Michael's List - "Ecumenical" Patriarch; Haitian aid; Turkey, Israel, Iran Sanctions; Meeting re Bosnia; Ukraine elections; Priest provides for Actors

I. INTERFAX - PACE recognized Constantinople Patriarch’s right to be referred to as “Ecumenical”

Deputies of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly urged Turkish government to allow the Patriarch of Constantinople the right to include adjective “Ecumenical” in his title. This request is contained in Resolution 1704 “Freedom of religion and other human rights of non-Muslim minorities in Turkey and the Muslim minority in Thrace (Eastern Greece)". The original text of the resolution, prepared by French deputy Michel Hunault, used the phrase “Greek Patriarch in Istanbul” for the Patriarch of Constantinople. However, after the intervention of the Bulgarian deputy Latchezar Toshev, who declared that usage false and unhistorical, PACE changed the word “Greek” to “Ecumenical”, and urged the Turkish government to recognise this as the title of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Turkey has refused to recognize Bartholomew I as the spiritual leader of global Orthodox community for many years and reduced his status to the head of the local Greek Orthodox community. On the other hand, Greek authorities insisted that that the universal scope of the Patriarch’s jurisdiction is based on international treaties, the Orthodox canons, and Church tradition. The title “Ecumenical”, as the Patriarch of Constantinople uses it, is the historical legacy of the Byzantine Empire, the borders of which were identified with the boundaries “of the civilised world”. This title was given to the Patriarch of Constantinople in connection with his special functions in the capital of a Christian empire, but it never meant that the Ecumenical Patriarch had any authority over any other Local Church.

II. FINANCIALMIRROR - Cyprus humanitarian aid arrives in Haiti

Cyprus humanitarian aid arrived on Monday to earthquake-stricken Haiti on a Hellenic Imperial Airways Boeing 747 aircraft carrying humanitarian aid, comprising 50 tons of pharmaceutical supplies, foodstuffs and tents. The aid has already been collected by the six-member mission from the Volunteer-Doctors-Cyprus and the Greek doctors that are in Port au Prince. Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis also arrived on Monday in Port au Prince aboard the Greek aircraft. Cyprus Council of Ministers decided recently to send humanitarian aid worth EUR122.000 to Haiti, in adition to the already announced financial aid of EUR100.000. Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said the additional aid would be in the form of “various items, such as tents, dry food, serum, tinned meat.” The Cypriot team comprises doctors Marios Theodorou, Olga Sophocleous, Nicolas Ioannou, Constantina Rousia and Nicolas Papachrysostomou and photo reporter Katia Christodoulou.

III. JPOST - Tourism operator accuses gov’t of restricting activities because of tensions with Turkey

A company that offers tourism services to Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus accused the Foreign Ministry of severely curtailing its advertisements because of recent strained relations with Ankara. The Green Solution Company made the charge in a suit against Artara, a company that specializes in industrial fairs to promote economic activities in various sectors. The Green Solution, which runs a ferry service from Haifa to Famagusta in northern Cyprus three times a week, and offers hotel accommodations in Famagusta and Kyrenia, signed up for a 20-square meter booth at the fair, to advertise its services. On the same day, an employee of Artara informed the Green Solution Company that “in view of the sensitivity of the Cyprus issue in the fair, and in accordance with special directives which we received from the Foreign Ministry,” it would not be allowed to mention the fact that the services provided were for ‘northern Cyprus’” or to provide the names of hotels. It also demanded to see the advertisements that would be displayed two days before the opening of the fair. The Green Solution Company alleged that the restrictions were unfair and there was no law that prevented Israelis from visiting the Turkish-controlled part of Cyprus. A Foreign Ministry spokesman told The Jerusalem Post that Israel maintained a consistent policy toward northern Cyprus, which was occupied by Turkey in 1974, in accordance with the United Nations and the international community. Israel did not recognize northern Cyprus as a separate entity, but did not prevent the private sector from maintaining commercial and tourism ties with the inhabitants of that area.

IV. YNET - Israel: Impose crippling sanctions on Iran now

On a day Iran is making another step in its nuclear program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling on the international community to act quickly. "Iran is pushing forwards with its nuclear arming race while slighting the wishes of the international community which needs to protect peace and impose sanctions on Iran. Not partial and moderate sanctions. The duty is to impose paralyzing sanctions on Iran now," Netanyahu said Tuesday while addressing ambassadors of European Union countries. The prime minister also added, "In recent days leaders of the Iranian brutal regime have called for the annihilation of the State of Israel. Israel expects any responsible government in the world, certainly your own governments, to harshly condemn these statements. But it takes more than words." Tehran announced on Tuesday that it has started producing uranium enriched to a level of 20% for a reactor making medical isotopes. Elements in Washington, which have already noted that new sanctions were inevitable said that they will ask the UN's Security Council to approve a decision which will lay the foundations for an additional round of sanctions within "weeks and not months". Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters Tuesday that Gates "clearly thinks time is of the essence." However, China, whose support is crucial has announced that it still believed in diplomacy. President Peres also commented on the issue and said "(Iranian President) Ahmadinejad is an example of moral corruption and a dictator who kills people on the street, funds terror, calls for the annihilation of another people and denies the Holocaust." Peres made the statements during a meeting with 600 students in Modi'in. According to the president, "What is being said in Iran is condescension." Peres also insinuated criticism on the conduct of the international community pointing to the recent anti-regime riots in Tehran. "One can see that those who act against the regime are the Iranians themselves'.

V. B92 - Trilateral meeting on Balkans and Bosnia

Foreign ministers of Turkey, Serbia and Bosnia will meet in Ankara today to discuss the latest developments in the Balkans, particularly in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Today's meeting of Ahmet Davutoglu, Vuk Jeremić and Sven Alkalaj will be the fifth since October 2009, when the initiative was launched. The ministers are scheduled to discuss concrete moves that should be made in the coming period in order to prevent deepening of the crisis in BIH. Anatolia news agency reported that according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement, Turkey gives priority to the Balkans, especially BIH, in its foreign policy in order to establish permanent peace and stability in the region.

VI. RT - Every vote counts: close race in Ukraine's presidential election

Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich has won the presidential poll by over 3%, according to preliminary data, with 99,91% of the votes counted. Yanukovich has 48,95% of the vote, while his rival Yulia Timoshenko has 45,48%. Meanwhile, in a telephone conversation, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has congratulated Viktor Yanukovich on his success after the crucial presidential vote, which was highly commended by the international observers. Acting Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko says “she'll never accept Yanukovich's victory” and is ready to challenge the results in court, warning that there could be a rerun of the vote. In the meantime, over 2,000 supporters of Yanukovich are holding a rally on February 9 outside the building of the Central Electoral Commission of Ukraine. Up to 50,000 participants are expected to take part in the rally, organizers claim. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on February 7 Ukrainians flocked to polling stations nationwide. There had been fears of low turnout, but by midday more than half the number of eligible voters cast their ballots, thus making voting valid. Amid what has been a nervous campaign, both candidates were calm and optimistic. Despite both camps accusing each other of falsifications, both local and international observers have deemed the runoff transparent and urged both candidates to accept the results. Timoshenko seems unwilling to accept defeat and says it’s too early for Yanukovich to start celebrating. Even though the vote count is almost over, the head of the Central Election Commission has already said that it may take longer than it did during the first round, promising to present official results before February 17. Meanwhile, opinions of what Ukraine under Viktor Yanukovich might be have begun to appear. Most analysts agree that Yanukovich, if he wins, will be a Russia-friendly president.

VII. INTERFAX - Russian priest provides spiritual care for Hollywood actors

Rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Los-Angeles Archpriest Alexander Lebedev has provided spiritual care for actors and staff members of the world “dream factory” for almost thirty years. “Many of our parishioners work in film studios as directors and actors. There’ve always been many actors in our parish who actively participated in church life. Such famous actresses as Natalie Wood and Sandra Dee were my parishioners. I was familiar with Yul Brynner," who was a parishioner of Orthodox church in New York. Fr. Alexander told an Interfax-Religion correspondent on Tuesday. According to him, today several Hollywood stars, including Jeniffer Aniston, adhere to Orthodoxy. Tom Hanks, who is also an Orthodox Christian, is an active guardian of St. Sophia Church of the Constantinople Patriarchate. Fr. Alexander noted that many Americans converted to Orthodoxy after marrying to Greek or Russia women. As, for example, famous baseball player Alex Rodriguez. Russian actors and directors living in Hollywood are also Fr. Alexander’s parishioners. The priest told that active member of his parochial community actor Pavel Lychnikov had recently invited him to consecrate a film studio before filming a new film there. Orthodox faith inspires some Hollywood actors to lead less bohemian lifestyle and overcome temptations, the interviewee of the agency said. “Certainly, we try to help them control themselves. So that women participating in movies observed proprieties and chastity. Sometimes there’s a possibility to influence their choice in favor of scenarios of moral character,” Fr. Alexander said.

