At Friday’s reception in Zagreb on the occasion of Orthodox Christmas – which for 30 years has been organized by the Serbian National Council, SNV, – the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic, Croatian and Serbian ministers, and Serbian Church leader Patriarch Porfirije, called for warmer relations between the two countries. SNV president Milorad Pupovac welcomed that government representatives were attending the event “in a significant and important composition”. “We who started this Christmas gathering could not have known what it would turn into,” he said, adding: “It is important to silence any hate speech and any insult to the suffering of one another.” His counterpart, the president of the Croatian National Council in Serbia, Jasna Vojnic, meanwhile said that she was pleased to see an ethnic Croat minister in the government of Serbia, referring to Tomislav Zigmanov, Minister for Human and Minority Rights. “We believe that resolving the issue of the missing [persons from the 1990s wars] would restore peace, that the condemnation of hate speech will bring security,” Vojnić said. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said: “We don’t think the same but we have to talk with each other. Dialogue on an equal basis is the only way to resolve the open issues that continue to burden us.” “Constructive solutions should be found for all controversial issues,” he added. “Usually, Christmas Day is spent in the company of loved ones, and I don’t believe that we are really the closest to each other. But if we have to live together, it’s time to live in peace,” he concluded. Croatian PM Plenkovic said he was “glad that I have the opportunity to be with you at this gathering one more year. The atmosphere is good, exactly as it should be,” he said, calling reconciliation a fundamental value. “Croatia was a victim [in the 1990s wars], that fact lives with us, with the families of the missing, those who died, soldiers, defenders, civilians. This legacy is difficult and burdens relations. It is important that we understand the fact, that we do not ignore something that is between us, which all governments should deal with. We will do everything to find those [victims of war] who are still being searched for, and also to build bridges of cooperation. “We will succeed in this in demanding circumstances,” said Plenković. “I am especially glad that the Croatian minority in Serbia got a new life,” he added, referring to Žigmanov. The position of Croats in Serbia, added Plenković, is improving. “In the global context, we are witnessing the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here, in Croatia, we stood on the right side of history, stood by the victim and sent messages of solidarity. We will continue to do so. Our whole life is about choices,” Plenkovic continued. Political analyst Davor Gjenero told BIRN that Dacic’s speech and Plenković’s answer were interesting. “Dacic says that ‘it is important to preserve peace’ and uses the typical rhetoric of the [Aleksandar] Vucic regime [in Serbia], as if it is not a regime that permanently causes instability in the Balkans in the interests of Russia.” “Plenkovic had two highlights in his speech. The first is a reference to the consequences of [Serbian leader] Slobodan Milošević’s aggression [in the 1990s], and the second is the contextualization of the Russian aggression against Ukraine to the Balkan context. This is a de facto message to Serbia that … while Serbia persists in its vassal position towards [Vladimir] Putin and Russia, we should not expect progress in bilateral relations,” Gjenero added. Gjenero noted that every statement made by Croatia is also a statement by the European Union. “This is also the EU’s response. This is important to Plenković because his priority is to isolate Croatia from the context of the Balkans, and he has succeeded in doing that with Croatia’s entry into the Schengen zone and the Eurozone.” He noted that Serbia, on the other hand, is currently not in the phase of serious negotiations on EU membership, even though it was in that phase under former Serbian President Boris Tadic, when relations were different. balkaninsight.com
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MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a cease fire in Ukraine over Orthodox Christmas, the Kremlin said on Thursday. Russian troops must hold fire for 36 hours from 1200 on Jan. 6, the Kremlin said. Many Orthodox Christians, including those living in Russia and Ukraine, celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6-7. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, called on Thursday for both sides of the war in Ukraine to observe a Christmas truce, a step dismissed by Kyiv as a cynical trap. “Taking into account the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation to introduce a cease-fire regime along the entire line of contact of the parties in Ukraine from 12.00 on January 6, 2023 to 24.00 on January 7, 2023,” Putin said in the order. “Proceeding from the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the areas of hostilities, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a cease-fire and allow them to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on Christmas Day,” Putin said. The Israeli airforce carried out a strike on Sunday night targeting Damascus International Airport that put it out of service temporarily, killed two soldiers and wounded two others, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported. A military source cited by SANA said that around 2 a.m., Israel carried out an air attack with “barrages of missiles, targeting Damascus International Airport and its surroundings.” The attack caused “the death of two soldiers… putting Damascus International Airport out of service,” it said. According to an official notice sent by Syrian aviation authorities, both runways at Damascus airport were closed following the strike. But in a later statement, the Syrian transportation ministry said the airport would re-open at 9:00 a.m., after authorities removed “damage caused by the Israeli aggression” and conducted repairs to damaged sites. There was no comment from the Israel Defense Forces, which does not generally confirm such raids on an individual basis. Last June airstrikes attributed to Israel struck Damascus International Airport, causing significant damage and rendering the main runway unserviceable. The airport opened two weeks later following repairs. Strikes at the airport were reported in previous years as well. Repair works are seen at Syria’s Damascus International Airport, after an airstrike attributed to Israel, June 12, 2022. (SANA)Generally, relatively large weapons are thought to be smuggled via Syria on Iranian cargo airlines, which frequently land at Damascus International and the Tiyas, or T-4, airbase, outside of the central Syrian city of Palmyra. The weaponry is then believed to be stored in warehouses in the area before being trucked to Lebanon. Israel in recent months has also targeted the Aleppo International Airport several times, according to Syria. As a rule, Israel’s military does not comment on specific strikes in Syria, but has admitted to conducting hundreds of sorties against Iran-backed groups attempting to gain a foothold in the country. The IDF