I. RIANOVOSTI - ICJ to start considering Georgia's lawsuit against Russia
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the main judicial body of the United Nations, will hold public hearings in Georgia's lawsuit against Russia. Georgia attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control on August 8, 2008. Russia repelled Georgia's attack in a five-day war with the South Caucasus country, and then recognized South Ossetia and another former Georgian republic of Abkhazia as independent states. Since then, Russia has deployed thousands of troops and border guards to the two regions, which Georgia considers part of its sovereign territory. On August 12, 2008, Georgia filed its lawsuit with the ICJ, accusing Russia of discriminating against the Georgian population since 1990. The public hearings of the case, concerning the Application of the 1965 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, will be held on September 13-17. The Russian Foreign Ministry told RIA Novosti that the Georgian lawsuit aims to distract the public's attention from Georgia's own gross violation of international law that occurred when it started the war against South Ossetia in 2008. Nicaragua, Venezuela and the tiny island nation of Nauru are the only other countries besides Russia to have recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
II. EPOCHTIMES - Mysterious Man in Failed Copenhagen Attack
The identity of the suspect arrested shortly after the failed Copenhagen attack last Friday is still unknown, and any information about his identity or whereabouts are very welcomed, said the Danish National Police Sunday morning. According to police, the suspect is 25-35, about 5'11", athletic looking and has a “central to southern European appearance." He speaks fluent English and French with a German accent. He has a scar on the right of his face and his nose appears to have been broken several times. The Belgium police have been alerted to the case because the suspect also has a false Belgium passport and had bought a bus ticket to Brussels. Meanwhile, the local media speculate that the planned attack may have been targeting the office of Danish daily Jyllands-Posten that published the controversial caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed in 2005, which outraged Muslims around the world. However, the managing director of the daily, Lars Munch and the Danish police denied knowledge of any specific threats to Jullands-Posten.
III. IRISHTIMES - EU leaders to urge closer links with Nato at summit
European leaders are taking steps to develop deeper ties between the EU and Nato as the union seeks to boost its influence in global affairs. At a summit next Thursday, the leaders of the 27 member states will ask EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to explore ways of strengthening the union’s links with the military alliance. The move is politically sensitive for Taoiseach Brian Cowen, given Ireland’s policy of neutrality and claims by opponents of the Lisbon Treaty that the Lisbon reforms would deepen “militarisation” in the EU. It comes as the US and Nato push to intensify Europe’s security co-operation with the alliance and as the EU tries to give new momentum to its external relations. The summit was specifically convened to discuss the EU’s strategic relations, although the leaders will also debate the economic crisis. They are expected to hand down a six-week deadline to European Council president Herman Van Rompuy to resolve significant differences between member states on new measures to fortify the union’s system of economic governance. The draft conclusions, seen by The Irish Times , present closer relations with Nato as a way of exploiting Europe’s bonds with Washington more fully. They say the EU-US partnership should concentrate on economic links as well as “working more closely on major international issues”. They also say the EU and US should confront global challenges in a concerted manner. “In this connection, the high representative is invited to develop ideas on how EU-Nato co-operation in crisis management could be further strengthened.” The request comes amid debate within the EU on its military role and separate discussions on a new strategic policy for Nato, whose military campaign in Afghanistan will soon enter its 10th year. In a speech last Friday in Madrid, Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen called for increased “mutual support” between the EU and the alliance as part of a comprehensive approach to security. He spoke of “talking together, planning together and acting together” whenever that made sense. “The days when Nato and the European Union eyed each other a bit warily are behind us,” he said. “Nato has its strengths. So do the EU and the UN, and for that matter non-governmental organisations as well. We need to do our utmost to ensure that those strengths are mutually reinforcing.” Such remarks echo a push for closer EU-Nato co-operation from Washington, where diplomats believe the Lisbon Treaty provides a platform for deeper ties. In Paris last January, secretary of state Hillary Clinton said the complexity of today’s world was such that the development of common policies would serve both Nato and the EU. “They are no longer separated. It’s hard to say that security is only about what it was when Nato was formed and the EU has no role to play in security issues,” she told the French military academy. Cyprus is also understood to have significant worries over closer EU- Nato ties, given unresolved questions over the refusal of Nato member Turkey to recognise its government. Finland, which like Ireland is neutral, is also said to have concerns.