Michael's List - The Euro; Rallies in Greece; Cyprus solution; Kosovo & Metohija; NATO, Afghanistan; Mistral sale, Russia; Orthodox leaders, Congress

I. HERITAGEBLOG - Single European Currency: Single European Disaster

Although the feckless spending of successive Labour Governments has resulted in massive decline for Britain, there is one thing that Gordon Brown got right on the economics front: he denied Tony Blair’s plans to take Britain into the single European currency. Launched in 1999, the Euro has been the bedrock of European elites’ dream for a United States of Europe. And there’s the rub: founding a major economic program on the basis of a supranational political dream meant there was surely trouble ahead. Nowhere is this more visible than in Greece today (and in Portugal and Spain), where their governments’ desperately need national monetary and fiscal controls to restore some semblance of confidence in their economy. Instead, Greece is forced to endure the same interest rate as Germany, Cyprus, Finland, France, and Slovenia among others; unable to devalue their currency or enact measures that will restore economic competitiveness. EU leaders argue that the United States of America has a wildly successful single currency and Europe needs the same. However, the reason why a single currency works for America is precisely the reason why it won’t work for Europe – because America’s success is borne from its primary inherent strength: America is a single nation with one government, one language and despite political wrangling, one citizenry prepared to accept governance at each other’s hands. Europe is not – and never will be – a single country. It is surely only a matter of time before the single currency comes up against this reality with truly disastrous results.

II. KATHIMERINI - Citizenship rallies highlight division

The center of Athens was closed for several hours on Saturday as a protest by extreme nationalists against the government’s plans to grant citizenship to second-generation immigrants was countered by leftists who rallied in favor of migrants’ rights, highlighting the division in public opinion on the issue. Riot police were forced to intervene to keep protesters apart as the two groups gathered just a few meters from each other, at Kolokotroni Square and in front of the entrance to the University of Athens. There were no reports of injuries or arrests but the stand-off lasted for several hours, meaning that traffic and pedestrians had to use different routes. The rallies took place just a couple of days after PASOK unveiled stricter measures than originally planned for the awarding of Greek citizenship to children who have been born in the country to immigrant parents. Under the new provisions, a child born in Greece to immigrant parents will need to have had both his father and mother living in the country legally for five years before he or she can apply for citizenship. Originally, only one parent would have had to be a legal resident. Also, the children will have to prove they have spent at least six years in Greek schools rather than the three years originally proposed. Speaking to Kathimerini, former Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said that during the upcoming debate on the bill in Parliament, New Democracy will insist that immigrants have to be living 10 years legally in Greece before they or their children can apply for citizenship. “The question is: Will we keep giving citizenship to immigrants that once entered the country illegally?” he asked.

III. FINANCIALMIRROR - Solution in Cyprus must be viable and functional to be accepted

The solution of the Cyprus problem must be functional and viable in order to be accepted by the Greek Cypriot side, President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has stressed. Noting that neither today’s status quo on the island, nor Cyprus’ division can be accepted, he expressed his determination to do his utmost to reach a mutually acceptable solution on the island. President Christofias said that the solution must be to the benefit of all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Amernians and Latins. “The solution must end the Turkish occupation and Ankara's policy of bringing illegal settlers to the island. The solution must safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms of our people”, he pointed out. He went on to say that the solution must be a Cypriot one and must give the people of Cyprus the freedom to decide on their future. This year 2010, he said, marks the 50th anniversary since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus and added that “the international recognition of the Republic of Cyprus constitutes the most powerful guarantee for the continuation of our struggle”. He also referred to another important event in 2010, namely the forthcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI in June. “This visit will seal the relation of friendship and mutual respect which has been successfully developed between the Republic of Cyprus and the Vatican”, he said. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Peace talks began in September 2008 with a view to finding a negotiated settlement to reunite the country.

IV. B92 - Calls for strengthening of Serbian institutions in north Kosovo

Participants in the Assembly of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija yesterday rejected the so-called integration plan for northern Kosovo. The plan was announced by the ICO and the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština, and aims to bring the northern, Serb areas under control. The assembly demanded that the state organs make sure that Serbian institutions in the province are further strengthened, “and in this way demonstrate to NATO, KFOR and EULEX that they (the institutions) are not parallel”. SPC Bishop Artemije, who attended the gathering, said that Serbs in Kosovo expect authorities in Belgrade to strengthen their institutions in Kosovo, “instead of weakening them like before”. He also said that “if there are divisions between Serbs in Kosovo, they came as the result of the policy of official Belgrade”. “They are driving wedges between us, because every party in Serbia, whether in government or in opposition, wants to have a stronghold in Kosovo and Metohija, not in order to help us, but rather to manipulate us,” said the bishop. “The Assembly of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija is categorically rejecting the anti-Serb plan of Pieter Feith and Hashim Thaci about the so-called integration of the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija, and expects authorities in Belgrade to truly, and not merely rhetorically, defend Serb national interests in the southern Serb province,” one of the conclusions of the gathering read. The assembly also asked the government in Belgrade to clearly demonstrate that the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty are more important than its Euro-Atlantic integrations.

V. UPI - NATO: Others should do more in Afghanistan

Other countries can do more to help the anti-Taliban fight in Afghanistan, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says. Speaking Sunday at an annual security conference in Munich, Germany, Rasmussen called on countries such as China, Russia, India and the republics of central Asia to do more in terms of helping NATO to train Afghan troops, providing equipment and spare parts and battling drug trafficking, the Financial Times reported. "What could be the harm for countries such as China, India, Pakistan and others to develop closer ties with NATO?" Rasmussen said. "If Afghanistan becomes a safe haven for terrorists they could easily spread through central Asia to Russia. Of course Afghanistan is not an island. There is no solution just within its borders." The Financial Times said Rasmussen's call came as NATO officials were negotiating with Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and the central Asian republics to establish a rail link to be used by NATO as a supply route to Afghanistan. It said Diego Ruiz-Palmer, head of planning at NATO's operations division in Brussels, told attendees at an India-NATO meeting in New Delhi the route would be an alternative to current supply lines through Pakistan, which are vulnerable to Taliban attacks.

VI. RT - France OKs carrier sale to Russia

France has agreed to sell the Mistral helicopter carrier to Russia. The Russian Navy also has its eyes on three more similar vessels in the future. The approval of the defense deal was announced Monday by Jacques de Lajugie, the international development director of France’s armaments board Delegation Generale pour l’Armement (DGA). He added the possible addition of three more helicopter carriers has only been discussed on the technical level, not on the political. Russia’s Navy voiced its intention to buy a helicopter carrier last year. The goal is to study the technology and tactical advantages of such a ship. The French warship Mistral is the main candidate for the purchase, and she even paid a three-day visit to St. Petersburg in November so that top brass could examine it personally. However, the final decision has not yet been made and Russia is considering alternatives. France currently has two vessels of this class deployed, which means additional warships will have to be commissioned if Russia wants an extra three. Some Russian Navy officials also speculated that the Mistral can go with a license to build similar vessels in Russian shipyards.

VII. OCA - Orthodox Church leaders share human rights concerns with U.S. Congressmen

A variety of issues affecting traditionally Orthodox Christian lands -- among them, the situation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey in light of His All Holiness, Patriarch Bartholomew's widely acclaimed December 2009 interview on "60 Minutes"; the plight of Orthodox Christians in Kosovo and Coptic Christians in Egypt; human trafficking; and other human rights issues -- were the topic of discussion between members of the Holy Synod of Bishops and a number of congressmen during a late-January 2010 meeting in the US capital. Congressman Christopher "Chris" Smith [R-NJ] and other members of Congress welcomed His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah and other Synod members on Thursday, January 21. The hierarchs also attended a Congressional session, at which they were introduced by Congressman Smith. "I do want to welcome His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah of the Orthodox Church of America, here, and his brother bishops," Mr. Smith said in his introductory remarks. "Matthew 25 [is] where our Lord said, 'Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, you do likewise to me.' His Beatitude Jonah lives that, as does his Church and as do, God willing, all of us. But they do it in such a superlative way, and I thank them for their example. It is awe inspiring." Mr. Smith chairs the House International Relations Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations Subcommittee, serves as vice-chair of the Committee on International Relations, and co-chairs the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (also known as the US Helsinki Commission), which works to promote and foster democracy, human rights, and stability in Eastern and Central Europe. Among the other congressmen whom the hierarchs met were Mr. Frank Wolf of Virginia, a senior Republican on the Appropriations Committee, author of the International Religious Freedom Act, and a strong voice on many human rights issues; Mr. Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania, chair of the House Values Action Team; Mr. Trent Franks of Arizona, chair of the Taskforce on International Religious Freedom; Mr. Gus Bilirakis of Florida, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee; and Mr. Jeff Fortenberry from Nebraska and Mr. Bob Inglis from South Carolina, both members of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Michael's List - Help for Haiti; "Not Optimistic" on Cyprus; Honor killings, Turkey; Serbia, NATO or Kosovo; "Imam Made me do it"; US ex-con converts

I. VOICEOFGREECE - Help for Haiti from Alexandria Patriarchate

The ancient Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, responding to the pleas of the General international Directorate of Developmental Collaboration of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the collection of humanistic aid to earthquake-stricken Haiti, with the blessing of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, delivered to a specific area of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the February 2, a large amount of medical, pharmaceutical and orthopaedic equipment. These essential items were collected and given by the NGO “Light of Africa” of the Patriarchate, through the care and concern of the Coordinator-Director of the NGO Thomas Karakostas and the kind contribution of the Alapis Group of Companies.