says it also attacks arms shipments believed to be bound for those groups, chief among them Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Additionally, airstrikes attributed to Israel have repeatedly targeted Syrian air defense systems. The last strikes in Syria attributed to Israel were on December 19 and 20, when a secret Hezbollah drone site near the northwestern Syrian city of Homs was reportedly targeted, and several other sites in the Damascus area were hit. Times of Israel staff contributed to this report. New investments in Attica are in the works by Digital Realty, which is also putting forward a fifth data center in Koropi, while it is preparing by Christmas to send the file of Heraklion-1 to be included in the strategic investments scheme. The added value of its investment program for the Greek economy will climb to 4 billion euros. Yesterday’s emotionally charged opening of the company’s third data center, Athens-3, closes a 19-year cycle for Greek Lamda Hellix, which now not only belongs to the family of the world’s leading data center provider, but is also being renamed Digital Realty. The new investments are the connecting link in this chain, as they realize, as a 22-year vision for the country’s emergence as a regional data hub according to outgoing president and CEO Mr. Apostolos Kakkos. Besides, Digital Realty was one of the first technology companies in the world to invest in Greece, gaining a footprint in Southeast Europe, with the strategic goal of further strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure, in order to become an important interconnection hub of the Mediterranean. The demand for large loads is increasing The growing demand for large loads, which for our country is an unprecedented condition, is revving up the planning for new investments. It is typical that today there is a strong interest of large companies in loads of even 4MW, in other words, requiring even 2/3 of one of the large data centers, which need 1,000 sq.m. with 300-400 racks. Athens-3, which will welcome its first customers in Koropi in the first quarter of 2023, in its full development will be the largest data center in the country, with a capacity of 6.8MW and a total power of 20MVA. Greater than the capacity of all data centers in operation. It has four data rooms, capable of serving tens of thousands of high-density servers and peripheral systems, and approximately 3,100 sq.m. of total equipped space, and total building facilities of over 8,600 sq.m. Athens-4, which is also located within the Lamda Hellix campus, will have the same capacity. In fact, the necessary permits have been completed to start its construction, with the aim of starting its operation in 2024. Combined, the two investments exceed 140 million euros. However, the cycle of investments does not stop, as the plot of land, next to the existing campus, which will house Athens-5, has already been purchased. A logical development given that 5/7 of Athens-3 and 4/7 of the under construction Athens-4 have already been allocated. Targeting 2025 for Heraklion-1 At the same time, by Christmas, the file will be submitted to Enterprise Greece for the inclusion of the company’s first data center in Crete in the status of strategic investments of exceptional importance. Heraklion-1 will be the first large-scale multi-tenant data center on the island. His announcement alone has ignited the interest of 15 companies to pass underwater fiber optic cables through Crete. For Heraklion-1, memoranda of cooperation have already progressed or are progressing with recognized companies that develop new generation infrastructures, such as Vodafone, Grid Telecom, United, EXA and Medusa. The last is the underwater system that, starting from Israel, will cross the Mediterranean and in 2024 will reach Spain. The intense interest shown brings the possibility of a second phase for Digital Realty’s investments on Crete very close. This new data center is expected to serve as an interconnection hub for transcontinental and regional submarine cables and as a hub for global data traffic. It is expected to support the development of up to 6.5 MW of installed IT load, with the first phase scheduled for completion in 2025. The profile of Lamda Hellix which became Digital Realty Starting around 2000 from the then innovative for Greek data idea of creating a leading data center provider in Greece, envisioned by its founder, Mr. Apostolos Kakkos, Lamda Hellix is turning the page. Two years after its acquisition by American firm Digital Realty, it is fully integrated into the new corporate image and identity, under the brand name of its parent company. “Since the acquisition of Lamda Hellix by Digital Realty, we have committed significant resources to the integration of our systems, operations and processes and are extremely happy that we are now able to rebrand under the “Digital Realty” brand and focus on the common purpose that has solidified Digital Realty’s presence in around the world: to help build a unified global company whose mission is to connect companies and data in bold new ways that fuel the innovation that defines our future,” he emphasized. Moving into the realm of history, one year after the company was founded, in 2003, its first data center in Koropi, Athens-1, was put into operation. It has achieved a unique record of 100% availability and energy saving. It is the first data center worldwide to receive the LEED Building Operations and Maintenance: Data Centers v4 Gold certification for its green operation in 2016. Mr. Kakkos from the position of founder, once the main shareholder, the president and to this day the managing director, a position he will hand over on January 1, 2023, has experienced all the phases of evolution and development, which led the company to the top of the domestic market and to the deal with the American giant. The company also owns Athens-2, whose infrastructure and capacity was expanded in 2020. Designed to serve needs of any size, type or complexity, it uses advanced technologies and systems providing customers with economies of scale and significant savings. The new Athens-3 will offer Power of 6.8 MW IT in 8,600 sq.m. building facilities, enabling the operation of thousands of servers and high-density peripheral systems. It was designed and built, according to Tier III standards, in order to also receive LEED Gold certification, and is part of Digital Realty’s wider vision to place Greece on the global digital map and increase its competitiveness. in.gr Russia plans to equip its troops with a full-body “iron man” suit made of composite armor in a project called “Legionnaire” for the country’s next generation of soldiers. According to a local defense manufacturer, the suit will look like medieval armor and completely cover a warfighter’s body. The company stated that creating an armored suit to increase soldier survivability and protection is a priority for all leading military powers. “Today it will cover the entire body of a warrior and at the same time answer the question of whether it is possible to create ‘armor’ from modern materials that will provide effective protection against small arms,” Armocom deputy general director Oleg Faustov told RIA Novosti. He stressed the need for a strong exoskeleton and an external skeleton to support