I. JPOST - Israel: "We face international hypocrisy"
“Israel won’t apologize for defending itself,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Wednesday night, as he urged the international community to stop condemning the IDF for its Monday raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla. He spoke both in Hebrew and then in English at a special press conference in his office, called to address the wave of harsh international criticism against the raid, in which nine people were killed. “Once again Israel faces hypocrisy and a biased rush to judgment,” Netanyahu said. In his conversations with international world leaders, Netanyahu said, he had asked them a basic question. “What would you do? How would your soldiers behave in similar circumstances? In your heart, you all know the truth,” said Netanyahu. “This might sound like an impossible plea, request or demand,” he continued, adding, “Israel should not be held to a double standard. The Jewish state has a right to defend itself like any other state.” If ships were allowed to sail to Gaza without inspection as flotilla organizers have demanded, nothing could stop Iran from sending high-level weapons to Hamas in Gaza, said Netanyahu. Already, he said, Hamas has missiles that can hit major Israeli cities such as Ashkelon, Beersheba and even Tel Aviv. Very soon, their missiles will also be able to reach the outskirts of Jerusalem. “Israel can not permit Iran to develop a Mediterranean port a few dozen kilometers from Tel Aviv,” said Netanyahu. He added that missiles could also be launched from there toward Europe. “The same countries that are criticizing us today should know that they will be targeted tomorrow,” he said. Under international law, Israel had every right to intercept the ship, he said. When it did so, he added, those on board viciously attacked the soldiers with knives and rods and in some cases they fired guns. On the tape it is possible to hear them chanting “battle cries against the Jews,” said the prime minister. He said he regretted the loss of life, but that the soldiers had had a right to defend themselves and their country. “This was not a love boat, this was a hate boat. These were not peace activists, there were supporters of terrorism,” he said. Videotapes of the raid reflect these details, but for “many in the international community, no evidence is needed. Israel is guilty until it is proven guilty. Israel is told it has a right to defend itself, but it is condemned every time it exercises that right,” said Netanyahu.
II. CFP - An Open Letter To Turkey
Dear Former Friends, Ever since you decided to trade in the Secularism of Ataturk for the Islamism of Erdogan, you also seem to have dispensed with the ability to coexist with non-Muslims on a peaceful basis. These days all we ever seem to get from you, is video clips of your leader, Prime Minister Erdogan, barking at us like a dog that its owner carelessly let off the leash. And if you don’t know that Erdogan’s owner lives in Riyadh, then you don’t know very much of what goes on in your own country. But your affairs are your own affairs. And our affairs are our affairs. If you want to let a fanatic in a cheap suit destroy Turkish nationalism in the name of Islam, that’s your business. But when he gets into business with terrorist organizations who attack and murder our soldiers, then it’s our business. And when a country that persecutes its Kurdish, Assyrian and Armenian citizens, and sends their elected representatives to jail—presumes to self-righteously lecture us on how to manage our affairs, it had better remember that holding a stone throwing contest in a glass house will just lead to piles of broken glass. You say you want an international investigation into the flotilla raid? Sure. Right after we have an international investigation into that minor matter of Armenian genocide that you’ve been ducking for quite a while. As the new “standard bearer” in fighting for human rights, I’m sure you will agree that it’s only fair that Turkey should undergo the same scrutiny it demands for other countries. And then we can move on to the more than 10,000 political prisoners in your jails. A number that at times has topped 100,000. An independent investigation could also begin by looking into the torture and murder of political activists such as Engin Ceber. They could meet with representatives of TAYAD, the organization representing the families of prisoners. And they would no doubt be fascinated by the more than 1500 children in your prisoners who are there on “terrorism” charges. Like that 12 year old you arrested in 2008 for singing a Kurdish folk song. So by all means wrap yourselves in the banner of “Human Rights” and we’ll turn it into a noose and strangle you with it. In Israel, Arabs are a legally recognized minority. Arabic is taught in schools and used as a legally recognized language. Meanwhile Kurdish identity is all but banned in Turkey. Kurdish names, folk songs and even the Kurdish language itself has been repressed. Your regime has actually prosecuted and removed officials for simply incorporating a Kurdish phrase into a greeting. You screech self-righteously about the “Palestinian children”—perhaps we should talk about the hundreds of Kurdish children arrested for throwing stones at protests. Arrested and charged with terrorism. Just more of the thousands of political prisoners of oppressed minorities in your prisons. But let us get back to your precious Islamist flotilla, decorated with Turkish flags that used to be more than just red versions of the Saudi flag. That ship you filled up with Muslim Brotherhood members and Islamist radicals bound for our shores. Over in your wonderful nation of boundless freedom, reporters have been put on trial for even interviewing leaders of terrorist groups. You sentenced the head of a Kurdish party to six months in prison for calling the head of the PKK, Mr. Ocalan, instead of just Ocalan. He joins the more than 800 Kurdish politicians you imprisoned in the last year alone. And after all that you actually have the nerve to pretend to be “outraged” when Israel intercepts your flotilla full of political terrorists? But of course we know how strongly you feel about blockades. Like the time you blockaded Armenia for Sixteen Years. Very well then. If you insist on sending vessels