II. SAE - Humanitarian aid to Haiti

Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis will head a Greek mission to quake-stricken Haiti with humanitarian aid, comprised of 50 tons of pharmaceutical supplies, foodstuffs and tents. The shipment is scheduled to depart on Sunday night. A Hellenic Aid financial assistance of 200,000 euros was approved soon after the devastating earthquake of Jan. 13 and was channeled to the UN World Food Programme. In a press conference on Thursday, Kouvelis stated that he will deliver a letter by PM George Papandreou addressed to his Haitian counterpart focusing on the Greek aid, historical bilateral relations and the Greek government’s pledge to continue to support the country. Kouvelis underlined that Greece’s next initiative is to contribute to the reconstruction of health infrastructure for children. The Greek humanitarian aid will arrive in Haiti on board a Hellenic Imperial Airways Boeing 747 aircraft. The airline will cover 50 pct of the transport costs. A five-member special team formed by Medecins du Monde and the Greek Rescue Team will also be transported to Haiti and offer its assistance. In consultation with the Spanish EU Presidency the Greek airplane will be used for the repatriation of European citizens who are still in Haiti.

III. REUTERS - Greek minister "not optimistic" on Cyprus talks

Greece's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday he was not optimistic about current talks on reuniting Cyprus, describing the latest Turkish Cypriot proposals as "a step back." The minister, Dimitris Droutsas, was speaking as Greek and Turkish Cypriots are making a push under U.N. mediation to end the long division of the island, split by a Turkish invasion in 1974 that was triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. Diplomats worry chances of a deal may recede if Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, seen as a moderate, loses an April leadership election in northern Cyprus -- a breakaway state recognized only by Turkey. "I cannot say that I am in a position of expressing too much optimism with the present stage of the negotiations," the minister told reporters. Talat's latest proposals were viewed by Greece "as a step back, and not as a step in the necessary right direction," he said. "What we have seen in the latest proposals by Mr. Talat is again the idea, and also the rhetoric, of the past, talking about two independent states forming some sort of confederation," Droutsas added. The United Nations has long pursued what it calls a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in the Mediterranean island. Droutsas said Greece hoped for progress in the coming days and weeks but opposed the idea "that if we do not take advantage of this opportunity, then we will never see a Cyprus solution. Let me tell you that it can't be the last opportunity, and we should always bear in mind that we need a solution that will really be viable and to the interest of both communities," he said. "Time should not be the ultimate factor." The Cyprus dispute has impeded Turkey's ambition to join the European Union, where Greek Cypriots represent the island. Problems in the talks include how the two sides could jointly govern the island, the demands of thousands of people uprooted in past conflict, territorial disputes and the future of some 30,000 Turkish troops stationed in northern Cyprus.

IV. UPI - Details of honor killing shocks Turkey

The father and grandfather of a teenage girl buried alive for talking to boys have been arrested and are being held for trial, authorities in Turkey say. The two men were detained after an informant told police that the missing 16-year-old girl had been the victim of an honor killing, The Guardian newspaper in London reported Friday. Medine Mimi's body was found in sitting position in a 6 1/2 foot deep hole under a chicken pen outside her family's home in Turkey's southeastern province of Adiyam in December. The coroner said a post-mortem examination found a large amount of soil in her lungs and stomach, indicating that she had been buried alive and suffered a slow and agonizing death, The Times of London reports. One official involved in the case called the coroner's report "blood curdling." The girl's mother said her daughter made three attempts to seek help from police but was turned away.

V. B92 - “Serbia can’t have both NATO and Kosovo”

By joining NATO, Serbia would recognize Kosovo as independent, because that organization does not consider Kosovo to be a part of Serbia. This is according to Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Konuzin, who spoke for Belgrade-based Ekonomist magazine, in an interview published on its website. Konuzin also supported the idea that there should be a referendum on NATO, and explained that Russia’s relations with other countries are affected by whether those countries are members of the Western military alliance. “NATO has a fairly determined position on Kosovo, and if you are joining an organization that considers Kosovo and independent state, that means you share that position,” said Russia’s top diplomatic envoy in Belgrade. Konuzin also said that it will be up to Serbia to decide on whether to join NATO, and that there should be no outside intervention. He supported the opinion voiced by Parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović and SPC Patriarch Irinej that the people should have their say on the country’s possible NATO membership. “In 1999, NATO bombed the entire country, and each family has its own stance on what the position toward this organization should be. This organization considers that the situation in Kosovo is already stable and is scaling down KFOR’s presence, while the existence of these forces is not in line with Resolution 1244,” said Konuzin, and concluded, “naïve people have faith in NATO.”

VI. FOXNEWS - Bomb Suspect: "Imam Made Me Do It"

The suspect in the failed Christmas Day airliner attack told federal investigators that the radical U.S.-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki directed him to carry out his attempt at mass murder, according to reports published Friday. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has been helping in the hunt for al-Awlaki, an extremist cleric who has emerged as a prominent Al Qaeda recruiter since hiding in Yemen. Abdulmutallab has been cooperating with the FBI for about a week, providing information about the Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen and al-Awlaki's contacts there, CBS News reported. The 23-year-old Nigerian's cooperation against al-Awlaki could provide fresh clues for authorities trying to capture or kill him. Al-Awlaki has been linked to the 9/11 hijackers, the Fort Hood shootings and the botched Christmas Day bombing attempt. Yemeni officials say they believe al-Awlaki, believed to be in the Gulf country's remote mountain region, met with Abdulmutallab, but al-Awlaki reportedly denied ordering the attack in an interview that appeared on Al-Jazeera's Web site. "Brother mujahed Umar Farouk - may God relieve him - is one of my students, yes," al-Awlaki said in the interview which appeared online Tuesday. "We had kept in contact, but I didn't issue a fatwa to Umar Farouk for this operation," al-Awlaki was quoted as saying. Al-Awlaki said he supported the Christmas attack, but it would have been better if the target was a U.S. military target or plane. "I support what Umar Farouk did after seeing my brothers in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan being killed," he was quoted as saying. "If it was a military plane or a U.S. military target it would have been better...(but) the American people have participated in all the crimes of their government. Some 300 Americans are nothing compared to thousands Muslims they have killed," he said.

VII. CNS - U.S. Senate: American Ex-Cons Who Converted to Islam and Moved to Yemen Put U.S. on "Heightened Alert"

U.S. officials say a “significant threat” could come from American citizens, some of them ex-convicts, who traveled to Yemen. The threat has put federal law enforcement on “heightened alert.” “Most worrisome is a group of as many as three dozen former criminals who converted to Islam in prison, were released at the end of their sentences, and moved to Yemen, ostensibly to study Arabic,” said a Jan. 21, 2010 report by the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “U.S. officials told committee staff they fear that these Americans were radicalized in prison and traveled to Yemen for training.” While intelligence agencies have determined that Al Qaeda is a less cohesive and centralized organization than in years past, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has thrived in Yemen largely because of the country’s weak government, according to the report. AQAP was involved with the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, an attack in which 17 American sailors were killed. “We knew that Al Qaeda was going to have to make inroads in other ways,” said Kirk Lippold, commander of the USS Cole when it was attacked by the terrorists. “I think this was an opportunity that they may not have necessarily initiated but they are certainly trying to take advantage of to try to bolster ranks and to bring people in who are basically able to exploit weaknesses, being Americans and citizens with American passports able to get into our country and wreak devastating attacks,” Lippold told CNSNews.com. The findings regarding prisons are no surprise to Barbara K. Bodine, a former U.S. ambassador to Yemen, who believes that following radical Islam is not unlike other extremist movements that flourish in prisons. “A lot of people go to Yemen and some of them are going to be ex-cons,” Bodine told CNSNews.com. “People do get radicalized in prison and our prison system is not the best in the world. The same dynamic that will make a gang attractive to a young man will make different kinds of radical extremism attractive.”