the suit and protect the person inside. Risks for Future Soldiers The plan to develop an “iron man” suit for Russian soldiers comes amid the increasing belief that humans will not fight in wars at all in the future. Instead, robots and drones will perform combat missions previously carried out by human soldiers. But according to Faustov, these technological advancements will not completely eliminate the need for a real person to conduct military operations. A person will reportedly still have to occupy certain positions on the battlefield, resulting in greater risks. “Machines cannot occupy certain lines and territories on their own, in any case a person enters,” Faustov told state-owned Sputnik. “To do this, of course, [soldiers] must be protected as much as possible. [This applied to all] leading armies [in] the world and we are no exception.” Sources privy to the development have revealed that the research phase for the project has been reduced from three years to one year, with an estimated completion by the end of 2023. The Shura (Consultative) Council in Qatar yesterday expressed its rejection of a recent resolution by the European Parliament regarding human rights in the Gulf country. The parliament adopted a resolution last Thursday calling on Doha and FIFA “to extend compensation for families of workers who suffered while building World Cup 2022 infrastructure.” It said that there were human rights “abuses” that were believed to have caused the deaths of migrant workers. The Speaker of the Council, Hassan Bin Abdullah Al-Ghanim, said that the European Parliament’s stance was based on “false allegations and misleading information.” He added that it was continuing its “systematic, suspicious and heinous campaigns targeting the State of Qatar for hosting the World Cup.” According to Al-Ghanim, “Despite Qatar’s efforts to host the FIFA World Cup following the measures that were agreed by the parliament itself, European leaders have preferred to back those who reject the tournament being hosted by an Arab and Muslim country.” This, the Council Speaker pointed out, is a move that exposes “hypocrisy, double standards and racism.” RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has announced the discovery of two new natural gas fields in the Kingdom. The “Awtad” unconventional natural gas field was discovered southwest of the Ghawar field, 142 kilometers southwest of the city of Hofuf, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The “Al-Dahna” unconventional natural gas field is located 230 kilometers southwest of the city of Dhahran. Both fields were discovered by Saudi Aramco. Prince Abdulaziz said that the importance of these discoveries lies in increasing Saudi Arabia’s natural gas reserves, which would in turn support the Kingdom’s strategies and help realize the objectives of the Liquid Fuel Displacement Program. The Minister of Energy added that the discoveries underline the wealth of natural resources the Kingdom has at its disposal. The Football Federation of Kosovo, FFK, on Friday said it had filed a complaint to the world football governing body, FIFA, about a banner shown on Thursday in the Serbian national team’s locker room in Qatar. The banner was reportedly pictured before Serbia played Brazil on Thursday in the first round of the World Cup in Qatar. Brazil beat Serbia 2:0. The banner shows a map of Kosovo with a Serbian flag within it and with the words “No Surrender” (“Nema Predaje”), seen as a reference to Serbs in northern Kosovo resisting government pressure to change Serbia-issued licence plates for Kosovo-issued ones. The picture went viral among Twitter users from Kosovo, demanding that FIFA take action. The FFK called the banner “aggressive” and “unacceptable”. “Such chauvinist acts have no place in sporting events, let alone inside the premises where the biggest event of world football is taking place,” it said in a statement. “FFK, as an equal member of FIFA, demands this institution undertake sanctioning measures against acts that incite hatred among people and contradict with human values,” it added. Kosovo’s Minister of Sports, Hajrulla Ceku, also condemned the banner, calling for FIFA to act. “Disgraceful images from Serbia locker room, displaying hateful, xenophobic and genocidal messages towards Kosova, while exploiting FIFA World Cup platform. “We expect concrete actions from FIFA, considering that the FFK is a full FIFA and UEFA member,” Ceku wrote. This is not the first time global sporting events have been hijacked by political disputes. In the 2018 World Cup, held in Russia, FIFA fined two Swiss players, Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, 10,000 Swiss francs [8,600 euros] for celebrating their goals against Serbia with a double-headed eagle gesture, symbolising the Albanian flag. Switzerland had beaten Serbia 2:1. Xhaka and Shaqiri are both ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, which broke away from Serbia in war in 1999 and declared independence almost a decade later but is not recognised by Serbia. On Friday, the FFK said that, as the most popular sport in the world “football conveys values of unity and not of division… And this act does not imply such values and should be punished as such”. FIFA accepted the FFK as its 210th member in Mexico City in 2016. https://balkaninsight.com/ Two consecutive attacks on the Tsar Boris Bulgarian cultural club in the North Macedonian town of Ohrid have put fresh strain on efforts to overcome sensitive disputes between North Macedonia and Bulgaria. Bulgaria on Thursday sent a protest note to Skopje, calling the attacks a serious crime, as Skopje condemned the attacks as “barbaric acts”, insisting it is working to uncover the perpetrators. “I condemn the attack […] I expect the institutions to launch a swift and detailed investigation,” North Macedonia’s President, Stevo Pendarovski, said on Thursday. In the first attack, on Tuesday evening, security footage showed a group of masked persons stoning the club and breaking its windows. The next evening, in a more serious incident, nearby residents heard gunshots that were apparently directed at the club. The Bulgarian “Macedonia” foundation, which runs the club, said four bullets had ended inside the club and the attacker or attackers fired their shots while the lights in the club were on, suggesting they were aware that they could hurt someone inside. It called for immediate action to arrest the attackers, and if not, urged Bulgaria to cut the electricity and gas supply to North Macedonia. There were no reported injuries in the attacks. North Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday wrote that it “sharply condemns the barbaric acts”, adding that such events are utterly unacceptable and can endanger human lives and “strengthen the retrograde processes that are contrary to the European integration of the country”. Bulgaria on Wednesday summoned North Macedonia’s ambassador to Sofia, Agnesa Rusi-Popovska, handing her a protest note. Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry told North Macedonia it was not enough to classify the attacks as barbaric acts but as “heavy criminal acts”. The protest note demanded the immediate discovery and punishment of the perpetrators, stating that the current “systemic absence of appropriate measures creates a feeling of impunity”. Relations between Skopje and Sofia deteriorated in 2020 when Bulgaria blocked the start of North Macedonia’s EU accession talks, citing different views on identity and history. Sofia has insisted that the Macedonian language and identity have Bulgarian origin and that during World War II Nazi-allied Bulgaria did not “occupy” much of today’s North Macedonia but merely administered it. These views are deeply offensive for many Macedonians, who suspect an attempt by Sofia to whitewash Bulgarian history and negate Macedonian identity, all under cover of EU integration. This summer, a compromise put forward by the former French EU presidency bore fruit, resulting in Bulgaria conditionally lifting its blockade. North Macedonia was obliged to add Bulgarians to the Constitution, naming them among the country’s constitutive nations, and continue talks on history matters. The recent opening of the two Bulgarian clubs in Ohrid and in Bitola, both sponsored by private donors, and named after Nazi collaborators, added insult to the injury for many Macedonians and challenged diplomatic efforts to overcome the broader disputes. The first club, opened in April in Bitola, was named after Ivan Mihailov, a controversial 20th-century nationalist leader who became a Nazi collaborator. The club in Ohrid, opened in October, was named after Tsar or King Boris III of Bulgaria – who led Bulgaria into the Axis alliance in World War II and occupied much of today’s North Macedonia. The club attacks are expected to stain Friday’s planned opening of a Bulgarian Culture and Information Centre in Skopje, which unlike the clubs, is officially sponsored by the auithorities in Sofia. North Macedonia’s and Bulgaria’s Culture Ministers, Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojcevska and Velislav Minekov respectively, were due to attend the opening. In return, North Macedonia plans to open its own such centre in Blagoevgrad in Bulgaria in the near future. Condemning the attacks and expecting the opening ceremony to go ahead in Skopje, North Macedonia’s PM Dimitar Kovacevski on Thursday said cooperation between the two peoples should be channelled through such official centres, and not through private clubs which can “only serve as provocations, due to their names”. https://balkaninsight.com/ At a highly unusual time of year for a football World Cup, amid high temperatures, humidity and criticism of Qatar’s record on human rights, 32 countries’ national teams are now in the Gulf state, waiting for the tournament’s curtain-raiser to start on Sunday. Croatia, the most successful national team in the Balkans, having reached the final at the Russia 2018 tournament only to lose against France, are hoping to consolidate their reputation. But for manager Zlatko Dalic, the challenge will be harder although the team he is hanging his hopes upon is almost the same which shone in 2018 with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, 37, in his final international competition. “When you see the Brazilian team, you know how strong it is, it is the best team. However, they were also the favorites last time and were eliminated by Belgium,” Dalic, whose team is 12th in the football world governing body FIFA’s current rankings, told media in Zagreb before departure to Qatar. “There are favorites, but nothing is certain,” he added. Croatia will play in Group F against Belgium, Morocco and Canada, with their first match against Morocco on November 23. “I am not running away from the fact that we are good, but I will not put a burden on the players or myself. Let’s do our best,” Dalic said Ranked 21st in FIFA’s current ranking list, Serbia will play in Group G against Brazil, Switzerland and Cameroon. The Serbs will kick their campaign off on November 24 against Brazil at the Lusail Stadium. Serbia’s national team head coach, Dragan Stojkovic, said the group of players he selected for the major football tournament earned their places on merit for their performances during the qualification stage, with a group of in-form attackers consisting of Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus, Dusan Tadic of Ajax and Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham. “The style we play brought us results. This group absolutely deserves to be at the World Cup and we are going to play the best way we can… We have quality and solidarity on the pitch, [we have] our goals and are focused on reaching these goals,” Stojkovic said on Monday. Poland, with their star striker Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona, have been drawn in the same group as Argentina, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Poland’s first match of the campaign will be played against Mexico on November 22 at Stadium 974. Poland’s head coach, Czeslaw Michniewicz, said before their departure to Qatar that he and his team have been prepared together for the tournament for a long time. “We analysed and watched many matches. Finally, we chose the line-up as it is. I realise that not everyone is happy,” Michniewicz said when pressed about players he left out of the squad. As well as being staged at an unusual time of year in an attempt to avoid extreme heat, the 2022 World Cup tournament has been dogged by controversies about the alleged exploitation of migrant workers to build the stadiums and the poor treatment of LGBT people in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal. How the teams line up: Croatia Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivica Ivusic (Osijek), Ivo Grbic (Atletico Madrid) Defenders: Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens), Dejan Lovren (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Borna Barisic (Rangers), Josip Juranovic (Celtic), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Martin Erlic (Sassuolo), Josip Sutalo (Dinamo Zagreb) Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Lovro Majer (Rennes), Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Luka Sucic (Red Bull Salzburg) Forwards: Ivan Perisic (Tottenham), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Mislav Orsic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split) Serbia Goalkeepers: Marko Dmitrovic (Sevilla), Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (Torino), Marko Ilic (Kortrijk) Defenders: Stefan Mitrovic (Getafe), Filip Mladenovic (Legia Warsaw), Strahinja Pavlovic (Salzburg), Milos Veljkovic (Werder Bremen), Aleksa Terzic (Fiorentina), Erhan Masovic (Bochum), Strahinja Erakovic (Red Star Belgrade), Srdan Babic (Almeria); Midfielders: Dusan Tadic (Ajax), Nemanja Gudelj (Sevilla), Filip Kostic (Juventus), Nemanja Maksimovic (Getafe), Filip Duricic (Sampdoria), Nemanja Radonjic (Torino), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio), Sasa Lukic (Torino), Andrija Zivkovic (PAOK), Stefan Mitrovic (Red Star Belgrade), Uros Racic (Braga), Ivan Ilic (Hellas Verona), Darko Lazovic (Hellas Verona) Forwards: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham), Luka Jovic (Fiorentina), Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus) Poland Goalkeepers: Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus), Lukasz Skorupski (Bologna), Kamil Grabara (Copenhagen) Defenders: Kamil Glik (Benevento), Bartosz Bereszynski (Sampdoria), Jan Bednarek (Aston