Military officials say Operation Iraqi Freedom will transition to Operation New Dawn this fall. In a video teleconference Thursday morning on Fort Hood, Ltd. General Robert Cone discussed the transition which becomes official on September 1. As the new the Iraqi Government begins and Iraqi Security Forces continue to take the lead in providing security, U.S. Forces, including Fort Hood units, continue to transition from combat operations to stability operations. The commanding general discussed the changes, including the impact on Fort Hood units currently deployed and units deploying to Iraq.
II. WSJ - Medvedev Tweets U.S. Visit
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrives today in Washington for talks with President Barack Obama. And we’ll be watching for updates in near-real time on Medvedev’s brand-new Twitter account. That’s right: On a visit Wednesday to the microblogging site’s San Francisco headquarters, the Russian president signed up for his own Twitter account — @KremlinRussia – and began furiously posting tweets. The Kremlin’s top honcho posted pictures of the view from his hotel room, as well as from a visit with Apple founder Steve Jobs. And Medvedev – or his minions – have been kind enough to post English-language translations of the Kremlin tweets. So in the spirit of things, we’ll welcome Russia’s tweeter-in-chief to Washington with a classic bit of Russian Internet slang: Превед!
III. USATODAY - Obama, Medvedev live
Here is the play-by-play from today's short news conference by President Obama and Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. They are expected to take four questions. 2:06 p.m. -- Starting about 20 minutes late, President Obama begins his opening statement. Says that when he came into office, the U.S.-Russian relationship "had drifted" and needed "re-setting." He cites successes: A new arms cut deal, new sanctions on Iran, improved intelligence and counter-terrorism efforts. But he adds that the two nations still disagree on some issues, including the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia. Pledges further economic cooperation with Russia, and says he supports Medvedev's bid to join the World Trade Organization. Also cites Medvedev's visit this week to "Twitters" -- it's really called Twitter -- and jokes that tweets may be a new method of U.S.-Russian communication: "We may finally be able to get rid of those red phones." 2:16 p.m. -- In his opening statement, Medvedev -- speaking with an interpreter -- lauds the cheeseburger lunch he and Obama shared: "It's not quite healthy, but it's very tasty." Emphasizes the economic nature of his trip, including a visit to Silicon Valley in California. Looks forward to more work at this weekend's G-20 summit in Canada, including development of "a new financial order." Also notes that both the U.S. Senate and the Russian Duma must still ratify the new arms cut treaty. Question time. 2:26 p.m. -- Carol Lee of Politico asks Obama if the change of commanders in Afghanistan -- replacing Stanley McChrystal with David Petraeus -- will change his plans to begin withdrawing troops in July of 2011; she also asks Medvedev -- whose nation once lost a war in Afghanistan -- what advice he might give Obama on the war. Obama says he made a change in personnel, not policy. Adds that July of next year will see the start of "a transition phase" in which Afghanistan begins to take control of its military and security forces -- it doesn't mean the U.S. will simply turn off the lights and take off. He notes that Petraeus helped write the plan that included the July 2011 date, and that the pace of troop withdrawal will be evaluated in due course. Obama adds that the "issues" with McChrystal did not stem from policy, but his magazine comments. Medvedev declines the offer to give Obama advice on Afghanistan. "This is hard topic, a difficult one," Medvedev says. 2:35 p.m. -- A Tass reporters notes that the U.S. has been backing Russian membership in the World Trade Organization for a decade -- what's the hold-up? He also asks Medvedev about his recent trip to Silicon Valley. Obama says 99 percent of the WTO technical issues have been resolved, and "this is something we want to get resolved." Notes that WTO members have been concerned about transparency in the Russian trade and financial systems. Adds that he discussed issues of poultry trade with Medvedev, and jokes that it's odd to be talking to the Russian president "about chicken." Medvedev stumps again for WTO membership, and hopes to resolve issues by the end of September. Notes that he and Obama talked about "swine" trade as well as chicken. He then talks about Silicon Valley, and hopes that high-tech firms like Cisco will become "strong partners" of Russia. 2:43 p.m. -- A Reuters reporter cites this weekend's G-20 summit in Canada and asks Obama if he thinks China will follow through on its pledge of currency reform. "The initial signs were positive," Obama replies, "but it's too early to tell." Says Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner will stay on top of the issue. As for the G-20, Obama says "all countries" are going to have to start moving in different directions if they are to revive the global economy together. 2:48 p.m. -- A Russian newspaper reporter asks the presidents about unrest in Kyrgyzstan. Medvedev says Russia still sees the embattled country as a "strategic partner" and hopes that new elections will produce a stable government. Otherwise, there is the risk that Kyrgyzstan will break up into "separate parts." Obama says the U.S. is also monitoring event in Kyrgyzstan and hopes for a "peaceful resolution." End of news conference.
