Iranian state media say Tehran is sending two warships through the Suez Canal. Press TV on Thursday quoted an unnamed Iranian navy official as saying Egyptian authorities see "nothing wrong" with the vessels' passage. Earlier, Suez Canal officials said no Iranian naval ships would pass through the waterway Thursday. The official said the waterway's management had not received any requests by Iranian naval ships to transit the canal. Other officials said Thursday that plans for the two ships – a frigate and a supply ship - to pass through had been cancelled. Iran television contradicted that report but did not specify on Thursday when the voyage will take place. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday that Iran was about to send two warships through the Suez Canal for the first time in years and called it a "provocation." He told American Jewish organization leaders visiting Jerusalem that the Iranian ships were heading toward the Mediterranean and Syria. Israel views Iran as a threat because of its nuclear program, its support of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and calls by Iranian leaders for the demise of the Israeli state. Vessels intending to transit the Suez Canal must give the waterway's authority at least 24-hours notice before entering the canal.
Moving quickly to fill the diplomatic and economic vacuum created by the deterioration of relations between Turkey and Israel, a new regional partnership is being formed by Israel and Greece. With Cyprus as a catalyst for rapprochement and wide-ranging cooperation, the ultimate goal is a new multinational bloc that could include Bulgaria and Albania. The University of Piraeus’ Professor Aristotle Tziampiris described the new links between Athens and Jerusalem as an informal alliance that “has the potential to bring Israel closer to Europe and act as a source of regional stability.” Eventually, he told a recent academic gathering at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv, Greece could help reduce tension that was spawned by Israel’s airborne operation last May against ships that set sail from Turkey to run the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Nine Turkish passengers aboard the Comoros-flageed Mavi Marmara were killed in clashes with Israeli commandos. While it may seem surprising that Athens could play a constructive role in mollifying the Turks, Tziampiris said, it should be borne in mind that “Athens maintains good relations with Ankara. ... The elimination of all strained regional relations is ultimately in its (Greece) best interest..." Long-range Greek interest in Israel’s natural gas is a major, if not dominant, catalyst in the ongoing rapprochement. With the main impetus evidently coming from Cyprus, which would be one of the projected recipients, experts from all three countries have been preparing blueprints for these underwater conduits. They could link Israel’s Leviathian natural gas field to Crete as well as Cyprus. From the strategic standpoint, this could be a “game changer,” Tziampiris said. “It certainly would alter Israel’s position vis-a-vis Europe and lessen the continent’s energy dependence on Russia (especially significant now, since the Nabucco gas pipeline project appears problematic)... Routinely, the Greek and Israeli air forces and navies have conducted joint exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The United States evidently is favorably disposed to the positive turn in Greco-Israeli relations and has been nurturing it. This is a reflection of its having won strong congressional support... There is a significant historical precedent for the positive trend in Greco-Israeli relations. Greece’s initial entry to the Holy Land under the command of Alexander the Great had a major cultural impact on the Kingdom of Judea, which he conquered 2,300 years ago. It fostered a revision of religious concepts especially in the more affluent segment of Judean society and caused a sharp division between Hellenists and Chasidim. It also led to the incorporation of many Greek words into Hebrew, an effect still evident in modern Hebrew as spoken and written in contemporary Israel.
The government will proceed in a responsible manner with a proposed investment by Qatar in the capital Nicosia, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said. Speaking after today’s Cabinet meeting, Stephanou said that the three-member committee overseeing the investment project has submitted a recommendation on the issue to the government. Replying to a question, Stephanou said that “we will proceed with responsibility, as we have done so far, to serve the interests and the prospects of the economy as well as the interests of the Republic of Cyprus.” Asked if there is a relation between today’s presentation of the proposal and the visit of Cyprus Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou to Qatar, Stephanou noted that Kyprianou’s visit has to do with the government’s policy to enhance its relations with several foreign countries, including Qatar. He pointed out that ties between Cyprus and Qatar have developed a lot lately, recalling the visit of the Emir and the Prime Minister of Qatar to Cyprus and the visit of President Christofias to Qatar. This is proof that relations between the two countries are developing rapidly, he said, adding that in that framework Kyprianou visited Qatar. Cyprus and Qatar signed in April 2010 two agreements and four memoranda of understanding, covering sectors such as air services and the creation of a joint venture for a project opposite Hilton Hotel in Nicosia, including a five-star hotel, a shopping mall, offices and apartments. The agreements and memoranda were signed at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia during official talks between delegations of Cyprus and Qatar, headed by President Christofias and the Emir of Qatar.