Villa), Matty Cash (Aston Villa), Robert Gumny (Augsburg), Artur Jedrzejczyk (Legia Warsaw), Jakub Kiwior (Spezia), Mateusz Wieteska (Clermont), Nicola Zalewski (Roma) Midfielders: Piotr Zielinski (SSC Napoli), Kamil Grosicki (Pogon Szczecin), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Al-Shabab Riyadh), Damian Szymanski (AEK FC), Sebastian Szymanski (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Przemyslaw Frankowski (RC Lens), Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City), Jakub Kaminski (VfL Wolfsburg), Michal Skoras (Lech Poznan), Szymon Zurkowski (ACF Fiorentina) Forwards: Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona), Arkadiusz Milik (Juventus FC), Krzysztof Piatek (US Salernitana 1919), Karol Swiderski (Charlotte FC) https://balkaninsight.com/ The mapping of the three data centers, the importance for Greece and the emphasis on green energy The licensing of Microsoft’s large investment in Attica is progressing step by step. With a horizon of full operation in 2025, the first data center region of the technological giant in southeastern Europe, is estimated to have a 1 billion euro impact on the Greek economy. The environmental licensing of the huge project, which includes three Data Centers in Spata and Koropi, is on track. The Ministry of Development and Investments has published for consultation the Strategic Environmental Impact Study (SES) of the “Investment in Data Centers in Greece” project. The completion of environmental licensing will put the project, which has been included in the regime of strategic investments, in the final stretch for implementation, with the first step being the tender for the selection of a contractor. Over 100 new jobs per Data Center According to the study, the total budget for the 3 Data Centers in the decade has been calculated at 976,168,800 euros, of which 746,548,800 euros will be directed to capital costs, including the purchase of land, construction of buildings and procurement technological equipment. The remaining 229,620,000 euros are calculated for staff operational costs, building maintenance costs and public utility services. It will also contribute to employment growth by creating more than 100 high-quality direct jobs (35 per shift) in each of the Data Centers during the operational phase. The operation of the three data centers will be continuous, 365/24/7, with shifts, with the result that each post leads to the creation of 3-4 full-time jobs. The main types of jobs that will be created will be in the fields of security, facilities operation and IT. Microsoft’s investment is yet another vote of confidence both in the Greek economy and in the prospects of our country emerging as a regional data hub. It is indicative that today Microsoft operates Data Centers in 4 countries of the European Union, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Ireland. They are under construction in 3 more countries, Poland, Italy and Spain. The first data center region in south-eastern Europe is being created in Greece, also upgrading the geostrategic role of our country, at a time when data is becoming the new gold. The largest of the three data centers in Spata The first data center, to which the published Environmental Impact Study concerns, will be constructed in the area of Spata, within the Petra Gialos-Voulia-Prokalissi Business Park. Essentially, it will be the largest link in the chain of three facilities, with twice the capacity of the other two, which will be located in Koropi, at a distance of 9-10 km from the property in question. Its capacity will be 19.2 MW. The reason why the solution of the cluster of three Data Centers, which will operate in absolute harmony with each other, is chosen, is to meet very strict security standards and to ensure uninterrupted operation even in the event of a failure in one, e.g. due to natural disaster. As described in the study, the first data center will be spread over two plots, with an area of 69,538.91 sq.m. and 14,999.35 sq.m. respectively, separated by a road. These are located approximately 1.5 km north of the city of Spata, 33 km east of Athens and 5 km north of “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport. In the larger of the two, the Data Center facilities will be constructed, both the core, the so-called Ballard Building, with the servers, the mechanical room, the electrical equipment, as well as the administration building. A fenced area will also be created for the exclusive use of power substations with an independent entrance from the south side of the plot. An internal substation will also be created within the installation site for the distribution of the average voltage on the plot. All energy from RES Focusing on energy conservation and the principles of sustainable development, the energy that will be consumed in the data centers will come entirely from renewable sources. In addition, Microsoft is committed to consuming 100% green energy by 2030. Each facility will have a photovoltaic power generation system, which will be properly connected to the electricity distribution network. In this direction, as provided in the Environmental Impact Study, electric vehicle charging stations are to be created in the special parking area within the main facility. “Smart” and energy-efficient LED lighting will also be installed inside and outside the main data center facility. Controls of energy consumption for lighting will be carried out by photocells, timers and suitable sensors, so that the lighting is not activated unnecessarily. The exterior and emergency areas, where staff will be located for long periods of time will be manually checked. A building energy management system will also be installed, with real time monitoring. Also, a building management system will be installed, which will control and can notify in case of increased consumption. To service the main building, it is planned to construct a water treatment unit for use in the cooling system, a pumping station, a reverse osmosis unit, three water storage tanks and two rainwater retention/storage ponds at the entrance of the facility. As far as water management is concerned, efficient equipment and systems will be available for consumption and for cleaning operations, while as much reuse as possible will be done. Finally, power meters or flowmeters will be installed at various points of the operating systems and equipment to control the consumption of water, electricity and fuel. in.gr Nikos Vettas, Director General, IOBE and professor, Athens University of Economics, Grigoris D. Dimitriadis, managing director of the Superfund, Nikos Karamouzis, president, Grant Thornton and Haris Lambropoulos, president of the Hellenic Development Investment Bank, speaking at the Fortune Greece CEO Initiative, came to the common conclusion that despite the new challenges facing the Greek economy, it will stand at a better level than other European economies in 2023, despite the fact that the performance will fall short of 2022. Mr. Vettas noted that Greece has “reservoirs” that will allow it to maintain the positive dynamics it has developed, but he pointed out that the country should also be prepared for the unfavorable scenario where the European environment will be derailed, due to the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis. Greece’s