the concerns of its Baltic members as "real and understandable." Separately, Medvedev reiterated in the interview that Russia is disturbed by NATO's "endless enlargement." Russia has made future NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia a "red line" in its relations with the West. Russia's new military doctrine, published Feb. 5, says one of the "main external threats of war" comes from the alliance's eastward expansion to Russia's borders. "NATO is not seen as the main military threat in the military doctrine," Medvedev said. "The issue is that NATO's endless enlargement, by absorbing countries that were once part of the Soviet Union, or who are our immediate neighbors, is of course creating problems because NATO is after all, a military bloc," he said. Medvedev warned that Russia would not remain indifferent if NATO continued to expand and reconfigure missiles near its borders. "This can't but disturb us," Medvedev said, adding that it did not mean that Russia was returning to the thinking of the Cold War, when NATO was the Soviet Union's biggest foe.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko has withdrawn her appeal against the results of the country's presidential run-off from the country’s Supreme Administrative Court. “We do not see any point in the appeal being considered further. The court is merely making a show of considering our evidence – so we are withdrawing our suit,” Timoshenko said. The Prime Minister herself explained the move saying that she believed the court was biased in its decisions. “They were refusing to study our evidence. This morning at the Supreme Administrative Court, I withdrew my appeal. The whole process was anything but just. So we are waiting for a decision. If the Court continues to consider this suit without us taking part, it will mean that they are determined to make the falsification legal,” she said. Viktor Yanukovich had been declared the winner in the election, but the premier claimed the ballot had been rigged. Contrary to her allegations, international observers found no violations in the voting, deeming the election free and fair.
VI. OCMC - Support Orthodox Missions this Lenten Season
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14). It was just this past October that I traveled into the Turkana region of northern Kenya. Here, under a shade tree with Fr. Zachariah and Fr. Vladimir (Orthodox priests of the Turkana tribe), we prayed with the local people and taught about the hope found in the waters of Baptism. The Turkana who listened attentively to the good news of the Gospel on that day, many of whom endured a fifteen-mile hike that morning just to obtain water for their families, traveled miles to be with us. Among this small group, new in their knowledge of Jesus Christ, it was not difficult to describe the beautiful reality expressed in John 4:13-14, since water is such a precious resource to these people. There are people all over the world who still do not know the hope and joy found in the Gospel. The ministries of the OCMC serve to address both the spiritual and physical needs of others, so that they may come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. As you read this, OCMC ministries are providing this loving witness to our brothers and sisters around the world, including the Turkana of northern Kenya. It is my prayer that we, the Orthodox faithful of North America, continue to come to a deeper understanding of how vital it is to share our faith. To this end, I ask that you prayerfully consider two things. First, please pray for the strength found in the Turkana people, who, even though surrounded by an inescapable struggle for daily survival, now celebrate with us through the Eucharist in Christ’s glorious Resurrection. Second, remember that through the OCMC we partner with the Church in places like Kenya to build the body of Christ and make disciples of all nations. I also invite you to renew your commitment to these ministries today through a financial gift in support of Orthodox missions and OCMC in its work in over 20 countries where a witness to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is being offered. May the knowledge of our growing Orthodox family and the universality of Christ’s message give you strength this Lenten season. Thank you in advance for your gift and for your commitment to international Orthodox missions!
VII. EKKLESIA - Ecumenical Patriarch challenges anti-dialogue 'fanatics'
Indifference in regard to Christian unity is not an option for the disciples of Jesus, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has stated in an encyclical issued on the occasion of the Sunday of Orthodoxy. "It is not possible for the Lord to agonise over the unity of His disciples and for us to remain indifferent about the unity of all Christians," Bartholomew wrote in the encyclical. The Sunday of Orthodoxy is commemorated this year on 21 February 2010. The encyclical refutes "fanatical" challenges brought against theological dialogues among different Orthodox churches and against ecumenical contacts with the wider community of Christians by "certain circles that exclusively claim for themselves the title of zealot and defender of Orthodoxy." "They speak condescendingly of every effort for reconciliation among divided Christians and restoration of their unity as purportedly being 'the pan-heresy of ecumenism' without providing the slightest evidence that, in its contacts with non-Orthodox, the Orthodox Church has abandoned or denied the doctrines of the Ecumenical Councils and of the Church Fathers," Bartholomew criticises. "The truth does not fear dialogue, because truth has never been endangered by dialogue," the encyclical letter states. "When in our day all people strive to resolve their differences through dialogue, Orthodoxy cannot proceed with intolerance and extremism." The Feast of Orthodoxy is celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Originally commemorating the defeat of iconoclasm in the 9th century, the Sunday of Orthodoxy has gradually come to be understood in a more general sense as a feast in honour of the true faith. The full text of the Patriarch's address is here. To read more about the Sunday of Orthodoxy, click here.