IV. AP - EU tells Turkey to implement reforms
The European Union has urged Turkey to implement reforms and to draft a new constitution that would usher in more freedoms after Turks approved sweeping changes to the constitution. About 58 percent voted in favor of government-proposed amendments to the constitution crafted after a 1980 military coup in a referendum Sunday. EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said Monday the changes address "long-standing priorities" for Turkey's membership. He says Turkey needs to enact laws to implement the reforms as well as a new constitution that would bring its democracy more in line with European standards.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano on Monday warned that he cannot confirm that all of Iran's nuclear activities are peaceful because Teheran is not fully cooperating with his inspectors. Amano also chided Iran for barring some of those inspectors and for stonewalling his agency's attempt to probe allegations that Teheran is interested in developing atomic arms. Amano spoke at the start of a 35-nation board meeting of the IAEA. Iran insists that its nuclear activities are meant only to generate energy but is under UN sanctions for refusing to stop uranium enrichment, which can be used both to make fuel and fissile nuclear warhead material. Last week, the IAEA released a report expressing concern over Iran's increased uranium stockpile and the Islamic Republic's refusal to fully cooperate with UN inspectors. Iran recently decided to strip two experienced inspectors of the right to monitor Teheran's nuclear activities after they reported undeclared nuclear experiments conducted by the Islamic Republic. Iran said the reporting by the two was inaccurate but the IAEA stands by their findings. Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi responded to the IAEA report, stating that Teheran has the right to bar some UN inspectors from monitoring its disputed nuclear program.
On the second weekend of September 2010, Orthodox Christian faithful across North America and beyond offered special prayers in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In New York, His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, celebrated a Memorial Service at the site of the former World Trade Center. Representing His Grace, Bishop Michael of the OCA Diocese of New York and New Jersey at the service was Igumen Christopher [Calin], dean of Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral on New York's lower east side. In his comments after the Memorial Service, Archbishop Demetrios emphasized that this is a day on which we remember the innocent victims who died, and that we should not allow the significance of the day to be overshadowed by any other issues or interests. He read from the Wisdom of Solomon, 3: 1-7. Also present at the service were His Grace, Bishop Savvas; Father John Romas, pastor of Saint Nicholas Church, which was destroyed when World Trade Center Tower Two collapsed [see related story here]; five priests of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, and numerous laypersons, some of whom had lost family members in the attack. Members of the police and fire departments, as well as representatives from the embassies of Greece and Cyprus, also were in attendance. In Moscow, the annual Memorial for the Innocent Victims of Terrorism was celebrated at the OCA's Representation Church of the Great Martyr Catherine. Archimandrite Zacchaeus invited His Excellency, Mr. John Beyrle, Ambassador of the USA to the Russian Federation, to address the gathering at the conclusion of the service. Also invited to address the faithful was Alexander P. Torshin, First Deputy of the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, and Senator Sergei E. Sheblygin, President of the Saint Andrew the First Called Foundation and the Center for the National Glory of Russia, who attended in the absence of Vladimir I. Yakunin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who annually attends the service. Following the service, Archimandrite Zacchaeus led everyone in ringing the bell that hangs in the memorial bell tower erected in honor of the 9/11 terrorism victims. A photo gallery of the service may be foundhere, while a video is posted on youtube.
The liturgical color today is red. It is red not because we are celebrating a memorial of a martyr, but because we celebrate today the glorious and saving sacrifice of Jesus on the cross on Good Friday. In the fourth century, Queen Helena, the mother of Constantine, emperor of Rome, proceeded to Jerusalem in search of the holy places in the life of Jesus Christ. She ordered the destruction of the Temple of Aphrodite, which, according to ancient tradition, was built over the tomb of Jesus Christ, and her son built the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher over the tomb. During the excavation, the laborers found three crosses. According to a legend, the true cross of Jesus was identified when a dying woman was healed when the cross was touched to her body. The basilica was dedicated nine years later, with a portion of the cross enshrined inside it. The discovery of the cross happened on September 14, 326. Today’s liturgy focuses on God’s love for humanity. The Gospel reminds us of the astounding reality that ours is a God who truly loves His people. God loves us so much that He sent His beloved Son to redeem us and to bring us the good news of salvation. Out of obedience to the will of the Father, Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of love to all even unto death. Before Jesus’ death, the cross was a symbol of punishment and persecution. But with Christ’s suffering and sacrifice on the cross, it became a life-giving symbol for all Christians. We exhalt the cross as a symbol of our freedom from sin and death. Our adoration of the cross is an adoration of Jesus Christ who suffered for us. Because of this, the cross has become the most potent and universal symbol for Christianity. As we celebrate today’s feast, let us recall the words of Jesus, “He who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake shall find it.” (Mt 10:38,39) If we take up our own crosses, we unite ourselves more closely to Christ who offered His very self for our salvation. May we who take up our crosses likewise be exalted one day in the glory of eternal life with God.