Michael's List - EU hopefuls, Kosovo, climate offer to UN; UNSG on Cyprus; Israel Peace talks, Hamas in Russia; St Anthony's Monestary, Egypt

I. EUROPEANPARLIAMENT - EU hopes of Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia & Turkey

MEPs will discuss the European Union aspirations of Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey on Wednesday 10 February. The Foreign Affairs Committee has given a mixed opinion on where the countries stand and we asked Parliament's followers on Facebook what they think. Read on to find out more and check out the photo slideshow. Croatia: must combat corruption. The Committee believes negotiations with Croatia can be concluded in 2010, but it must strengthen public administration, reform the judiciary, combat corruption and organised crime, ensure sustainable refugee return and provide access to documents for use in war crimes trials in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: name issue should be solved. The committee found that negotiations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia could begin "in the near future". Issues to focus on include reform of the public administration and judiciary, the fight against corruption and the improvement of women’s rights and inter-ethnic relations. In addition, it must "redouble efforts to find a mutually satisfactory solution to the name issue" with Greece. Slovenian Socialist Zoran Thaler told us that "the biggest obstacle in the way of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia accession is the lack of regional responsibility and understanding how important good neighbourly relations are." Turkey: "Involvement of civil society" needed. Turkey was criticised for having made only "limited progress". It should better implement existing legislation on women's rights, non-discrimination, freedom of religion/thought/speech/expression, zero tolerance of torture and the fight against corruption and contribute "in concrete terms" to the settlement of the Cyprus issue. See how your concerns and ideas are reflected on the floor of the House. Watch the parliamentary debate live online 0830-1150 CET on Wednesday 10 February.

II. B92 - Kosovo among EU priorities

There are differences over recognition but there is agreement on the substantial program of help that EU is putting in place in Kosovo, says Catherine Ashton. In an interview for the Financial Times, the EU foreign policy chief stated that main challenges of the EU foreign policy were Kosovo, how to rally Chinese and Russian support for a possible effort at tightening sanctions against Iran on account of its nuclear program, the Middle East conflict and building the EU’s own diplomatic service. After adoption of the Lisbon Treaty the potential for enhancing the EU’s ability to speak with one voice is clear, “but so are the limits imposed by the inescapable fact that some governments do not see eye to eye on crucial dossiers”, the Financial Times pointed out. As an example of limitations that Ashton will encounter, the British daily menioned Kosovo and emphasized that five of its 27 members of the EU had not recognized its unilateral declaration of independence. “There are differences over recognition but there’s absolute agreement on the substantial program of help that we’re putting in place in Kosovo. My job is to translate this position into action and represent it. When we don’t have agreement, there are ongoing discussions among member states,” Ashton was quoted.

III. ACTMEDIA - EU agrees to make lowest climate offer to UN

The European Union has decided to stick to its lowest offer for cutting carbon emissions under a UN climate accord, but will maintain a conditional pledge to do more if others follow suit, EU diplomats said Their comments after EU ambassadors met in Brussels confirmed the 27-nation bloc's commitment to unilateral target carbon dioxide emissions to 20% below 1990 levels over the next decade.Some EU countries such as Poland, Italy, Cyprus and Malta had opposed making the more ambitious conditional offer over concerns that it would be too costly for industry."Italy and Poland said at the meeting that they were concerned but they wouldn't stand in the way," an EU envoy said. Before United Nations-sponsored climate talks in Copenhagen in December, the EU offered to deepen its cuts to 30% of 1990 levels if other rich countries made similar efforts. Ambassadors agreed the EU should sign up to the accord with the 20% cuts in a letter to be sent to the UN on Thursday, but that the 30% conditional offer should still be made, even if the conditions behind it are far from being met. The meeting in the Danish capital ended without agreement on binding cuts to climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions, leaving countries until 31 January to submit their own plans. Experts say the total cuts offered there by rich countries amount to no more than 18% and fall far short of the 25-40% that UN scientists outline as necessary to avert dangerous climate change. The world is on track for temperatures to rise to 3.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century, which would bring catastrophic melting of ice sheets and rising seas, some scientists say. Britain, Denmark and the Netherlands were among the countries that defended the 30% offer. "The UK remains committed to the conditional offer of 30% to stay on the table to ensure that we do not lose the momentum that has been generated over the last few months," said an official from Britain's Department of Energy and Climate Change.

IV. FINANCIALMIRROR - UN Secretary General: A Cyprus settlement is within reach

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he was encouraged by what he saw and heard during his recent visit to Cyprus adding that a settlement of the Cyprus problem is within reach. Ban, who briefed the UN Security Council about his recent visits to London, Ethiopia and Cyprus told journalists that ''Leaders made good progress, but talks need to go farther, faster. My Special Advisor Alexander Downer will work to keep up the momentum of this Cypriot-led process.I do believe a solution is within reach – but it will require even more courage, compromise and commitment,'' he added. Responding to a question, Ban said he was very much encouraged by such a strong commitment by both leaders to continue their negotiations. ''And I was again, very much encouraged and touched by the strong support of the people from both sides who were chanting, in unison, shouting 'resolution now','' he added. As he noted, ''these were all the loud and clear voices from the general population, regardless of where they were from, both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot. That was quite moving for me. I felt a strong sense of responsibility (about) what the United Nations can do more to facilitate this Cypriot-led and Cypriot-owned negotiation.'' He said that his observation was that a solution was possible and a solution was within reach, and, in fact, they made significant progress in power-sharing and governance. ''I was quite encouraged by this. Of course, there are many more important issues: property; border and security issues. I hope they will continue,'' UN Secretary General said. He added that Cyprus President Demetris Christofias told him that he would issue some sort of plan for further negotiations, despite the so called elections in Cyprus occupied areas to be held in April, adding that this "is quite encouraging. And I am going to have my special adviser, Alexander Downer, continuously engaged, so that this negotiation will be facilitated,'' Ban concluded. President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September 2008, with a view to solve the problem of Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974.

V. VOA - Israeli PM: Peace Talks Could Resume Soon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that peace talks with the Palestinians could resume in the coming weeks. The Israeli Prime Minister spoke at an annual security conference in the seaside community of Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv. He said Israel hopes for peace talks soon. Mr. Netanyahu said he has reason to hope that in the coming weeks Israel will restart peace talks with the Palestinians without preconditions. The Israeli leader did not give details of why the resumption of talks could be imminent. The Palestinians have insisted that Israel halt all construction inside Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank before they return to talks. There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials about Mr. Netanyahu's remarks. One factor complicating the peace process is the division between the two major Palestinian groups. The moderate Fatah faction that runs the West Bank is locked in an impasse with Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. Israel is willing to talk with Fatah, but regards Hamas as a terrorist group with which it will not negotiate directly. On Wednesday, there was a sign that tensions between the two Palestinian groups could be easing. A senior Fatah official, Nabil Shaath, went to Gaza for meetings with Hamas. It was the first time there has been such high-level contact between the two groups since Hamas violently seized power and forced Fatah out of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Fatah and Hamas officials said they are pursuing reconciliation talks. In his speech, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the Palestinians' efforts to build their economy and institutions, and called on them to pursue peace. He said that if that willingness exists among the Palestinians, there will be a resumption of peace talks in the coming weeks.

VI. HAARETZ - Hamas leader to visit Russia next week on Mideast peace

Hamas leader Khaled Meshal will visit Russia next week for talks on ending a Palestinian split and bringing about a resumption of peace talks with Israel, the Russian government said on Thursday. Hamas, which is backed by Syria and Iran, has been shunned by the West over the Islamist group's refusal to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept existing interim Israeli-Palestinian peace deals. "The main topic that will be discussed is the way to end the Palestinian divisions and how to resume the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told reporters in Moscow. Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 in fighting with Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whom Israel and the United States have been trying to woo back to peace negotiations suspended since 2008. Talks to reconcile Hamas and Fatah have yielded no results since Egypt began mediation in late 2008. Meshal's last official visit to Moscow was in 2007. Various Hamas officials have at times indicated a willingness to negotiate a ceasefire with Israel, possibly decades long. But Hamas continues to say that it will not recognize Israel officially. Last month, Meshaal met with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov in Syria, after which LAvrov said that the Hamas had adopted a more realistic approach since Operation Cast Lead in December 2008. Senior officials in the Foreign Ministry were furious over the news and said one of the reasons for their displeasure stems from the fact that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was due in Moscow a week later for his first visit, which aimed at beginning talks on upgrading strategic relations between Israel and Russia.