National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau said Thursday that Israel is willing to use force in order to protect the natural gas reserves discovered off its northern shores. During an interview with the Bloomberg news agency the minister responded to Lebanon's claims that some of the Leviathan and Tamar oil sites, estimated to be worth some $40 billion, are within its territorial waters. Earlier this month, Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri claimed that Israel was ignoring the fact that according to the map the reserves are partly within Lebanon's territorial waters. Last week, Lebanese Energy Minister Gebran Basil said that his country will not allow Israel "or any company serving Israeli interests to drill gas that is in our territory." He noted that Beirut has warned the American Noble Energy company, which is involved in the drills, not to come near its territory. It should be noted that a large part of the area containing the gas reserves is within Cyprus's territorial waters. Landau noted that a previous disagreement between Israel and Cyprus regarding the location of their joint naval border had already been settled.Cyprus has also issued its own tender for oil drills and the Israeli-American partnership responsible for the Israeli drills won 30% of the license. It is slated to begin drilling gas in Cyprus within the coming years in exchange for future royalties. No such arrangements, however, can be reached with Lebanon, as Israel does not maintain diplomatic relations with it. Therefore, there is no agreed-upon joint naval border between the two countries. Moreover, Israeli and Lebanese maps of the Mediterranean Sea are not coordinated. For example, Lebanese maps indicate Israel's northern border stretches west of Rosh HaNikra grottoes whereas Israeli maps mark it west of Metula.
V. KATHIMERINI - Papandreou, Gruevski push name talks
Prime Minister George Papandreou and his counterpart from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Nikola Gruevski met for the second time in a week yesterday, as the prospect of the two countries settling the dispute over the latter country’s name appears to be growing stronger. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the summits the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and Southeast European Culture Corridors in Istanbul and both suggested in their public comments that progress is being made. “With Nikola, we have taken an initiative and have made a fresh effort to confront the problem that continues to trouble both countries,” said Papandreou, who has taken an active role in trying to resolve the problem by speaking directly to Gruevski. However, the Greek premier stressed that the United Nations still has a role to play. “The UN mediation process played an important role and we are ready for a solution that can be accepted by the two parties. These negotiations are not secret but rather open and public initiatives for finding a solution within the framework of the UN-led negotiations.” Papandreou and Gruevski met last week in Brussels on the sidelines of the European Council summit amid reports that the two sides are likely agree on the use of the Vardar River, the longest river running through FYROM, as a geographical qualifier in the country’s name. So, rather than Republic of Macedonia, Greece’s neighbor would be known as Republic of Vardar Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia (Vardar). “Athens understands now that Macedonia wants a solution,” said Gruevski. “These meetings are useful and increase the probability that a solution will be found.” FYROM’s prime minister added that the two sides were seeking a solution that would “not hurt Greece, nor Macedonia and its citizens, who will voice their opinion in a referendum.”
