I. YNET - A Greek love affair
The relationship between Israel and Greece at this time can be described as a love affair. After a long period of cool relations, accompanied by harsh criticism of Israel, a new era has begun under the leadership of Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou. The reason for the rapprochement, and for the warm Israeli ties with Cyprus as well, has to do with the grave crisis in Israel-Turkey ties – with Ankara being a longtime rival of the two island states. The love affair pertains to almost every aspect. Israeli tourists who abandoned Turkish resorts discovered Greece and saved the locals from the damages of the grave economic crisis. Meanwhile, Israeli and Greek gunships engaged in a joint maneuver last week, possibly as a hint to Turkish PM Erdogan, who put an end to such Israeli-Turkish cooperation. On another front, talks are underway on a future gas pipelines from Israel to Europe that would pass through Greece. In recent weeks, Greek media outlets have reported at length about the dramatic improvement in ties between the two countries. A Greek military source said that Israel is mostly interested in aviation cooperation, while the Greeks expected to receive defense technologies and embark on joint projects to develop defense systems.Ties between the two nations were never cold and have been conflict-free, despite their long history.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he won't attend a climate change conference in Greece later this week if his Israeli counterpart is there. Erdogan -- who made the remark Monday to Skai TV -- is angry with Israel over its policy toward the Palestinian territory of Gaza and the deadly commando raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship in May. "A prime minister who is proud of such an armed intervention is a prime minister with whom I do not agree to talk," Erdogan told the television station, referring to Benjamin Netanyahu. "On this issue, I think that Israel is close to the point of losing a very important friend in the Middle East and that is Turkey," he said. "I think that they must pay for this audacity that characterizes the policy of this government." Israel and Turkey had been strategic allies, with the countries' militaries cooperating closely. The rift with Turkey began with Israel's 2009 assault on Gaza, which Israel said was necessary to stop rocket attacks from that region.Erdogan angrily stormed out of a public appearance he had with Israeli President Shimon Peres at the Davos Economic Forum, accusing Israel of war crimes. Turkey also refused to participate in planned joint military exercises with Israel and the United States. A warming of relations between Israel and Greece has intensified amid Israel's deteriorating relations with Turkey, Greece's historical rival.
Secretary of Defence Robert Gates is denying Turkish press reports that the United States is pressuring Turkey to allow NATO missile defence facilities on its soil. Gates was addressing a conference on Turkish-American Relations Monday. He said that building a missile defence system that would protect all NATO allies was a top priority for the alliance. He added that he hoped that all members would contribute to the system. He said: "We are not pressuring Turkey to make a contribution." Turkish officials have said they are talking to U.S. and NATO officials about how to contribute to the system. But Turkey has expressed concerns that the system not be aimed at Iran, an important neighbour.
IV. CBC - Russia to join NATO summit in Lisbon
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has accepted an invitation to attend a meeting with NATO leaders in Portugal in November. Medvedev said at a summit with the leaders of France and Germany on Tuesday that he will go to the NATO-Russian Council summit in Lisbon on Nov. 20. Anders Fogh Rasumussen, the NATO secretary general, said he was pleased Russia accepted his invitation, calling the summit "an important opportunity to deepen and broaden the political dialogue and practical co-operation between the NATO-Russia Council members [and] to enhance our shared security." German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was pleased at Medvedev's "basic willingness to participate." Leaders of NATO countries, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama, are expected to attend the summit. Russia is not among the 28 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization but is considered an important ally on security issues.
V. PEOPLEDAILY - China, Cyprus vow to enhance bilateral ties
China and Cyrus's foreign ministers met Tuesday and vowed to promote bilateral mutual beneficial relations. During their talk, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said China attached great importance to China-Cyprus relations and was ready to join with Cyprus to enhance bilateral ties amid the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Yang said China appreciated Cyprus' efforts to strengthen Sino-EU relations and valued the EU's role in international affairs. China hoped to make joint efforts with Cyprus to put forward the comprehensive and strategic partnership in line with the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, Yang added. Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Kyprianou said Cyprus highly valued the two states' sincere friendship. He said the Cypriot side would not interfere with issues concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Cyprus wished to enhance cooperation and exchanges with China in many fields and promote EU-China relations, Kyprianou added.
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić met Tuesday, in Yerevan, his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian. They discussed the further steps concerning the advancement in bilateral cooperation, as well as the issues of Kosovo and Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan's breakaway region populated mostly by Armenians. As the Armenian news agencies reported, during the meeting with Jeremić, Nalbandian estimated that last year visit of Serbian President Boris Tadić to Armenia represented the important step in terms of further advancement in bilateral relations. The foreign ministers discussed the cooperation in the domain of politics, economy and humanitarian activities, and Jeremić informed his Armenian counterpart about the situation regarding Kosovo. Armenia did not recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. In Yerevan, Jeremić will attend the 6th session of the Council of Europe Forum for the Future of Democracy. Jeremić arrived in Armenia from Helsinki, and after his stay in Yerevan, the Serbian foreign minister will pay a working visit to Slovenia on Wednesday.
VII. UPI - U.S. Justice Department enters mosque case
The U.S. Justice Department has entered a lawsuit on the side of an Islamic center that is trying to build a new mosque near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. U.S. Attorney Jerry E. Martin said his office and the Department of Justice have been watching the lawsuit unfold and decided they could not sit idly by, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported Tuesday. Opponents of the new mosque have filed suit in Rutherford County to block its construction. Among other things, they argue Islam is not a valid religion. "All three branches of government have repeatedly recognized Islam as a religion," Martin told a news conference. The government's position that Islam is a legitimate religion was filed Monday. "I guess we're going to have to go back to the Constitution and see how it defines what makes a religion," said Laurie Cardoza-Moore, one of the leading critics.