IV. UPI - NATO, Qatar discuss collaboration
NATO officials agreed to enhance security consultations on all fronts with Qatar, the NATO secretary-general said. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen met with Qatari Crown Prince Tamim Bin-Hamad Bin Khalifah al-Thani and top military officials in Doha. Rasmussen said the NATO alliance considered Qatar a potential partner in the region as Western allies address a myriad of concerns in the Middle East. Apart of political upheavals in the Middle East, Western allies are concerned about Iran, looming violence in Iraq and the potential consequences of Hezbollah's growing political influence in Lebanon. "We are enhancing security policy consultations on all issues that might be of interest to partners," said Rasmussen in a statement. "We are also offering greater practical cooperation by fully opening our toolbox of cooperation projects to all our partners, including the gulf states." He added there was the "potential" to do more as energy security weighs on the minds of many allies in the region.
Three years ago, Kosovo's interim assembly adopted a declaration which defines Kosovo as “an independent and sovereign state formed on the basis of the Martti Ahtisaari Plan.” The independence was declared despite the fierce opposition of Serbia's top officials, and contrary to UN Resolution 1244 and provisions of the international law. Just one day after the proclamation of independence, eight countries recognized the unilateral decision- first Afghanistan, then the US, France, Albania, Turkey, the UK and Senegal. To this day, 75 countries recognized Kosovo's independence, 22 of which are EU member states. However, in the last two years the wave of approval has significantly lost its momentum. Kosovo was recognized by 53 countries in 2008, 11 in 2009, 8 in 2010, and 3 this year. A vast majority of the UN member states (117) have not recognized the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo, some of them holding the right of veto in the UN Security Council. The EU is still divided over the issue since Slovakia, Romania, Spain, Greece and Cyprus did not recognize Kosovo, and have no intention of doing that. The declaration of independence was passed on February 17, 2008, after having been approved in the interim assembly. The Serb MPs, head of UNMIK, and KFOR commander were not present. The declaration defines Kosovo as “an independent and sovereign state formed on the basis of the Martti Ahtisaari Plan”, a document which has never been considered in the UN Security Council, nor approved by the Republic of Serbia.
VI. RIANOVOSTI - Medvedev pays first official visit to Vatican
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev paid his first official visit to the Vatican on Thursday and met with Pope Benedict XVI. The sides were expected to discuss bilateral and religious ties, global affairs and cooperation within the framework of various international organizations. After the meeting, Medvedev introduced his spouse, Svetlana, and other members of Russian delegation to the pope. The aide to the Russian president, Sergei Prikhodko, said earlier on Thursday the president and the pope were expected to discuss a dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. A Russian diplomatic source told RIA Novosti that a meeting between the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, and the Pope now appears "more realistic" than it did several years ago. He did not say, however, when or where such meeting would take place. Neither Pope Benedict nor his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, has visited post-communist Russia.
Weekly bulletin inserts - designed for bulk distribution with the Sunday bulletin and a welcomed resource for group or individual study - are available in downloadable PDF format at from the Orthodox Church in America's Department of Christian Education. Weekly topics include contemporary issues, lives of saints, film and book reviews, and commentaries on Scripture. The inserts also complement many of the curriculum resources available on the Department of Christian Education web site. Though formatted as bulletin inserts, each one-page edition also can be distributed as an e-mail attachment for wider distribution. New editions are available every Monday. The inserts for February 20 and 27 and March 6, which present themes appropriate for the pre-lenten and lenten seasons, are already available.