Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Saturday met with his Serbian counterpart Dragan Sutanovac during a working lunch at the Thessaloniki Officers' Club. The two ministers discussed bilateral cooperation, in the wake of similar contacts previously on the occasion of a visit to Greece by the president of Serbia. Venizelos noted that Greece facilitate Serbia's accession to Euro-Atlantic institutions, while reiterated Athens' support for Serbia's European and Euro-Atlantic prospects, along with all other western Balkan countries. In reference to Kosovo, Venizelos stressed that Greece is present in Kosovo because it wants to contribute to regional stability. "We hope that a solution, within the framework of international law, will be reached that will be acceptable to all, and certainly acceptable by Serbia, which has a well-known historical interest for this region." On his part, Sutanovac praised Athens' clear-cut position, which he called a position of principle on the most important issue for Serbia in the current period. "We are experiencing and will continue to experience a difficult period," he said. The Serbian DM nevertheless said he believes that with the contribution of all parties, including Greece, peace and stability can be achieved not only in Kosovo and Serbia but throughout the region.
Cyprus's cultural heritage has been heavily pillaged - despite international agreements concerning its protection - as a result of the Turkish invasion of 1974, President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has stressed.President Christofias was addressing the Annual Ranieri Colloquium on Ancient Studies "Archaeologies of Yeronisos off Cyprus: The island beyond the island," in New York on Saturday, organised in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the twentieth anniversary of the New York University Yeronisos Island Excavations.The President noted that, "a country's history and cultural heritage is without doubt one of the most important factors that shape its relations with the outside world, but also its internal development." "Cultural events such as this colloquium and also the upcoming exhibition at the Natural History Museum of the Smithsonian Institution entitled "Cyprus: Crossroads of Civilisations" demonstrate the importance of cultural exchanges and the sharing of knowledge," he added.He further said that "the Republic of Cyprus may be celebrating its 50th birthday, but the island's heritage dates back to at least ten thousand years," noting that "the protection and the study of this heritage is of utmost importance to the government of Cyprus." It is enough to mention, he added, "that Cyprus currently hosts more than thirty foreign archaeological missions that are active on the island, the largest percentage of which comes from institutions of the United States of America."
A German court has ordered the repatriation of priceless Cypriot treasures, stolen from Cyprus’ northern Turkish occupied part of the country. A press release, issued by the Law Office of the Republic of Cyprus, says that in 2004 the Republic of Cyprus, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Church of the Maronites and the Church of the Armenians filed a civil law suit before Munich District Court to retrieve stolen antiquities, which had been in the custody for the Bavarian authorities since 1997. The said antiquities were located in 1997 by the Bavarian police, hidden in between walls and under the floor of two flats which belong to a Turkish national, Aydin Dickmen, in Munich. Part of the findings include religious icons, part of mosaics and pieces of Byzantine frescoes of priceless historic, cultural and religious value. Since these were located, the government and the Church of Cyprus had made several moves to have these artifacts repatriated. The moves did not yield any results and it was decided to file a civil law suit before the German courts. On Thursday, 23 September, Munich District Court issued its decision on the law suit against Dickmen which vindicated fully the Church of Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus. “The Court ruling puts an end to a difficult and hard legal battle, which lasted six years, by ordering the return of our cultural heritage treasures,” the press release said. It added that the Court ruling is subject to appeal.
IV. FOXNEWS - Hugo Chavez Wins, Opposition Gains
Eight hours after the polls closed, the national electoral board overseeing Sunday's congressional elections announced that Hugo Chavez's Socialist Party of Venezuela, or the PSUV, had held on to their majority in the Venezuelan Congress, called La Asamblea Nacional. Many races needed the extra time because they were too close to call, the head of the board said on national TV early Monday morning. Chavez's PSUV candidates won at at least 9o seats out of the 165 seats, while the anti-Chavez opposition coalition, MUD, won at least 60 congressional seats, which breaks the socialists super majority in the legislative body . Despite remaining in the minority, opposition leaders on Monday called it a significant political advancement that could open the door for future gains against Chavez and his party, including the 2012 Venezuelan presidential election. At a press conference immediately following the results, the opposition said that they had won the majority of the popular vote Sunday with 52%, but did not win the majority of seats because of obstacles implemented by the Chavez government before the election, including gerrymandered districts, and changing the law to disproportionately count rural votes over others. Chavez remains popular in rural areas of Venezuela, while the opposition's electoral strength mainly lies in the larger cities of the South American country. Opposition political parties boycotted the 2005 congressional election after they criticized what they described as unconstitutional interference by the Chavez government. In the 5 years since, the opposition watched helplessly as the Chavista congress dramatically changed national laws, appointed Supreme Court justices, and electoral board members with ease. 67 % of the nearly 18 million registered voters took part in Sunday's elections, according to the Venezuelan electoral board.