VI. B92 - Spain wants Serbia's rapid integration
Spain will continue to advocate Serbia's rapid integration into the EU even after the ICJ announces its opinion on Kosovo. This is according to Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, who made the statement after his meeting on Wednesday in Madrid with Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović. The International Court of Justice is expected to rule in the case of the legality under international law of the Kosovo Albanian unilateral independence proclamation. The Spanish minister told Serbian citizens that Spain was their friend on Serbia's irreversible journey to the EU, a statement from the Serbian Parliament said. Spain is one of the five EU member states that have not recognized the independence of Serbia's southern province and Đukić-Dejanović thanked Moratinos for the principled support to Serbia's efforts toward preserving its territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire territory, within its UN-recognized borders, the news release said. Đukić-Dejanović and Moratinos discussed Serbia's European integration and the parliament speaker stressed the importance of Spain's engagement, as the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia was launched during the Spanish tenure of the EU rotating presidency. The Serbian delegation, which in addition to the parliament speaker also includes Deputy Speaker Judita Popović and head of the parliamentary Group of Friendship with Spain Nikola Lazić, attended a part of the session at which Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero pointed out that significant steps for the Western Balkans' European prospects, particularly in unfreezing the ratification of SAA with Serbia, were made during the Spanish presidency.
VII. PRAVMIR - Teaching Icon Painting to Prisoners
I was sick and you came to visit me, I was in prison and you came to be with me. – Mt 25:36. I worked as a psychiatric nurse for 37 years, the last 24years at the Old Vaasa Hospital, a criminal-psychiatric hospital established by the State of Finland. Here there are 125 patients, including murderers, drug users, alcoholics, and people with multiple problems. The last six years I was a leader icon and art therapy groups. I suggested using icon painting as a form of therapy to the chief professor of the hospital. Once the idea was accepted, I was given a free hand in designing the programs so long as it stayed within the limits of the curing principle of the hospital — “limiting love, guarded freedom, tender violence,” the professor’s motto. After having done all the preparations needed, our initial group of three patients began to work, meeting three or four times monthly, with each session lasting for three hours. We continued together for one year. Participants received many supportive comments from friends and heard much appreciation for their growing skill in painting. Others became interested in joining our group — suddenly the number of the painters increased to seven with more standing in the queue. Though the activity increased, the time and frequency of the sessions stayed the same. Some of the participants painted only one icon, but there were those who painted as many as seven. Many gave their first icon to someone close to them. Some painted in this group for three years. During the work we sometimes discussed religion, but there were no restraints on what we might discuss — anything from world politics to astronomy. However most of the time we were quiet. In general, participants preferred a room where they could enjoy the peace of silence and concentrate on their own thoughts. To an outsider, it would have been a very surprising sight — someone with a history of violence very carefully painting the face of Christ, or a man who had committed serious crimes standing reverently before an image of the Mother of God. Little by little one could notice positive changes among the icon painters: They began to dress better, to pay more attention to the other people; they became more open to each other within the group; they started to encourage each other. Someone new to the group would be consoled by such words as, “It was hard for all of us in the beginning.” When a new icon was finished, we admired it together. Many were surprised and even embarrassed with what they had achieved: “Was I really able to paint this?” The painters were happy to take their icons into their living quarters to show to the other patients and staff. Some began to participate more actively the religious services arranged by the priest of the hospital. Many became more interested in religious questions. Every summer we made a real pilgrimage to the Monastery of New Valamo in Heinvesi. Afterward, these journeys were discussed often and at great length. Every December there was a feast arranged in the hospital, with the priest of the Orthodox parish coming to bless icons painted during the year. He and the chaplain of the hospital gave untiring support to my work. Our group also visited icon exhibitions and finally we organized an exhibition of our own icons and art. So many different things and events have happened in these six years — many joyful days, but also sorrow was often present. However the most distinctive feeling was gratitude to be able to do this work. I often remember the words of Mother Theresa: “When everything is well, joy lights up the face.” Though I am now retired, the icon painting therapy project continues. During the two years before my departure, I was able to prepare a successor. She had been painting with our group and now is the leader. Sometimes I visit my painting group, as the members wished when I retired. Anneli Ojanpera lives in Vhkyr, Finland. The translation of her report is by the iconographer Alexander Wikstrom, who teaches at the New Valamo Lay Academy.