VII. THECANADIANPRESS - Egypt unveils renovations at oldest Christian monastery, touting coexistence with Muslims

Egypt's antiquities chief on Thursday unveiled the completion of an 8-year, $14.5 million restoration of the world's oldest Christian monastery, touting it as a sign of Christian-Muslim coexistence. The announcement at the 1,600-year-old St. Anthony's Monastery came a month after Egypt's worst incident of sectarian violence in over a decade, when a shooting on a church on Orthodox Christmas Eve killed seven people. The attack raised heavy criticism of the Egyptian government abroad and at home, by critics who say it has not done enough to address tensions between the country's Muslim majority and its Christian population, estimated at 10 per cent of the 79 million population. The government insists the shooting was a purely criminal act with no sectarian motives, and officials persistently deny the existence of significant Muslim-Christian frictions. Top archaeologist Zahi Hawass took the opportunity to reiterate that stance as he showed journalists the work at St. Anthony's, an ancient compound at the foot of the desert mountains near Egypt's Red Sea coast. "The announcement we are making today shows to the world how we are keen to restore the monuments of our past, whether Coptic, Jewish or Muslim," he said. St. Anthony, widely revered as the founder of Christian monasticism, settled in this remote mountainous area at the end of the 3rd century to live in isolation. Upon his death, his followers built the monastery, which was completed around A.D. 350 remains in use to this day. In the government-sponsored project, workers renovated the fortress-like ancient wall surrounding the monastery and the walls of its two main churches - the 14th century Church of the Apostles and the 6th century Church of St. Anthony. They also renovated monks' quarters and a 6th century tower into which monks would retreat during attacks by marauding Bedouin tribes throughout the Middle Ages. A modern sewage system was also installed for the monastery, which is home to several dozen monks and is frequently visited by Christian pilgrims. Amid the renovations, archaeologists from the American Research Center in Egypt discovered the remains of the original monks' cells dating back to the 4th century under the Church of the Apostles. After they were excavated, archeologists in 2008 covered them with thick glass so that visitors to the church can see them below their feet. ARCE also renovated stucco paintings in Church of St. Anthony. To read more about St. Anthony the Great, click here.To read more about St. Anthony's Monestary, click here.

Michael's List - Turkey, Greece, Sec Clinton; US Arms Envoy in Europe; Cyprus EU trump card; "Sword of Islam"; Serbia-Kosovo; Conversion to Orthodoxy

I. UPI - Turkish-Greek relations improving

Turkey and Greece might end their decades-long dispute soon with beefed-up diplomatic contacts planned for this month. Diplomats from both nations, entangled in a decades-long dispute over sea boundaries, will meet in Turkey's capital Ankara later this month, Turkish English-language newspaper Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review reports. "Diplomats from the Turkish and Greek foreign ministries will discuss everything, including upcoming high-level visits as well as the correspondence between the prime ministers," a spokesman of the Greek Embassy told the newspaper. The foreign minister of Greece, Dimitri Droutsas, will travel to Ankara this month before Turkish Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to visit Athens in late spring. Ankara rejects the sea borders the United Nations has drawn in the Aegean Sea, waters that are dotted with several Greek islands, some of them very close to the Turkish coastline. Turkey contests that some of the waters officials have deemed international belong to Turkey. The conflict has affected relations between Greece and Turkey, two NATO allies, for many decades.

II. ANA - Greek FM meets U.S. Secretary Clinton

Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas met in Washington on Tuesday with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, saying afterwards that he had expounded on Greece's positions on major national issues as well as Greece's will to help, through initiatives in its broader region and primarily in the Balkans but the Middle East as well. In statements to the press after his meetings with Clinton and Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, Droutsas said: "I met with the U.S. State Department's leadership, with Secretary Clinton and Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg. It was a good opportunity for us to deepen our relations with the US again, to exchange views on all the issues of mutual interest, international developments, for us to also highlight the fact that Greece can play a role in these international developments, particularly in our direct neighbourhood. We have a role to play in the Balkns, we have a role to play and to offer in the region of the Middle East and the Arab world. This is the image that we want to present to the international community again. An image of Greece with a presence, a voice, a real role in international developments. "It was also an excellent opportunity for me to reiterate Greece's positions on the issues of particular Greek interest. On the issue of Cyprus we are again experiencing an important phase, in our relations with Turkey our effort for a new approach and cooperation with Turkey is known, on the issue of the name of FYROM Greece's will and desire for a solution is known, as well as the Greek national red line on this issue is. It is important that the US also knows our positions on all these issues as well, for us to repeat them so that they will also know our approach, always in the framework of cooperatiopn between our two countries, cooperation on an equal basis between two allies and partners."

III. AFP - US names new envoy for conventional armed forces in Europe

The United States has named Victoria Nuland, a former ambassador to NATO, as special envoy dealing with conventional armed forces in Europe, the State Department said Wednesday. Nuland will "develop new approaches to addressing security challenges in the Euro-Atlantic area and to develop ideas to modernize our current conventional arms control structures," the department said in a statement. "She also will work with our NATO allies and our European partners in conventional arms control, including Russia, on diplomatic solutions," it said. Russia withdrew in 2007 from the Paris Treaty on conventional forces in Europe after the conflict in Georgia. The Paris Treaty, a cornerstone of Cold War arms control regimes, was signed in 1990 and updated in 1999.

IV. NEWS300 - Cyprus as a trump card against EU ambitions

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon used his visit to Cyprus last weekend to promote the reunification of the island. But this symbolist politics can’t conceal the island’s deep rifts, the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: “Cyprus is divided by fear, mistrust and prejudices, by a bloody past and the strong political interests of the present. There’s the dispute over property rights that is reminiscent of the once-divided Germany. Then there are economic concerns should the poor North and the rich South reunite. But more importantly: Cyprus is still a bargaining chip for Turkey. And in particular the Turkish military has no intention of parting with this trump card. Not for the sake of Cyprus. The strategic advantage of the island is nowhere near as great as it was once supposed to be. The generals are intent on using Cyprus as a level with which to keep the government in Ankara in check. After all, the latter’s EU ambitions could sink into the Mediterranean if the army stubbornly refuses to withdraw its 40,000 troops from the island.”

V. RIANOVOSTI - Russian police kill al-Qaeda's 'sword of Islam'

A militant shot dead by police in the south Russian republic of Dagestan was one of the co-founders of al-Qaeda in the North Caucasus, a security service spokesman said on Wednesday. Egyptian national Mohamad Shaaban, 49, was killed during a shootout with police in the tiny republic's mountainous Botlikhsky District on Tuesday. A Dagestani militant and a police officer also died. An FSB spokesman said Shaaban, who went by the name of Seif Islam (the sword of Islam), had seen action in Afghanistan in the 1990s, and "was also in Sudan, Somali, Libya and Georgia." "In 1992, he arrived in Chechnya to take part in operations against federal forces," the spokesman said, adding that Shaaban had organized the North Caucasus branch of al-Qaeda with Saudi-born Islamic radical Ibn Al-Khattab. The mainly Muslim regions in Russia's North Caucasus have been plagued by militant violence, with almost daily attacks on security forces and officials. Deputy Interior Minister Arkady Yedelev said on January 16 that 235 police officers and interior troops died in the region in 2009, with 686 injured as recorded terrorist acts, including suicide bombings, rose sharply. Following a January 6 suicide bomb attack on a police compound in Dagestan that killed five and wounded up to 19 people, Russian President Medvedev ordered the Federal Security Service to tighten security across the North Caucasus. The president has also established the North Caucasus Federal District and appointed Krasnoyarsk governor and former business executive Alexander Khloponin as deputy prime minister and presidential envoy to the volatile region.

VI. EARTHTIMES - Serbia and Kosovo heading for strife over patriarch ceremony

Serbia and Kosovo are heading for a row over the ceremonial enthronement of Patriarch Irinej, which the Serbian church plans to hold in a monastery in the breakaway province, the daily Press said Wednesday. The paper said that the government of Serbia did not plan to ask permission from Kosovo officials to hold the ceremony in the Decani monastery on April 25. Serbia does not recognize the independence of its former province, despite the government of Kosovo being recognized by 65 nations. Kosovo has not yet spoken out on the ceremony Belgrade plans to hold in the monastery. Sparks already flew this month when Pristina, which declared the independence two years ago, began banning Belgrade officials from entering Kosovo to visit Serb enclaves without permission. The monastery Decani in southern Kosovo has been the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church patriarch since the 13th century. It has been under the protection of NATO peacekeepers since the Kosovo war in 1999. Irinej was elected as the new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church last month, following the death of his predecessor Pavle in November.

