Turkey will not open its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels and goods unless the European Union lifts its trade embargo on Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus at the same time, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. “If there’s a simultaneous opening of ports and airports, then we’ll be a part of it,” Erdogan said to reporters in Ankara. “No one should expect anything different.” Cyprus has been divided into a Greek Cypriot south, which is internationally recognized, and a Turkish-run north, which is not, since Turkey invaded the Mediterranean island in 1974. The north of the island is under an effective blockade by the EU and most of the rest of the world, with direct flights banned and almost all trade carried out via Turkey. The EU has frozen some areas of Turkey’s membership negotiations because of its refusal to recognize the Greek Cypriot government after Cyprus joined the bloc in 2004.
II. EURASIAREVIEW - Turkey Denies Border Agreement With Greece
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday denied reports that an agreement was reached with Greece and their dispute over territorial water in the Aegean Sea. The disputed territorial water borders stretching from 6 to 12 miles is also known as the 12 miles issue. Erdogan made his remarks in response to reporters after attending a ceremony in Ankara. Asked to comment on news reports that Turkey and Greece reached an agreement on 12 miles, Erdogan said "there is no agreement reached." The Turkish premier added that the parties will make a joint statement should an agreement is reached. "This is out of question at the moment. Authorized people continue talks. We will make necessary statements if they reach a specific point," Erdogan noted. Greece claims that its territorial waters should be extended to 12 nautical miles from 6 miles, citing international maritime agreements. Turkey, however insists that it is against neighboring state's claim about the extent of the territorial waters in the Aegean Sea.
III. B92 - Macedonians against change of country's name
A majority of Macedonia's citizens are against changing the name of their country in order to be accepted in the European Union and NATO. According to a Gallup survey reported by the MIA news agency, 63% of interviewed citizens were against changing the name of the Republic of Macedonia, while 31% said they were in favor of the change which would accelerate the process of Euro-Atlantic integrations. According to the same survey, as many as 82 percent of Macedonians are against the name change, while 77 percent of Albanians living in the country are in favor of it believing it would remove the main obstacle on the country's way to the EU and NATO. Four years ago, Skopje gained the status of a European Union candidate state but has yet to start accession negotiations owing to its name - the Republic of Macedonia, which Greece is strongly opposed to. Greece is also blocking its accession in NATO, because it believes that Macedonia has been the name of a Greek province since ancient times. The United Nations is the mediator in the dispute, which is not making much progress.
IV. RT - NATO rolls out red carpet for Russia
President Medvedev says the hostile period between Russia and NATO is over. Moscow and the Alliance have agreed to boost collaboration on one of their most divisive issues – missile defense. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev arrived at the summit of the former Cold War military alliance to leaders welcoming him with open arms. Leaders on both sides seemed to indicate they plan to co-operate, after NATO-Russia talks they hailed as “historic”. Missile defense plans under the Bush White House provoked the most serious rift between Russia and NATO since the Cold War. Now the Alliance wants Russia to join in – but Russia wants more than just sweet words. The US reset of relations with Russia has brought NATO to woo Moscow; once the great enemy, but now courted as a key potential ally. Russia and NATO have reiterated common challenges to be fought – from the spread of weapons of mass destruction to terrorism. Russia has pledged more help to NATO in Afghanistan, with transport access and more resources to fight narcotics there, and, for the first time, in Pakistan. Despite all the warm words, there are still differences – notably regarding the South Ossetian conflict over two years ago. In 2008 NATO backed Georgia, which Russian forces were forced to fight after the South Ossetian civilian population came under Georgia’s military attack. And while NATO seeks new purpose and allies, others say the Alliance belongs in the past. Perhaps there is no better example of the international discontent over NATO and its policies than on the streets of Lisbon, where citizens have come from all over Europe to protest the alliance and the goals being set at its summit. And after introducing a new strategic concept at the summit, NATO’s challenge now is to turn that concept into reality – where top on the list is forging a lasting partnership with Russia.