steps should focus on extroversion and innovation. He pointed out that there is huge liquidity due to the Recovery Fund, pointing out the need for proper use of the funds. The Greek economy is potentially at the beginning of a positive cycle. Read also: UBS: Growth in Greece will remain strong An election year Mr. Dimitriadis expressed his optimism that the economy will continue to grow, stressing that there must be a continuation of all efforts even though 2023 is an election year, something very important for continued FDI in Greece. He referred to the investment interest that exists for Greece with an emphasis on areas such as real estate development Mr. Karamouzis emphasized that the ECB should not proceed with a front-loading increase in interest rates, given that the problem in Europe is a cost and supply problem. He referred to the small sizes of Greek SMEs compared to their European counterparts and spoke of the boldness on the part of businesses to seek capital to invest in their own businesses and not rely only on the state. Mr. Lambropoulos pointed out that 2023 will be a year full of challenges pointing out that the dynamics of the Greek economy has taken a course and needs consistency in adapting to the fiscal goals. Speaking about the funds of the Recovery and Resilience Fund he said that they represent a historic challenge and a unique opportunity to be used and not just absorbed, emphasizing the same participation. Foreign funds have put Greece on their radar, they see Greek talent and development prospects, he added. The head of the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, has died aged 81 after a long battle with cancer. According to an announcement from his doctors, the Archbishop passed away peacefully at 6.40am on Monday. “The Archbishop fell peacefully asleep after facing the test of his illness with courage, patience and Christian determination,” the statement said. “What those of us who were close to him experienced during the difficult hours of his illness, was his humility, the kindness of his soul and his profound faith as well as his concern for his flock. He leaves behind a work characterized by foresight, boldness, highlighting and respecting and restoring the Church’s historical tradition along with innovative changes, always seeking the harmony and unity of the Church. What we will remember will always be with us is his honesty, kindness, kindness and smile,” noted the statement A session of the Holy Synod is expected to convene within the day. Early life He was born in 1941 in the village of Tala in Pafos. Immediately after primary education, he became a novitiate monk at the Holy Monastery of Agios Neophytos and then attended the Paphos High School. He graduated from high school in 1963 and on November 3 of the same year was ordained a deacon. In 1968, he began his studies at the Theological School of the University of Athens, from where he graduated in 1972. On October 19 of the same year, he was unanimously elected abbot of the Monastery of Agios Neophytos, he was ordained elder and installed as abbot on November 12 by Archbishop Makarios III. Archbishop Chrysostomos II was enthroned as Archbishop in November 2006 after a contentious election campaign. He was known to have outspoken views on many issues from how the Church was run, to the Cyprus issue. He also weighed in unabashedly on social issues like homosexuality, gay adoption rights and abortion, often causing major controversies. He always described himself as a realist and saw no reason to seek out popularity. Born Herodotos Demetriou on April 10, 1941 in Tala, Paphos he lost his father at the age of ten. After finishing primary school, two years later, he became a novice at the Ayios Neophytos Monastery in Paphos from where he continued his education, graduating high school in 1963. On November 3 that year, he was ordained by Bishop Georgios of Trimithounda and for the next five years, he was a deacon at the monastery and working there, where he picked up a flair for business dealings. In 1968, he began tertiary studies in theology at the University of Athens, graduating in 1972. On October 19, 1972, he was elected abbot at Ayios Neophytos. In February 1978, Chrysostomos was elected Bishop of Paphos, which threw him into the public eye. Following the retirement of Archbishop Chrysostomos I in 2006 due to Alzheimer’s, Chrysostomos was named locum tenens until his election as Archbishop on November 5, 2006. He was enthroned a week later on November 12 at St Nicholas Cathedral in Nicosia. Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $581.2-million contract to supply the US Navy with more UGM-133A Trident II submarine-launched nuclear ballistic missiles. According to the US Department of Defense, the contract also benefits a foreign military sale to the UK. The agreement calls for the American firm to integrate Trident II missiles into the next-generation ballistic submarine designs of the two allied countries. Work for the contract will be performed in Florida and other parts of the US. It is expected to be completed by September 2027. The contract may also reach a total value of $1.2 billion if modification options are exercised. The Trident II Missiles The Trident II D5 is regarded as one of the world’s most advanced long-range submarine-launched nuclear missiles. It has a maximum range of 4,000 to 7,000 miles (6,437 to 11,265 kilometers), and its navigation subsystem uses a combination of inertial and celestial guidance. Deployed on the Ohio-class submarine, the missile serves as the US Navy’s primary sea-based nuclear ballistic missile. The service currently operates a total of 14 Ohio-class submarines that carry the Trident II. “The Trident II D5 missile has achieved 167 successful test launches since design completion in 1989 – a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle,” Lockheed Martin stated on its website. The railway and road connections between Greece and Bulgaria, as well as the cooperation in the port of Alexandroupoli, which is becoming an energy hub of particular geopolitical importance, were at the center of the meeting of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Kostas Karamanlis, with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications of Bulgaria, Hristo Alexie , the Minister of Economy and Industry Nikola Stoyanov, the Minister of Energy Rosen Christov and the Ambassador of Bulgaria Valentin Poriazov. “Solidarity and cooperation” In his statements after the meeting, Mr. Karamanlis noted that that it highlighted the solidarity and cooperation of the two countries, especially at a time when in the Balkans and Europe are facing difficult challenges due to the war in Ukraine. Noting that in the poast the so-called iron curtain divided the two countries which are now united by the European Union to their mutual benefit. This is the reason for the emphasis plafced on the transnational project “Sea2Sea”, the modern high-speed railway connection with Bulgaria, but also with Romania. From the Aegean to the Black Sea Thie mega project will connect the ports of northern Greece and the Aegean with the Black Sea and the Danube creating a land freight bridge, bypassing the Bosphorus Strait. Thessaloniki and Kavala will become ports of exit for all products from