Time counts backwards for the operation of the first official Islamic mosque in Athens, after years of struggle by the Muslim communities of Greece. The government has been involved in a race to complete the next few days the work of redevelopment of the surrounding area, the shaping and equipping of the interior of the mosque, and the process of recruiting Imam. The intention of the government is to function it officially at the beginning of April, and certainly before Easter.
At Maximum’s Palace, there is the thought of giving the proper splendour to the inauguration of the mosque with a great ceremony, to which even the leaders of Islamic states will be invited to attend. This shows that the country’s domestic affair, with the signature of Antonis Samaras, will be exploited by the government to promote the image of the Prime Minister internationally, while at the same time strengthening Greece’s profile, that it fully respects religious rights, constructing and operating a state mosque, as a continuation of the image he has achieved abroad after the Prespa Agreement.
The position of the Muslim communities is that the mosque in Islam is an obligation of the followers and believers rather than the state. They could take advantage of this suggestion without thinking that the mosque was made because Islamic countries were pressing, and not because it was a need to satisfy the religious needs of a large community living in Attica. Read More

On November 19, the EU’s foreign and defense ministers approved the project of a joint intelligence training school (Joint EU Intelligence School – JEIS), led by Greece with the participation of Cyprus.

This project is part of a list of 17 joint projectssigned within the PESCO framework[1]. PESCO (permanent structured cooperation) was launched in December 2017 by the EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy (EUGS), whose purpose is to broaden and deepen defence cooperation between EU countries, on air, land and sea. It has been signed by all EU states except Denmark, Malta and the United Kingdom. Read More

Wanted: More diverse candidates

MEPs and black politicians call on political groups to select candidates from diverse backgrounds of the next European elections.

With the European elections less than year away, Italian S&D group deputy Cecile Kyenge says, “It is my hope to see more black politicians in the European institution.” She adds, “Political parties should support black Europeans than seek to become candidate MEPs, by encouraging minority communities to participate on political issues.”  Speaking after the first EU People of African Descent (PAD) week conference in the European Parliament in May, Kyenge said the purpose of the event was to honour and recognise the contributions of black Europeans.  It was also, “an opportunity to raise issues concerning racial violence and Afrophobia, which is often overlooked by the European institutions.”
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In February 2010, I published an article on Lieberman’s threats in Syria. The point I made was that the Lieberman threats are motivated by fear. Now, three years later, the threats of the West against Syria escalate, and in the same time, threats to Israel with the possibility of a military conflict with Syria and Iran. The next hour of the Israeli attack is now expected in Iran. The threats are staggered with the two fronts on the one hand being Israel and on the other Syria, Iran and Lebanon.

It should be noted that US Secretary of State John Kerry recently met with Arab officials and mentioned to them that Israel’s direct attack on Iran is a matter of time, zero time is coming, and Arab countries will have to take the necessary measures. Read More