V. USATODAY - TSA chief says 'opt-out' boycott would be a mistake
Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole took to the airwaves this morning, using the TV network morning talks shows to urge opponents of stepped-up screening procedures not to follow-through on a pledge to boycott airport scans this Wednesday. Opponents of the controversial full-body scanners have called for passengers to boycott the scans on Wednesday, typically one of the nation's busiest days for air travel as Americans travel ahead of the Thursday Thanksgiving holiday. Supporters say a "National Opt-Out Day" boycott might disrupt the security system, a move that might force federal security officials to reconsider the current full-body scan or "enhanced" pat-down procedures that currently are in place. Against that backdrop, "Pistole implored passengers Monday not to take delaying actions or engage in boycotts of body scans, actions he said would only serve to 'tie up people who want to go home and see their loved ones,' " The Associated Press writes. AP adds "Pistole had pledged Sunday to review security procedures in the wake of a public outcry. But he also said the TSA must balance people's demand for privacy with the need to protect passengers from those who would try to set off bombs on planes." Regardless, some travel industry officials appear to be bracing for disruptions to holiday travel this week. "Just one or two recalcitrant passengers at an airport is all it takes to cause huge delays," Paul Ruden, a spokesman for the American Society of Travel Agents, tells AP. "It doesn't take much to mess things up anyway — especially if someone purposely tries to mess it up." AP notes the group "has warned its more than 8,000 members about delays resulting from the body-scanner boycott."
Washington ranks as one of the most dangerous cities in the country, according to new FBI crime statistics. The list, compiled by CQ press, lists D.C. as the fourth most unsafe city with more than half a million people, behind Baltimore in the second slot and Detroit as the most dangerous. The ranking comes from FBI statistics for murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and car theft. Many, including the FBI, say these numbers should not be used to rate cities. "These rankings represent a gross misuse of FBI data," says Houston Mayor Annise D. Parker, chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Criminal and Social Justice Committee, according to a BusinessWire.com report. "Everyone with the slightest knowledge of this issue knows the rankings are not credible, but the publication persists with them, presumably because rankings are popular and sell books. Unfortunately, they also do real harm to the reputation and economy of the cities that come out on the losing end, often through no fault of their own." But CQ defends the list a straightforward look at crime today. New York City is now listed as the third most safe city. Washington ranks 22nd overall among all cities. Download the complete list (PDF) by clicking here.
VII. AFP - Iraqi Christians seek safe haven in Jordan
A spate of attacks targeting Christians in Iraq has forced many to flee to neighbouring Jordan which many see as a stepping stone to a new life as far away as possible from the violence-ridden country. On Sundays families gather at the Syriac Orthodox church in Jordan's capital Amman to pray, socialise and mull over the best ways of securing a visa to enable them emigrate to the United States, Canada, Australia or Europe. There are always new faces in the crowd, like Suzanne Jilliani, her husband Hani Daniel and their year-old baby who fled after the October 31 attack on Baghdad's Syriac Catholic cathedral that left 46 worshippers dead. The couple, who now live in a furnished flat provided by the Syriac church in Jordan, dream of joining Jilliani's family in the United States. Like some Christians, Moayed said he fled Iraq after being threatened by the Mahdi Army militia of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. George Hazou, who heads a Syriac charity organisation in Jordan and is an official with the Middle East Council of Churches, estimates that 120,000 Iraqi Christians have fled to Jordan since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. "There are 40,000 to 50,000 Iraqis left in Jordan," he told AFP, adding that the rest have left to start new lives in North America, Australia and Europe. Earlier this month a senior Iraqi clergyman said Iraq's Christians should leave the country or face being killed at the hands of Al-Qaeda. "If they stay they will be finished, one by one," the London-based Archbishop Athanasios Dawood told the BBC. But Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on November 9 that Christians should not be encouraged to leave their homeland. An estimated 800,000 Christians lived in Iraq before the 2003 US-led invasion, but their number has since shrunk to around 500,000 in the face of repeated attacks against their community and churches. Altogether an estimated two million refugees from Iraq, mostly Muslim, have fled to Jordan and Syria since the invasion.