South-Eastern Europe. And Alexandroupolis will emerge as a transport and infrastructure hub, as well as an energy hub of the wider region stressed Mr. Karamanlis. Beyod the Sea2Sea Project the two sides also discussed road freight transport and cross-border crossings. “Project of strategic importance” For his part, Mr. Alexiev noted that the railway axis Thessaloniki – Kavala – Alexandroupoli – Burgas – Varna – Ruse is a project of strategic importance that will provide an opportunity to improve transport links and expand economic potential, helping to develop the connectivity of the entire region. The corridor will be an alternative land connection route between the Aegean – Black Sea and the Danube, facilitating interconnection, but also developing the TEN-T transport network. “Attractive opportunity for investors” “This alternative route could be an extremely attractive opportunity for investors, but also for cargo operators. It is a corridor with capacity capable and sufficient to meet future demand, while there is the potential to attract additional freight traffic. In all of this, we should point out that this corridor is an attractive alternative to the existing routes, both in terms of cost reduction and travel time”, he concluded. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands will pay an official three-day visit to Greece on Sunday, following an invitation by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. The royal couple will arrive in Greece on Sunday. Their official schedule will begin on Monday (Oct. 31) with the laying of a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square. They will then be welcomed by Sakellaropoulou at a ceremony at the presidential mansion (09:35), where the decoration of the royal couple and the president will take place. A private meeting between the Greek president and the Dutch royals will take place at 09:45, and will include the president’s partner, Pavlos Kotsonis. At 10:30, the Dutch king and queen will meet with the Ombudsmen of Greece and Holland at the Netherlands Institute at Athens, and at 13:30 they will visit the archaeological site of the Acropolis. At 15:00 the royal visitors will meet with Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis at Technopolis (“Gazi”) and attend a reception by the Dutch community, while at 20:00 President Sakellaropoulou will host a formal dinner at the presidential mansion in their honor. On Tuesday (Nov. 1), the king and queen of Holland and Sakellaropoulou will attend a round-table discussion on violence against women at the National Library of Greece, on the premises of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), after which (at 11:00) they will attend the 14th competition of innovation and startup entrepreneurship “The Squeeze” at the SNFCC’s Faros (Lighthouse) building. Later on the same day (12:25), the royal couple will visit the “Elpida” Oncological Unit, the country’s first pediatric oncology hospital, and at 15:00 they will visit a school and housing facilities for young people. Their Tuesday schedule will end with a dinner in honor of President Sakellaropoulou hosted by them at the Megaron Concert Hall (20:00). On Wednesday (Nov. 2), the king and queen will travel to Thessaloniki to continue and complete their official visit to Greece. Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi was due to address a Belgrade conference on Friday via video after his planned visit to Serbia’ capital was banned before it started, on Thursday. Serbia’s Interior Ministry did not reply to BIRN’s request to explain the reasons for the decision by time of publication. Bislimi, Kosovo’s coordinator for the EU-facilitated dialogue with Serbia, had been invited to participate in a panel at Belgrade Security Conference. But he had to return to Kosovo when Serbian authorities stopped his delegation on their way to Belgrade. “Delegation with First Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Besnik Bislimi, who would have been the highest official of Kosovo to take part in Belgrade Security Conference, was returned to Kosovo, one hour before arriving in Belgrade. The reason cited was ‘security concerns’,” the BSC said. “Besnik Bislimi was due to take part in second day of conference Panel titled ‘Kosovo and Serbia – Escaping the Dead-End’.” However, Bislimi on Thursday night told the media that the reason for his ban likely “lies somewhere else”. “We had aimed to provide Belgrade, the diplomatic corp and citizens there with Kosovo’s version of developments… You know that citizens in Serbia are exposed to a terrible propaganda by the Serbian government,” Bislimi said. “We were stopped around 85 kilometres before we reached Belgrade. It is illogical to detect a security threat immediately. This could have happened here at the [Kosovo] border and not all the way [until near Belgrade],” Bislimi went on. “This is a proof on how Serbia sees the wish or readiness for normalisation of relations with Kosovo,” he added. Bislimi explained that a police car had joined the convoy and then asked them to stop on the road to Belgrade while authorities communicated to Serbia’s Kosovo Office in Belgrade that the delegation should return home “due to security concerns”. “We did not have any information at all about security, or any threat. I think all this was fake. The aim was to not allow the participation of a Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister in such a forum in Belgrade because it is the main forum that is held this year there, and I think there was big resistance to presenting the truth for Kosovo in such a forum,” Bislimi said. Although such visits are regulated through an agreement reached in the European Union-facilitated dialogue in 2014, the issue of visits has often been fraught. On Wednesday, the head of the Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, announced that he had to cut short his stay in Kosovo, blaming Pristina authorities for not allowing him to complete his agenda. Speaking in the eastern Kosovo village of Pasjane/Pasjan, Petkovic said that three other visits to Serb-inhabited areas would not now be done. “Yesterday [Tuesday], around 16:00 hours, my visit was approved as I requested it. However, somewhere around midnight I received a new email where almost 80 per cent of the program of my visit was banned,” Petkovic said. The European Union called on both Kosovo and Serbia on Friday to not politicise visits. “Official visits play an important role in promotion of normalisation of relations and understanding between countries and these visits should not be politicised,” Peter Stano, EU Spokesperson, told Radio Free Europe. https://balkaninsight.com/ Greece celebrates October 28th: Pilot’s message “Honor to those who guard Thermopylae” VIDEO28/10/2022
An impressive demonstration of acrobatics and daring maneuvers was presented for one more year by the “ZEUS” team of the Hellenic Air Force, with the “protagonist” being the F-16 Block52+ Fighting Falcon aircraft of the 340th Squadron belonging to the 115th Fighter Wing and piloted by the major, Christodoulos Giakoumis.
