I. EURONEWS - Libya splits EU, Italy asks for NATO
The European Union (EU) has yet to get its messsage out in "one voice" over its policy on intervention in Libya. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is trying to show a united front, but division under UN Security Council authority complicat her task. Ashton said, “While contributing in a differentiated way, the EU and its member states are determined to act collectively and resolutely with all international partners, particularly the Arab League, to give full effect to these decisions.” Italy, which once ruled Libya as a colony has called on a more "coordinated approach under NATO."
Prime Minister George Papandreou, briefing Parliament on Tuesday, said that "Greece will not become the evasive neutral in the developments in the region. This stance would not help national interests." Papandreou stressed that Greece's presence on the side of countries in favor of armed pressure on the Gaddafi regime - with UNSC approval and Arab League, African Union support - is in agreement with the steadfast positions of its foreign policy for respect for international law and serves national interests. "As a country, we have an interest to contribute to the strengthening of our international credibility without the logic of double standards," Papandreou said, noting that when Greece calls for the implementation of the UN Security Council's resolutions on Cyprus and FYROM, it cannot oppose today's.
III. ARABNEWS - FYRoMacedonia asks UN court to allow its NATO bid
In 2008, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) decided to take its fight to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), over a 20-year dispute against Greece. FRYOM accuses that Athens is in a "blatant violation" of international law by blocking its bid for NATO membership. The suit calls on the ICJ to order Greece to meets its international obligations under a 1995 treaty and allow FYROM to join NATO. When these hopes were dashed in 2008, due to Macedonia also being the name of Greece's northern province, without FYROM accepting alternative mutually agreed upon name, Greece would veto its assencion, which it ultimatley did. Macedonia was recognized by the UN in 1993 under the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. But more than 100 states, including four permanent members of the UN Security Council, have recognized the Balkan state as the Republic of Macedonia.
IV. WFP - Thousands in Kosovo protest arrest of former ethnic Albanian rebels suspected of war crimes
Last week, EULEX arrested nine Kosovo Albanians for war crimes in 1999. Earlier today, about 2000 ethnic Albanians took to the streets in protest of the arrests. Most of the protestors are former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and they carried banners blaming the EU police Mission for "tarnishing" the image of the KLA. Among those arrested was a former government minister - also a former KLA member. His alleged crime, torturing and killing Serb captives and their ethnic Albanian collaborators. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The EU police mission is in charge of prosecuting war crimes in the new nation.
Focusing on economic cooperation, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Serbia on Wednesday to meet with the country's top officials. Serbian President said that both countries are bound together by centuries of friendly relations, noting that Serbia and Russia have historical and spiritual ties, as well as similar languages and flags. Tadic added that ""this is a country of great friendship for Russia and the Russian people". Putin said that he was glad to be in Belgrade for talks on mutual cooperation, and noted that the volume of that cooperation was on the rise. Ahead of the visit today, Moscow sources said that the talks in Belgrade would focus on economic cooperation, Kosovo and international affairs, including the situation in the Middle East and north Africa, especially Libya.
After today's bus station bombing near the Jerusalem International Conference Center, which injured over 25 bystanders, with tree in critical condition, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that he is delaying his departure on a planned trip to Russia. The bombing occured as Netanyahu finised a meeting with his security cabinet about the escalation of rocket attack. Netanyahu does not intend to cancel the trip.
The recent announcement of a Franco-Russian style Sade-Arch for a $30 million Russian Orthodox church beside the Eiffel Tower has sparked fears of "cold war-style" espionage. A possible reason for the French angst may be due to the man who is overseeing the project, Vladimir Kozhin. He happens to be a former KGB agent. Archbishop Marc d’Egorievsk, who represents the Moscow patriarchy, said the practice was chosen because its scheme “blends orthodox tradition and the modernity of a city like Paris”.The cathedral will be part of an Orthodox centre with a vast 3,400sq m public garden with terraces as well as a library, classrooms, a reception hall and lodgings for church representatives.