flying the Turkish flag to aid Hamas, perhaps we’ll begin sending vessels flying the Israeli flag to aid the PKK. We’re not big fans of the PKK, but since you’ve decided to friend Hamas, then what’s good for the turkey, just might be good for the gander. We can also fill a flotilla full of senile troublemakers, phony survivors and leftist radicals—along with a few hundred well armed “activists” who know how to use a knife. Or perhaps we won’t bother with any of that. Instead for every boat flying the Turkish flag that invades our territory, we’ll donate a million to the PKK. I wonder how many rocket launchers that would buy. Perhaps the next time, your air force sweeps in to bomb Kurds out of their homes, they might get a surprise or two. And then there’s the Republic of Cyprus, which has actually been helping us stop weapons smuggling. They might benefit from significantly upgraded air defenses. While the US insists on equalizing weapons sales to Turkey and Greece, we just might have something tastier to offer to one side. And the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus might actually be able to sleep soundly in their beds, instead of being intimidated by savages showing off their F-16’s over their heads. The Cyprus National Guard likes our drones, just like you do. But what if they had a much better equalizer at their disposal? Being a small non-Muslim nation surrounded by much larger Muslim countries, we do have a certain fondness for the infidel underdog. Oh I know, what you’re going to say. This means war. But you might want to consider that we’ve fought and beaten enemies many times our size. And what exactly was the last war you won single-handedly? And no, bombing starving Kurdish rebels from the air, or occupying Cyprus doesn’t count. And how long could you fight that war, before a domestic Kurdish insurgency overthrows your little empire. If that doesn’t happen, you might want to think about the big Russian bear at your back. The bear has been eyeing you for a long time now. And with your military engaged in a disastrous war for the Great Caliphate, your borders would be temptingly open. And who exactly would bail you out then?... Sincerely Yours, A Descendant of a Subject of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey is supporting Macedonia on the road to NATO and the EU, as well as in its name dispute with Greece. This is according to Turkish Ambassador to Skopje Arslan Hakan Okcal, who pointed out in his farewell speech at the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee that Ankara “believes in Macedonia’s role in the Balkans and Europe”. The ambassador also stressed that Turkey supported Skopje in the dispute with Athens regarding the former Yugoslav republic's constitutional name, the Republic of Macedonia. In April 2008, Greece blocked Macedonia’s accession into NATO until the dispute over its name has been resolved. Macedonia is also an EU candidate, but accession negotiations still have not begun due to the dispute. Greece claims that the name Macedonia refers to the ancient northern Greek province. The UN has been unsuccessfully mediating in the dispute that has been ongoing for almost two decades. In the early 1990's, Skopje became a UN member under the temporary name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
IV. REUTERS - Cyprus peace talks postponed over statement fracas
Peace talks between the leaders of ethnically split Cyprus were postponed on Thursday because of a dispute over comments by the Turkish Cypriot leader about the basis of negotiations. The postponement, sought by Cypriot [President] Demetris Christofias, was the first hiccup in talks since the election of Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, in April. Eroglu had questioned the basis of the U.N.-assisted process in public comments, Christofias said. "I thought today may produce a deadlock and a possible crisis so considered it best to avoid a meeting," Christofias, told reporters. Peace talks on the island resumed on May 26 after a two month hiatus for Turkish Cypriot elections. Thursday was to have been the second meeting between the two leaders. Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974. The talks are focused on re-linking the two disparate sides as a loose federation, but there are differences between the sides on how close that merger should be. Greek Cypriot treat Eroglu with suspicion because he advocates greater independence for Turkish Cypriots in any deal. roglu's remark which triggered dispute was stating he was not bound by an appeal made by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week, which called for talks on the basis of "U.N. parameters, Security Council resolutions" and two joint statements issued in the past.
V. EUROPENEWS - Turkey: update on trial of murderers of Christians
The trial continues of the five men charged with the murder of three Christians, Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske, at the Zirve Christian publishing house in Malatya, Eastern Turkey, in April 2007. The five men, aged 19 and 20 at the time, were arrested at the scene and have been held in custody ever since. Their trial opened in November 2007. The most recent hearing took place on 14th May. There were few significant developments. The witness summoned to appear at the previous hearing did attend and testify, leading to a heated exchange between the witness and one of the defendants. The judge instructed the latter to be quiet or be removed from the court room. Second, the judges formally requested that the file on a plot referred to as the Cage Plan be made available to the court. Cage Plan is itself understood to be part of Ergenekon, an operation to destabilize and overthrow the government led by a cabal of retired generals, politicians and other prominent figures. Recall that the Cage Plan allegedly involved 41 serving and former navy officers organising a series of assassinations of members of religious minorities. The aim was to diminish support for the government by showing its inability to protect minority groups. Cage Plan materials include references to the Malatya case and the murder of two other Christians in 2006 and 2007. In a previous hearing the judges rejected a prosecution request to link the Malatya and Ergenekon trials. The next hearing was scheduled for 25th June.