V. YNET - Soros funds J-Street
After months of denial, leaders of the pro-Israel organization J-Street have been compelled to admit their activities are partly funded by Jewish billionaire George Soros who, in his own words, refuses to be part of activities in support of Israel. The pro-peace organization was founded in 2008 as a counterweight to the rightward-leaning AIPAC (America Israel Public Affairs Committee) lobby. At the time, there were rumors that the group was supported by Soros, a Holocaust survivor originally from Hungary, but J-Street denied this stridently – and for good reason. Soros has been strongly critical of the US and Israel. In Jewish circles in America he is considered a controversial figure, especially since his interview with the New Yorker 15 years ago, in which he stated he did not want to be part of any activity in support of Israel, even if he did not deny Jews' right to have their own state. Keeping his connections with J-Street a secret worked in his interest, because J-Street has repeatedly declared itself to be pro-Israel and pro-peace. On its website the organization denies that Soros is its main funder, stating that Soros did not found J-Street and that he has publicly stated his wish to avoid being involved as such involvement may work against the organization. However, on Friday the Washington Times revealed that Soros and his children donated $245,000 when J-Street was founded, and later contributed a further half million dollars. This report plus others that appeared in its wake compelled J-Street's President Jeremy Ben-Ami to confirm that Soros was among those funding the organization. He also clarified that Soros does not stand behind J-Street. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency quoted Soros' spokesman who said Soros had never made a secret of his contributions to J-Street. Soros believes J-Street contributes significantly to the political debate about the Middle East in the US, the spokesman said, adding that Soros supports the organization financially but has no say in its policies and is not involved in its day-to-day management.
VI. XINHUANET - Iran to sue Russia for not delivering S-300
The Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi said Sunday that the country would sue Russia for the S- 300 missile deal if Russia fails to deliver the system to Iran, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported. "The issue can be sued if Russia does not provide Iran with missile system and in such a case compensation should be paid to Iran," Chief of Iran's Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission told reporters. "We hope Russia abide by its commitments," Boroujerdi was quoted as saying. Russia has scrapped plans to deliver S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran as they fall under the U.N. sanctions, Russian Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov said Wednesday. The S-300 is an advanced mobile missile system which can shoot down aircraft and cruise missiles from up to 150 km away. Iran inked a deal with Russia to purchase the S-300 weaponry systems in 2007, however Russia delayed the missiles' delivery. The United States and Israel have strongly opposed the sale of the missile to Iran.
VII. PRAVMIR - By This Sign Conquer
It is said that the Emperor Constantine, as he was preparing his troops for the battle that would make him the ruler of the western part of the Roman Empire, had a vision of a Cross of brilliant light superimposed upon the sun; and he heard a voice say to him, “By this sign you will conquer.” He ordered his men to put the sign of the Cross on their shields; and he was, indeed, victorious in battle that day. The Emperor, a pagan at that time, later issued the Edict of Milan, which ended the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire; and he would also summon the Council of Nicaea in the year 325 to put to an end the dissension in the Church aroused by the heretical teachings of Arius. He became a Christian as his death drew near; and the Church recognizes him as St. Constantine the Great. When the Empress Helena, Constantine’s mother, went to Jerusalem to find the Cross of our Lord, it was discovered that the site of our Lord’s Crucifixion had been covered by a temple to the Goddess Diana. Excavating the site, three crosses were found. How would it be possible to determine the True Cross? The Patriarch Macarius was able to discern a way. As a funeral procession passed by, he directed that the person being taken to be buried be placed on each cross. With the first two, there was no effect; but, when the corpse was placed on the Cross of our Lord, life was immediately restored to that person. After that, a woman who was ill was placed on the Cross, and she was healed. In this way, the True Cross was revealed, and was venerated by all as the precious and holy life-giving Cross. We may not ever see a vision. We may never hear a voice tell us anything. But we must know this: By this sign, the sign of the Cross, we are able to conquer in every battle that we face. The sign of the Cross wounds the demons, and drives them far from us; and so, when we are tempted, we have as part of our defensive arsenal the sign of the Cross. When we are afraid, we make the sign of the Cross, remembering that we do not achieve anything by our own strength, but only by the strength of Him Who dwells in us. When we have sinned, we make the sign of the Cross, remembering Him Who died on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins, and so we can be helped to repent and confess. By this, by confessing and repenting, and by using the power of the sign of the Cross in our own lives, we too conquer death; we, too, are raised from death to life by the power of the holy and life-giving Cross. Brothers and sisters: As we keep this solemn feast day, let us give thanks that our Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for us on the Cross; and let us give thanks that, in the sign of the Cross, we have a weapon to use against the demons, against our weakness, and against our sins, that we might have life, and have it in abundance.