VII. PRAVMIR - To convert or not to convert?

No priestly act is of more far-reaching consequence than a conversion to Orthodoxy. It crucially determines for all time the convert's personal status, his marital rights and restrictions as well as his religious allegiance. If a pledge of unqualified loyalty to the Orthodox Church is subsequently betrayed, the result is disastrous, not least for the priest involved, should he have been guilty of an error of judgement in authorising the conversion on insufficient evidence of sincerity. In that event, he is bound to feel some personal responsibility and liability for every violation of Canon Law the convert may commit. For only through his act in accepting a non-Orthodox into the Orthodox Church do actions like not attending the Sacraments or not keeping the fast days become grave breaches of Canon Law. Little wonder that many conscientious priests, under the weight of this crushing responsibility, contemplate conversions with extreme, sometimes perhaps excessive, hesitation. The conditions for becoming an Orthodox Christian are simple enough in definition. A properly qualified catechist, after instructing the candidate, must be satisfied that the candidate is genuinely willing and able to accept the religious discipline of the Orthodox Church without reservation, whereupon the formal act of conversion is carried out, either by baptism where the candidate has not been previously baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity, or by the Sacrament of Holy Chrismation, and the signing. of a letter by which the candidate on the one hand is renouncing his former faith and on the other confessing his Orthodox faith. Conversion under these conditions is open to any person, irrespective of race, colour or previous creed. A person so converted then has all the rights and obligations of any Orthodox Christian. Strictly speaking, the actual conversion from any faith (or none) to Orthodoxy is of course carried out by the proselyte himself. The desire to become an Orthodox Christian is brought about by radical changes inside a person's heart determining all his future loyalties, his thinking, feelings and actions, the mould of his very personality. A conversion is the most delicate heart operation to which a person could ever submit, and the onus rests on the candidate to prove that he is adequately prepared to undergo such an operation. Some may complete the requisite preparation in intensive study and environmental experience in a matter of months; others lacking in determination or opportunity, may never be ready even after years of fruitless effort. How long this process takes is determined by the candidate not the priest. The ultimate test is certainly not the candidate's love for an Orthodox party he or she seeks to marry. On the contrary, such an ulterior motive will militate against accepting the application. The criterion is the love of Orthodoxy, generated by such thorough familiarity and fascination with the Orthodox way of life as to render all sacrifices and obstacles. Only if this love and belief in Orthodoxy, in theory and practice, transcends any other love and loyalty, are the conditions for admission truly fulfilled. But why are these conditions so rigid and demanding? Almost every candidate (and many Greek Orthodox) question their justice with the seemingly plausible argument: why should so much more be expected of a convert than most Orthodox are prepared to do for their Orthodoxy? Why should converts be more punctilious in their religious observance than are the majority of Orthodox? To begin with, we have no special interest in swelling our number by conversions. As Orthodox Christians we have a spiritual task and duty to perform so numbers are relatively immaterial to the success of our mission on earth. True proselytes are welcome, but converts of questionable loyalty attenuate rather than consolidate our strength. Throughout the Christian era the Orthodox Church has been exposed to constant oppression and frequent massacres. Yet no Orthodox Christian ever worried about the survival of the Orthodox Church. Therefore the survival of the Orthodox Church does not depend on numbers, but solely on the intensity of our Orthodox commitment. Moreover, a conversion is a religious naturalisation. Even for a civil naturalisation - though effecting infinitely less significantly the innermost belief, the whole personality and the daily routine of the life of the applicant - certain rigid requirements are universally accepted. For the grant of citizenship, countries usually required a period of at least two years, fluency in the vernacular, and certainly ready submission to all the laws of the land. Any alien declaring his readiness to observe all the country's laws except one would be refused his naturalisation, and it would not help him to argue that there are many native citizens who also sometimes transgress one regulation or another. In these matters it is all or nothing. Yet when would-be converts are told that it may take two years or more to gain the required knowledge and religious atmosphere (which even those Orthodox who were baptised at birth must cultivate through years of religious education, plus living in an Orthodox Christian environment from birth), that they are expected to have some familiarity with the Greek language, and that they must undertake to observe the Canon Law of the Orthodox Church, they argue, often amid a chorus of popular Greek applause, why should we have to meet requirements which so many Greeks fall short of? It would be of little avail to an applicant for Australian citizenship to resort to a similar argument. The incontestable answer would be that anyone born of Australian parents - whether good, bad or indifferent, whether he knows English and abides by the law or not - is Australian. Even a criminal's citizenship cannot be disowned. But if a foreigner wants to become Australian, every effort may and must be made to ensure that he will prove a law-abiding citizen, an asset and not a liability. Likewise parents must accept their natural child, healthy or crippled, upright or delinquent. But in adopting a child, they are free to choose, entitled to take all reasonable precautions to make sure that the child will be a source of pride and joy to them. Surely the arguments in favour of similar safeguards in admitting persons to the Orthodox faith and people are no less compelling or convincing. Within these general principles, there is of course a degree of variation. Since the assessment of a candidate's sincerity and the inadequacy of his preparation is subject to a human estimation, there is bound to be a subjective factor in any such judgment. One priest may be more credulous, another more suspicious in accepting a declaration of submission to Orthodoxy. Diverse local conditions, too, may have an important bearing on the decision to admit proselytes. In Greece, for instance, where all converts will certainly live in an Orthodox environment, learn Greek, send their children to Greek schools where religion is taught, and observe the Orthodox calendar - at least in great measure - and where there is hardly any opportunity of becoming integrated into non-Orthodox society, it is obviously far easier to accept converts than in the Diaspora where these conditions do not exist. Naturally, the circumstances prompting an application will invariably be taken into account. A woman who wants to become an Orthodox Christian because she has fallen in love with a Greek, seeking to change her religion almost like one changes a passport on being married, will find far less sympathy than parents who wish to convert an adopted non-Orthodox child because they could find no Orthodox child. Extreme compassion will also be shown in cases of non-Orthodox children from mixed marriages. But these are clearly exceptions. As a rule, it will be found that anyone prepared to change his religion neither had a deep religious allegiance before the change nor will have one after the change. Those who can be, and are, admitted to the Orthodox Church indeed turn out to be rather exceptional people. True proselytes live up to the qualifications so concisely expressed by the most famous of them all, when Ruth the Moabite pledged: "Where you go, I will go; and where you lodge for the night, I will lodge" - sharing the life of the people she converted to; "your people will be my people" - joining the togetherness of the people she converted to; "and your God will be my God" - serving as a witness to religious commitments; "where you die, I will die, and there shall I be buried" (Ruth 1:16-17) - defending the beliefs and practices even to the grave. Anyone prepared to follow Ruth's example of total loyalty will be accepted into the Orthodox faith with open arms. But in the absence of such candidates, we should occupy ourselves with the challenge to convert should-be Greek Orthodox, rather than would-be Greek-Orthodox, to Orthodoxy.

Michael's List - Erdogan slams Sarkozy; Turks asked to help; FYROM talks; EU hopefuls; Wahhabi village raided; Paulson blames Moscow; Fr. Moses Berry

I. TEHRANTIMES - Erdogan slams Sarkozy over Turkey's EU bid

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized French President Nicolas Sarkozy of his opposition to Turkey's bid to join the European Union (EU) in his interview with Euronews channel on Sunday. Pointing to the French president's stance regarding Turkey's EU bid, Erdogan said, “no matter what they do, or what kind of obstacles they put in front of us, we will keep walking, patiently.” Turkey first applied for associate membership in the European Economic Community, a now defunct international organization formed during European countries' integration process in 1959. The EU agreed to launch accession talks with Turkey in October 2005, but progress was slow. Countries hoping to join the bloc must fulfill EU requirements in 35 policy negotiating areas, or chapters. Ankara has so far formally opened 11 chapters, of which it has provisionally completed negotiations on just one, science and research. The 27-nation bloc has also urged Ankara to normalize relations with Cyprus and speed up reforms to improve human rights and democracy.

II. KATHIMERINI - Turks asked to help at border

Citizens’ Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis has written to Turkey’s Interior Minister Besir Atalay, asking for Ankara’s help with Greece’s efforts to curb a seemingly relentless wave of migrants entering Greece illegally in a bid to get to Europe, it emerged yesterday. “Only systematic and close cooperation between Greece and Turkey can curb the flow of illegal immigration to the European Union,” Chrysochoidis reportedly wrote in the letter. According to sources, Chrysochoidis has invited Atalay to Athens to discuss a set of proposals. These include the closer cooperation of Greek and Turkish coast guard officials to ensure that a bilateral pact for the repatriation of migrants is enforced. Turkish vessels currently make no effort to stop smuggling ships, the Greek coast guard says. Chrysochoidis plans to discuss the enforcement of the bilateral repatriation pact as well as pacts between Turkey and the European Union and with countries of migrants’ origin, such as Pakistan and Afghanistan.

III. FOCUS - UN Mediator Nimetz sets new talks on Athens-Skopje name dispute

UN mediator in the Greece-Macedonia name dispute, Matthew Nimetz, informed authorities in Skopje and Athens that in two weeks he is to meet with countries’ negotiators on the issue – Zoran Jolevski and Adamantios Vasilakis, Macedonian online news edition Forum reports, citing its own private sources from the government. The media also remarks that it is still not clear which of the countries Nimetz is to visit first – Greece or Macedonia, but according to a statement of Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, made a couple of days ago, it is expected for Nimetz to introduce new ideas. According to Forum’s sources, Macedonia will inform the UN diplomat that it will not accept a solution that requires change in the Constitution, neither will it agree on blackmailing on behalf of Greece over change of Macedonia’s identity, nation and language.

