GreekNewsBlog: johnmetaxas.com

ARCHIVES
Vol. 1, #12
May 1-5, 2006

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2006
HOUSTON PROFESSOR, MICHAEL J. ECONOMIDES, PREDICTS $100 OIL

For those of you interested in following the energy markets, and that should be all of us, a brilliant Greek-born professor in Houston, with the very appropriate name Michael J. Economides, publishes a web-site, energytribune.com that has become the definitive source for news on oil and other energy prices and the geopolitical events that drive them. Back in 1999, Economides warned that oil prices, then at $11 a barrel, were about to surge. Within a year or so, the price was over $30. A consultant, educator, and Ph.D. in petroleum engineering, Economides has done technical and managerial work in more than 70 countries. He now thinks oil will top $100 a barrel.

Energytribune.com is committed to, among other areas, thorough coverage of Russia and China and the effect their corrupt political systems have on energy markets. Energy Tribune has a dedicated China correspondent other reporters in Austin, Houston, Moscow and Caracas. In a current article, Economides writes about increasing ties between Australia and China. He says, "make no mistake, America's effort to contain China is in tatters.... And it comes directly on the heels of a visit to Australia by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who urged Australia to help in China's 'containment.' Instead of containing the Chinese, the Australians are doing business with them. Lots and lots of business."

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2006

TURKISH SOURCES DENY PRESS REPORT ON HALKI SEMINARY
UNDERSECRETARY BURNS MADE AWARE OF ACTIONS BY RADICAL "GREY WOLVES"

There are two items to note in recent days regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate. First, the odd story in the Athens News Agency today regarding Turkish accounts of a story that supposedly never happened.

The ANA reports: "Turkish foreign sources on Tuesday denied reports appearing in the Turkish daily Hurriyet according to which Turkish foreign minister Abullah Gul has told Greek foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis that the Halki School of Theology could not reopen because its reopening would be contrary to the Turkish constitution and the principle of secularity.

The same sources said that "no such dialogue took place between the two (foreign) ministers" during their recent meeting in Sofia, as claimed by Hurriyet.

The article further claimed that Gul told Bakoyannis that religious education in Turkey is provided in accordance with the constitution, and that Ankara proposed that the Halki seminary be placed under the jurisdiction of the University of Istanbul, and that the proposal was rejected by the Ecumenical Patriarchate."

It's not likely that we should read too much into the denial, as the original story, even if not true, seems entirely believable. The Turks consistently have shaped and interpreted their "laws" and invoked their so-called secular tradition in a manner to deny the Orthodox Church's religious freedom in Turkey and then have assumed the mantle of "legality" for their actions. Just one example cited in the State Department's International Religious Freedom Report, in November 2004, Turkey's High Court of Appeals upheld the February 2004 expropriation of an orphanage that had belonged to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. (The Patriarchate has filed an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights.)

The Turks' closure of the Halki Seminary is a disgrace, and inconsistent with their aspirations to become a modern European country that respects religious freedom and the rule of law.

The second item appears in an American Hellenic Institute account of that group's recent meeting with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns at the State Department:

"Regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the group brought to Mr. Burns's attention an action perpetrated by the extreme radical group, the Grey Wolves, who “on January 30, 2006, the feast day of the Three Hierarchs, gathered in Smyrna [Izmir] to symbolically decapitate, decimate and burn in effigy His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. They placed this distorted image in a small boat and cast it out in Smyrna’s [Izmir’s] harbor, recalling the horrors visited upon Asia Minor Hellenes during the catastrophe of 1922.” (April 18, 2006 letter of Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate)

Mr. Burns expressed his astonishment to hearing this. The group offered a number of suggestions regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate that Mr. Burns said he found “interesting.”

What's notable here is that the U.S. State Department seems to have no way of finding out about this kind of hatred exhibited towards the Orthodox church in Turkey unless it is pointed out to it by a special interest group like the AHI. Even if it results in no substantive action taken by the State Department, it is vital that the Orthodox Christian community, through such groups as the AHI and the Archons, keep informing our government about these events. And it is gratifying to have a contact in the government, in Mr. Burns, who is willing to receive this information. We will look to see if this disturbing event is recorded in this year's report on religious freedom. -- John Metaxas

GREEK AMERICAN POLITICAL UPDATE
Angelides wins Democratic Party endorsement
Still faces tough campaign for June 6 California primary

L.A. Times: Angelides Has Work Cut Out for Him
L.A. Times: Angelides, Westly Go Negative in Debate

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2006

KARAMANLIS, ERDOGAN TO MEET
Athens-Ankara hotline revealed

Despite all the issues between them, Greece and Turkey are working to establish confidence building measures between each other. We will be watching closely the meeting between Prime Ministers Karamanlis and Erdogan scheduled for tomorrow in Thessaloniki. Leaders from eight southeastern European countries will attend the summit. Last Sunday, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis publicly revealed the existence of a telephone hotline between the Greek and Turkish air force command centers. Read more in the TURKISH WEEKLY.