VI. IRISHTIMES - Catholic bishop killed in Turkey
A Catholic bishop who was a leading figure in Christian communities in the Middle East was stabbed to death in his home in southern Turkey today and police arrested his driver in connection with the case. The murder of Luigi Padovese, who served as apostolic vicar in the town of Iskenderun, near the Biblical town of Antioch, raises concerns about the safety of minorities in predominantly Muslim Turkey, where Christians have been targeted previously. Church officials in Rome expressed worry over the killing. "I can only express shock, worry and solidarity with the local Catholic community over this," Father Federico Lombardi, the chief Vatican spokesman, told reporters in Rome. Fr Lombardi said Pope Benedict would speak out about violence against minority Christian communities in the Middle East during his trip to Cyprus, which begins tomorrow. Bishop Padovese's murder comes four years after a Catholic priest, Andrea Santoro, was murdered in the Turkish Black Sea town of Trabzon by a teenager with suspected links to ultra-nationalists. In 2007, three members of a Bible publishing company, one of whom was a German citizen, were tortured and killed in the central Turkish town of Malatya. About 100 Roman Catholic adherents live in Hatay. The region is home to 2,000 Greek Orthodox Christians and about a few dozen Jews. Many of the Muslim inhabitants adhere to the Alevi tradition, which is considered a more liberal strain of Islam. "We are in a state of sadness and shock. This is something you would never expect in Hatay. It is a safe place," said Fadi Hurigil, head of the Greek Orthodox Church Foundation of Antakya, the Turkish name for Antioch, by telephone. The Orthodox and Catholics of Hatay were planning a joint mass this month that they were now likely to cancel, he said.
VII. SPERONEWS - The Pope in Cyprus: step forward in ecumenical dialogue and the search for peace in the Middle East
Tomorrow the first visit to Cyprus of a pontiff begins, at the invitation of the Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos and President Christofias. The director of the Vatican Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, in an interview with Aris Viketos, published today the most important newspaper in Cyprus, Filelefteros, has termed it a visit of great importance with many meanings. Above all it is the first visit of Benedict XVI to a majority Christian Orthodox country. Cyprus is not only a crossroads, said Father Lombardi, a bridge between Europe and the Middle East, but was also a very important land in the life of the early Christian community (referring to St. Barnabas and St. Paul) and for centuries has been linked to the Holy Land, so beloved by Christians. The meeting with the Orthodox Church of Cyprus is essential. The trip will be characterized by signs of fraternal friendship in the common commitment to seek full unity among all Christians, as both churches are committed to ecumenical dialogue. Dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox began again, after years of deadlock, in Ravenna in 2007 and on this very island in the autumn of 2009. The encounters were chaired by Cardinal Walter Kasper and Metropolitan Ioannis Zizioulas of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Of course, Father Lombardi stresses, the choice of Cyprus to present the preparatory document of the Synod of Bishops of the Middle East is a clear sign that the Pope considers Cyprus a privileged meeting point for Christians of the region and certainly wants to speak not only to Catholics but to all inhabitants of the region including those of other religions, Muslims and Jews, as part of the Catholic Churches commitment to human and spiritual development and a dialogue that builds peace. On the same wavelength an interview given yesterday by the Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos (pictured: his meeting with the Pope in Rome in 2007), to Aris Viketos, who described the visit as one of great importance for the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, as it will strengthen ties between the two Churches and consequently dialogue. All Orthodox Churches, continued Chrysostomos recognizes the Church of Rome as a sister Church and thus its leader, the pope. "The will of God consists in loving your enemy, and more so your brothers." The archbishop went on to say that he would ask the Pope's support for a just solution in Cyprus, and also speak of Christian monuments destroyed in the northern part of the 'Island, still occupied by 30 thousand soldiers of the' Turkish army, "accompanied" by 70 thousand settlers, who have altered the demographic composition of the area. In this regard, Chrysostomos said he was not very optimistic about the willingness of Ankara, given that Turkey has always ignored the pressures of Presidents of the USA to reopen the Theological School of Chalki. Regarding the political situation created on the island, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974, Father Lombardi added that Benedict XVI’s message is above all one of peace and prosperity for the people of Cyprus, and the desire for a definitive peaceful solution to the painful situation that exists today, excluding a papal visit to the northern part of the island.