IV. BALKANS - Most EU hopefuls face long wait to membership

Stefan Fuele, who is expected to become the European Union's enlargement commissioner, has reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to taking in new members during parliamentary hearings. But most countries hoping to join the 27-country bloc face a long wait. Below are brief portraits of countries looking to join the European Union, the progress they have made so far in their bids and the challenges they face. ALBANIA: applied for candidate status in April 2009. It will be able to start full membership talks only once the European Commission has assessed its readiness, a process which can take years. BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: signed its Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU in June 2008, the first step towards entry. But any hopes of joining the EU are on hold as long as ethnic and political divisions prevent meaningful reforms in Bosnia. That situation is unlikely to change while the threat of violence remains between Bosnia's Muslim population and Orthodox Serbs. CROATIA: hopes to conclude negotiations with the EU in 2010 and join the bloc in 2012. But it must do more to tackle corruption and organised crime, strengthen the judicial system and cut state subsidies to loss-making industries. Zagreb must also prove it is cooperating fully with the war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which has requested documents that Croatia has not yet provided. ICELAND: expects to be able to start formal entry negotiations early this year. It applied to join in 2009 after the collapse of its banking system devastated the economy. KOSOVO: In May 2009, Kosovo signed an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) with the EU. Kosovo needs to strengthen its judiciary and do far more to fight organised crime and graft. The United States and more than 60 other countries have recognised Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia but some EU member states, including EU president Spain, have not. Serbia opposes Kosovo's independence. FYROMACEDONIA: is waiting to start accession negotiations after the European Commission last year recommended the start of talks, five years after Macedonia applied for membership. Its bid may be delayed because of a dispute with Greece over the name Macedonia, which is also the name of a northern Greek province. This dispute has prevented the country joining NATO. MONTENEGRO: a former Yugoslav republic, filed its EU membership application in December. The EU Council of Ministers has yet to decide whether to accept it and open negotiations. SERBIA: applied for membership in December. TURKEY: started EU entry negotiations in 2005 but talks are suspended in several policy areas because of Turkey's failure to open its ports and airports to EU-member Cyprus. Its membership is a divisive issue in Europe. Critics say cultural differences with the predominantly Muslim state will hamper integration. Turkey also has to introduce economic and political reforms and improve its human rights record.

V. B92 - Bosnia: Police raid Wahhabi village

Police in Bosnia-Herzegovina this Tuesday blocked a village near the town of Brčko where Wahhabis reside. Bosnia’s law enforcement and various other agencies officers detained more than ten Wahhabis, including women, and brought them in for questioning, reports said. A large cache of mostly hunting weapons were also found and confiscated in Gornja Maoča today. Police searched another location, in the Gornji Rahić area, also close to Brčko, seizing computers, cell phones and other equipment from the home of a Wahhabi there. Earlier today, local media reported that police were looking for people who pose a threat to security and Bosnia's constitutional order. Wahhabis are members of a radical Islamist sect. Some 600 state and entity police and security agency officials blocked off the village of Gornja Maoča on Tuesday morning, which has the largest Wahhabi community in Bosnia. The police operation, dubbed Light, is described as the largest in the country since 1995. Bosnia’s federal television reported that this is a large police action aimed at uncovering the identity of persons who represent a security threat to the country. Gornja Maoča is a completely isolated village where the laws of Bosnia-Herzegovina are not in effect. The village is organized according to Sharia law. The road that leads to Gornja Maoča is almost completely unpassable and all of the road signs pointing towards the village are in Arabic. Most of the homes there fly black Islamic flags, and the children study according to the education system of the country of Jordan.

VI. RT: Paulson points finger at Moscow for plotting crisis in the US

The former US Treasury secretary has accused Russia of trying to undermine the American economy shortly before the global recession. Henry Paulson's newly released memoirs claim Moscow approached China with a plan to devalue the assets of America's key mortgage companies by dumping bonds. It is highly unlikely that Moscow was trying to take advantage of the situation by devaluing the assets of the American companies Russia owned in 2008, believes Vladimir Ismailov, chief financial officer of the Moscow School of Management “Skolkovo”, simply because the timing of the “plot” coincided with Georgia’s intervention in South Ossetia. “During those days, the conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia was probably the main conversation topic in Russia’s White House,” said Ismailov. Obviously, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin kept an eye on the economic situation and the financial markets, but it is doubtful it could be his prime focus at the time, added the economist, saying that he would not be surprised if the US – in the guise of Henry Paulson – will try to the blame for the crisis on some other countries as well, not just Russia. Ivan Eland, senior fellow at the Independent Institute in the U.S. says the main problem is not whether there was a deal, but that America got itself to the point where this was possible. Andrew Leung, an International and Independent China Specialist, thinks despite the fact that there is no way to verify these allegations, they might be the truth. “I would not be surprised if these allegations have a degree truth because at that time the relations between the United States and Russia was at a very very low point because of the Georgian situation,” Leung told RT. “But in terms of the dumping of these bonds, I think, as far as China is concerned, China of course would be the first to get hurt, because China has gotten a lot of investment in the US treasuries and [that] represents a large proportion of China’s foreign currency reserve.”

VII. NYT - Black Priest Shares Past, Enlightening White Town

When he moved back home here 12 years ago, the Rev. Moses Berry wanted to settle down to small-town life with his wife and two children. He did not intend to become a one-man racial reconciliation committee. But some residents of this nearly all-white, rural town of 1,400 people 15 miles west of Springfield say that he has done just that. By founding a black history museum here, cleaning up his family’s cemetery and telling his family’s sometimes controversial story, beginning with its roots in slavery, Father Moses, as everyone calls him — an African-American, Orthodox Christian priest in a flowing black cassock — has tried to remind people of a part of the region’s often-forgotten past, and to open up hearts and minds along the way. Father Moses, 59, said he had spent much of his life on a spiritual quest that began in San Francisco in the late 1960s, included nearly a year in jail in Missouri on a drug charge that was later thrown out, and took a positive turn with his conversion to Orthodox Christianity. He was ordained, first in 1988 by an Orthodox church that he now considers “unauthentic” and in 2000 by the Orthodox Church in America. When he returned here in 1998, after the death of an uncle who had willed him a 40-acre family farm, he had no intention of starting an Orthodox church in a town already served by 10 Christian churches of various denominations, let alone opening a black history museum. After he told a few friends that he wanted to have a prayer service in a shed at the cemetery, and a dozen people showed up, he decided to start the Theotokos “Unexpected Joy” Orthodox Christian Church. It has grown into a congregation with about 50 members that holds services in a new cypress building on three acres of his farm. The historical work came about just as unexpectedly, he said, when he started showing the memorabilia his family had collected over the years, and people responded positively. For Father Moses, his church and his historical work are inextricably linked. “It’s all bound up in my faith,” he said. “That is, that we are all children of God and that we do have a shared heritage and not just a national heritage.” The work has not been easy. When he first broached the idea of the museum, some family members and friends said it might be a dangerous undertaking for a black man in a nearly all-white town — even if it was his hometown and he was a priest. The museum opened in 2002, in an 875-square-foot storefront downtown. Father Moses personally escorts visitors through the museum, showing his family’s photos on the walls and explaining the history behind each, including his account of how his great-grandmother Marie Boone, who was of mixed race, was born a slave, even though her father was Nathan Boone, an account that is disputed by some white Boone relatives. There are quilts Marie Boone made to help those traveling north on the Underground Railroad and a slave neck iron that Father Moses’ great-grandfather kept after he was freed during the Civil War. Father Moses always puts the eight-pound iron around his own neck first, then offers to put it around the visitor’s. “I don’t want other people to run this museum because it’s too delicate, this issue of slavery,” he said. “I’ve tried having other people run this, but they get stuck on, ‘Oh, this is a horrible thing the white man did,’ which causes resentment. I want to explain it and bring them from suffering to freedom.” To read more about the Orthodox Church in America, click here; or to read more about Fr. Moses Berry's church, Theotokos "Unexpected Joy" Orthodox Church, click here; and to read more about the Ozarks Afro-American Heritage Museum, click here .

Michael's List - UN Chief, Cyprus; Greece, US, Visa-Waiver; US-Russia Arms; Ice Hotel; Kosovo Serbs; Serb Patriarch; Patriarch Kirill

I. NYTIMES - UN Chief Offers Support for Cyprus Peace Talks

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised Cyprus' rival leaders Monday for their efforts to reunify the ethnically divided island, expressing confidence that a decades-old deadlock can be broken. On a trip meant to revitalize the process before Turkish Cypriot elections and dispel public gloom, Ban said a deal was within reach. ''I wanted to be here now because I recognize how important it is to continue to build momentum on what the leaders have achieved now,'' he said at a news conference with the two leaders that was held near crumbling buildings in Nicosia's U.N.-controlled buffer zone. Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have achieved only marginal progress in 17 months of negotiations. The secretary general praised the two leaders for making progress this month on a proposal to share power in a federal system. He spoke in the U.N. controlled buffer zone that cuts the island -- and the city of Nicosia -- in two. ''No one is under any illusion that any of this will be easy,'' said Ban. ''But the time is ripe to push ahead. I am convinced that these two leaders can achieve a mutually beneficial solution.'' Cyprus was divided into a Greek Cypriot south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north in 1974, when Turkey invaded after a short-lived coup by supporters of union with Greece. The Greek Cypriot government is internationally recognized. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey, which keeps 35,000 troops there. Christofias and Talat remain far apart on most major issues -- including how to treat property seized during the war and Turkey's right to intervene militarily. The two leaders agreed to continue negotiating through February and March contrary to speculation there would be a break for campaigning. ''I'm ready to continue with (Talat) negotiating, despite the elections,'' said Christofias. ''This is our common desire, this is our common decision.''