MORE FALLOUT FROM RICE VISIT
Comments on Cyprus called "unacceptable and provocative"

The Cyprus Weekly is reporting: "REMARKS on Cyprus by Condoleezza Rice caused a storm in Nicosia and Athens this week, as it became obvious that the American Secretary of State was out to placate Turkey. Politicians and newspapers attacked her stand, noting in particular her call on the Cyprus government not to stand in the way of Turkey’s bid to join the European Union --without asking that Turkey meet its obligations as a candidate country." Read more in the CYPRUS WEEKLY.

The American Hellenic Institute wrote that the Turkish Cypriot isolation Ms. Rice spoke of "can be removed overnight by asking Turkey to remove:
    --     the over 40,000 illegal Turkish occupations troops;
    --     the 120,000 illegal Turkish settlers; and
    --     the Turkish Green Line barbed wire fence."

GREECE NOT ASKED TO ASSIST ANY U.S. OPERATION IN IRAN

The ANA reports: "Greece has not been asked to contribute in the event of a military operation by the United States against Iran, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos stressed on Tuesday. 'This issue has not been raised by anyone,' the spokesman said in response to questions."

While I have no quibbles with this comment, nor would I expect Greece to take part in such an operation if it were to occur, two points come to mind. First, I believe it was the contribution by FYROM of a token military force to the occupation forces in Iraq that led to President Bush's recognition of FYROM under the name "Macedonia," much to the consternation of Greece. This raises the question, has FYROM been approached by the U.S. to contribute to any Iranian operation?

The second point that comes to mind is the historical irony in Mr. Roussopoulos's comment. The last time the Persians posed such a threat to western civilization, the Greeks were leading the military operations, at Thermopylae and Salamis. -- John Metaxas

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2006

GUEST COMMENTARY:
WITH IRAN IN THE BACKGROUND, GREECE, CYPRUS, TURKEY AND THE EU CHALLENGE

Once again this week we are pleased to publish the political analysis of Dr. Christos Ioannides, the director of the Center for Byzantime and Modern Greek Studies at Queens College of the City University of New York. In today's commentary, Dr. Ioannides explains, among other things, how Turkish policies are contributing to rising "Turko-skepticism" in the EU. -- John Metaxas

BY DR. CHRISTOS P. IOANNIDES

Last Tuesday, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice paid a very brief visit to Athens where she met with Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis and Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis. The main topic of discussion was the simmering crisis over Iran and its nuclear program. Ms. Rice's objective was to solicit Greek support for Washington’s plans vis a vis Iran that might include the use of force. Earlier, the Secretary of State was in Ankara discussing the same subject with the Turkish leadership.

The Greek response to Ms. Rice was mixed. Greece is less than enthusiastic over the prospect of using force against Iran. Turkey is even cooler for that matter. Both countries have foreign policy headaches of their own. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE ARTICLE.

MONDAY, MAY 1, 2006
ISRAEL RECOGNIZES DEPOSED ORTHODOX PATRIARCH IN JERUSALEM
Ambassador Theros says Israeli actions amount to a violation of religious freedom

The AP is reporting the Israeli Cabinet minister Tzachi Hanegbi has written Irineos I, the deposed leader of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, confirming Israel's recognition of him as the continuing head of the church there despite the church's appointment of Theofilos III as his successor, the daily Haaretz reported last week. Click here for the full AP report. Irineos was ousted by the Synod of the Patriarchate after he allegedly signed a land deal leasing prime church properties to Jews who seek to increase their presence in prominently Arab east Jerusalem.

According to the account in AsiaNews.it, the Israeli refusal to recognize the new duly elected Patriarch Theophilos "has practical consequences: it prevents banks and other institutions in Israel from recognising Theophilos's signature on official acts" and is due to the fact that "the Government ... as the Israeli press has often said, wishes to force Theophilos to legitimise the sale of prominent Church properties in Jerusalem by Ireneos to Israeli settler organisations."

The representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the United States, Ambassador Patrick N. Theros, in a talk at the American Hellenic Institute in Washington in January, said Israel's recognition of Irineos was "near catastrophic for the Patriarchate.…It got to a point where the Patriarchate’s electricity was shut down.” Theros added the Church could neither pay the staff of its 40 schools, nor maintain the 400 churches within its jurisdiction. He said the Greek Government had stepped in temporarily to provide financial support in these areas.

The Patriarchate is seeking recourse in Israel's Supreme Court. Theros said in addition to being a legal issue, Israel's “refusal to recognize the Patriarchate is a violation of religious freedom.”

THANKS TO OUR READERS
In our first month of daily weekday publication, the response from our readers has been gratifying. In April, this site was accessed by more than 1,000 unique visitors. Thank you for your support. We hope to keep growing and ask that you pass the word about this Greek News Blog to your friends and colleagues.

TOMORROW...
Tomorrow we will publish a political analysis by Dr. Christos Ioannides titled: "With Iran in the Background, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and the EU Challenge." Dr. Ioannides explains how Turkish policies are contributing to rising "Turko-skepticism" in the EU.

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