II. FOCUS - Greece expects U.S. to take final step on lifting visa regime

U.S. should make the final step on lifting visa regime for Greek citizens, deputy foreign minister Dimitris Drucas told Greek Ta Nea newspaper. Drucas assured Greece has made no obstacles on the issue. Dimitris Drucas headed for the U.S. on Monday. On Tuesday, he will meet in Washington the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the deputy U.S. Secretary of State James Steinberg. On February 3 Drucas’s agenda envisages meetings in the UN Head Office in NewYork. He will also deliver a speech in the Columbia University. On February 4 he will meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss the name dispute with Macedonia and the Cyprus issue.

III. UPI - U.S.-Russian arms control talks resume

Talks between U.S. and Russian diplomats over a new arms control treaty resumed Monday in Switzerland. The meeting in the Swiss city of Geneva is intended to help broker a successor to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, which expired in late 2009. Previous negotiations in Geneva in December ended without results. It's the first time in four decades that the United States and Russia do not have an arms treaty in operation. U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev indicated last week that the new treaty was nearly agreed upon and could be finalized within a few weeks. U.S. national security adviser Gen. James Jones and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Russian defense officials led by Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, last week in Moscow for two days of closed-door talks. The negotiations come half a year after Obama and Medvedev signed an agreement pledging a reduction of nuclear warheads from 2,200 to a range of between 1,500 and 1,675, and of carrier missiles from 1,600 to a range of between 500 and 1,100. The agreement at the time was hailed as a major step forward for U.S.-Russian relations, which had suffered over the past years with differences ranging from human rights, the independence of the former Serbian province of Kosovo, NATO's eastward expansion, a U.S.-planned missile defense system in Eastern Europe and the 2008 Russian-Georgian war. Obama has promised to shake up U.S. foreign policy by trying to improve ties with the Kremlin in a bid to get increased support from Russia in Afghanistan and in the conflict over Iran's controversial nuclear program.

IV. RT - Russia opens its first ice hotel

The first ice hotel in Russia will be opened at a ski resort in Arkhangelsk region on St Valentine’s Day, just ahead of Pancake Week, widely celebrated throughout the country. Situated about 850 kilometers to the north of Moscow, the heart-shaped hotel is going to be built of crystal-clear ice taken from taiga lakes and the white snow of Russia’s north. So, if you feel like drinking a shot of vodka from a shot glass made of ice, or sleep on an ice bed in a sleeping bag, your destination could be not only Scandinavia or Canada, but Russia as well. The Russian Snow project boasts to have an ice bar, ice cinema, ice gym (with all the equipment made of ice, of course) and even a wedding palace! Inside the hotel there will be ice sculptures dedicated to the famous Russian scientist and university founder Mikhail Lomonosov, marking his 300th anniversary in 2011. The temperature inside the ice building will never rise above 0º Celsius. The hotel will be open until the end of March and, with a bit of luck, could last even longer.

V. B92 - Serbs in north call for boycott of Priština

The temporary administration of the Kosovska Mitrovica municipality has called on a boycott of the Kosovo Albanian government’s institutions. In a news conference held today, the administration’s representatives also condemned the plan drafted by Priština and the International Civil Office (ICO) Chief Pieter Feith for the integration of northern Kosovo into the Kosovo system outside the rules set by UN Resolution 1244, in an effort to close all of Serbia’s institutions in the north. Local officials of the self-administration and education system were called on not to accept wages from Priština and to boycott all the institutions of the Kosovo government. Citizens were warned not to take Kosovo personal documents, because they would in this way be recognizing the unilateral independence proclamation. According to the statement, any possible calling of elections organized by the unrecognized Kosovo institutions would go against the Constitution and Resolution 1244. The temporary northern municipal administration also called on all politicians and Serb and non-Albanian citizens to boycott the Kosovo government. The Serbian institutions were urged to fight a more determined fight and fully support the preservation and strengthening of the Serbian institutions, as well as to form a “clear, unequivocal stance towards those that violate the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia.”

VI. BALKANINSIGHT - Serbian Patriarch Irinej: The New Guardian

The name pulled from between the pages of the gospel at the gathering of the bishops was that of Irinej, the Bishop of Nis who now ascends to the throne of Saint Sava. Irinej, 80, born in a small village near Cacak in central Serbia spent more than 30 years as bishop of Serbia’s second city. The word from the people of Nis is that he is a man without any “disadvantages”. Modest, decent, “a man who knows to listen and understand”, Irinej was chosen over two other bishops – influential metropolitan Amfilohije and respected bishop Irnej from western Serbia. According to some sources, the new patriarch did not expect the honour and had counselled “brothers do not do that”. But, the ‘spirit of the saints’ elected him and the Serbian Orthodox Church has a leader in full control, after a long time spent in limbo when Patriarch Pavle spent almost three years in hospital before his death in November last year. There was much speculation in the media about the identity of the new Patriarch, but almost nobody predicted Irinej. Much like the Serbian Government, headed by Mirko Cvetkovic, the Serbian church now also has a quiet man at the helm. “The main goal of our church in the coming years is to help our people in Kosovo and to help our state to save Kosovo” said Irinej on the day he came to power. Although the rhetoric mirrors prevailing attitudes in the church, analysts say that new man is a liberal and that he will start talks with the church’s catholic brothers. He should also, they say, be able to improve relationships with the Macedonian Orthodox Church, still unrecognised by the Orthodox Churches. Irinej is recognised as a person able to start an ecumenical dialogue and perhaps to bring Pope Benedict XVI to Serbia in 2013 when Christians throughout the world will celebrate the 700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan. Major celebrations will take place in Nis, the birthplace of the author of the edict, Roman Emperor, Constantine. Analysts say that new patriarch will bring a fresh outlook to the Serbian Orthodox Church, but that public should not expect a revolution because The Holy Synod of the church is the real decision maker.

VII. RIANOVOSTI - Patriarch Kirill's first year: priests in barracks, religion in schools, better ties with Catholics

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has led important changes in the country, which included the introduction of chaplains in military units and the launch of Orthodox culture courses teaching in schools a year since he was enthroned as head of the world's largest Orthodox Church. Kirill held a Divine Liturgy in downtown Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral on Monday, and received congratulations afterwards. Over 100 bishops, including from other countries, came to congratulate the patriarch during festivities also attended by President Dmitry Medvedev and his spouse, as well as by 3,000 believers. Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad was elected as the 16th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in late January 2009 by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church that numbers more than 135 million members worldwide, succeeding Patriarch Alexy II, who died in December 2008 at the age of 79. Kirill was enthroned February 1 last year, at a ceremony also held in the Christ the Savior Cathedral. Kirill, widely seen as a reformist, has won prominence by becoming the first top Orthodox priest to anchor a television show. After becoming patriarch he launched a new practice for the Orthodox leader: meeting large youth audiences at stadiums, answering their questions and delivering sermons. Kirill, who has strong support from the Kremlin, has said he sees reviving national spirit and morals damaged in the years of Communism and post-Soviet turmoils as his task. He has advocated reviving the practice of army chaplains abandoned after Bolsheviks came to power in 1917 and teaching religion in school, when schoolchildren and their parents can choose between being taught the basics of four traditional Russian faiths (Orthodoxy, Islam, Judaism or Buddhism) or the basics of secular ethics - an experiment that is to embrace the whole of Russia from 2012. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin congratulated Patriarch Kirill on the anniversary of enthronization. Kirill has contributed to the improvement of relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Holy See. As head of the Russian Orthodox Church's external relations for more than a decade, he had led dialogue with the Vatican and other churches. The enthronement of Patriarch Kirill, who was seen as a liberal in the largely traditionalist church, was welcomed by the Roman Catholic Church. In December 2009, Moscow and the Vatican exchanged notes formalizing the establishment of full diplomatic relations. Since 1990, the two sides maintained diplomatic representation below the level of ambassador. Now, Russia has a full-fledged embassy in Vatican. As a result of the Great Schism, Christianity split in 1054 AD into the Eastern branch (the Orthodox Church) and the Western branch (the Roman Catholic Church). They have a number of theological and political differences.