As every year, the pilot of the ZEUS team of the Air Force moved the audience with his message, in flight. “We are and will remain ready. Honor to those who guard Thermopylae. Happy birthday” he said in his message. The presentation of the demonstration was carried out by the pilot Nikolaos Papaisidorou. The message of the President of the Republic In her message, the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, said: “Major, today we celebrate the heroes who fought in the ‘Albanian saga’ and sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and with them all of you in the Armed Forces, tireless guards who ensure national sovereignty. Your country is grateful. Best wishes and happy landings.” Who is the Major Christodoulos Giakoumis entered the Ikaron School in 2002. In 2007, he was assigned to the 116PM/336 Squadron on A-7E Corsair II aircraft, while in 2009 he was assigned to the 115PM/SMET on F-16 Block52+ aircraft. Since 2010 he has been serving in the 340 Squadron. He has more than 1700 flight hours, of which 1300 are in F-16 aircraft. He is the same one who flew last year with the F-16 of the Air Demonstration Group over Thessaloniki on October 28, sending a shocking message with lyrics by Kostis Palamas and causing shivers of emotion. The CEO of Greece’s postal service (EL.TA) was the latest political “casualty” on Tuesday26/10/2022 The CEO of Greece’s postal service (EL.TA) was the latest political “casualty” on Tuesday, in the wake of a revelation that a deputy with ruling New Democracy (ND) purchased a tranche of NPLs – at 1/15 of their nominal value – for 4.3 million euros. Hours after the news broke, and was confirmed, the ruling party expelled MP Andreas Patsis, who is elected from the single-deputy constituency of Grevena, a prefecture in northwest Greece. In close order, appointed EL.TA executive Giorgos Konstantopoulos tendered his resignation after media reports in the Greek capital on Tuesday buzzed with allegations that EL.TA’s management had doled out one million euros to Patsis for “legal advice” and representation. Earlier, a spokesman for main opposition SYRIZA party had accused the now independent deputy of benefiting from directly assigned contracts by the post office. The spokesman, Nasos Iliopoulos, also charged that the Patsis’ statement of means declaration – obligatory for office-holders in the country – in no way justifies capital of 4.3 million euros, used to buy the tranche of NPLs. Bulgaria will not compete in the next Eurovision Song Contest, due to take place in Liverpool in the UK in May 2023. It is not listed in the officially confirmed list of participating countries. Bulgarian National Television, which funds local participants and broadcasts the show, has yet to officially comment on the reason for the withdrawal. It did not respond to BIRN’s questions over the matter by time of publication. The confirmed list also does not mention other regional countries such as Slovakia. Earlier in October, North Macedonia and Montenegro pulled out, citing financial issues over rising registration costs triggered by the exclusion of Russia as a sanction for the war in Ukraine. Bulgaria has had a rocky relationship with the popular contest. It did not compete until 2005 and through the years controversies and changing regulations often followed the process of choosing a representative. Bulgaria’s best performance was in 2017, when Kristian Kostov – now an established singer who found popularity in Asia and who before the war in Ukraine was based in Moscow – reached second place. Polly Genova also made an impression in 2016 when she reached fourth place. Funding has also been an issue. In 2019, Bulgaria passed the opportunity to participate when the national television was troubled to fund a representative and secure broadcasting rights. In the last two editions the representatives (Victoria in 2021 and heavy metal band Intelligent Music Project in 2022) competed through a mixture of private sponsorship and state funding. The war also affected the location of the 2023 contest. In the last edition Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the popular vote and brought the show in Kyiv. With war raging, the contest was moved to the UK. https://balkaninsight.com/ ISTANBUL: Turkey’s defense ministry and top government officials on Thursday firmly rejected allegations that the Turkish Armed Forces had used chemical weapons in their operations against Kurdish militants. Media close to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group published videos this week which it said showed chemical weapons being used by the army against the PKK in northern Iraq. Separately, an international medical groups’ federation published a report this month seeking independent investigation of possible violations of the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. “Allegations that ‘the Turkish Armed Forces used chemical weapons’ are completely baseless and untrue,” the defense ministry said in a statement. “All these disinformation efforts are the futile struggles of the terrorist organization and its allies,” it said, adding that ammunition prohibited by international law and agreements was not used by, or in the inventory of, its armed forces. The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and United States. More than 40,000 people have been killed in fallout from the insurgency that it launched against the Turkish state in 1984. International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), which represents thousands of doctors and campaigns to prevent armed violence, said it found indirect evidence of possible violations during a September mission to northern Iraq. “The chemical weapons lie is a futile attempt by those who try to whitewash and airbrush terrorism. Our fight against terrorism will continue with resolve and determination,” presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter. Omer Celik, spokesman of President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, described those who make chemical weapons’ allegations as part of “a vile slander network.” In its report, the IPPNW said Defense Minister Hulusi Akar openly acknowledged in Turkey’s parliament last year the use of tear gas during an operation against the PKK in northern Iraq. “This is an outright violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and should be pursued legally by the international community,” it said. The IPPNW said it found in northern Iraq material near an area abandoned by the Turkish army including containers for hydrochloric acid and bleach, which could be used to produce chlorine, a chemical warfare agent. At the same site containers were found for gas masks protecting against chemical weapons, it said. It said none of its evidence was definitive proof of chemical weapons use but it warranted further independent investigation. BRUSSELS: The European Union is seeking concrete evidence of any Iranian involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine, the bloc’s top diplomat said on Monday. Ukraine has reported a spate of Russian attacks with Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks. Iran denies supplying the drones to Russia, while the Kremlin has not commented. “We will look for concrete evidence about the participation (of Iran in the Ukraine war),” Josep Borrell told reporters as he arrived for a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, adding Ukraine’s Dmytro Kuleba would take part in the gathering. The EU could decide to move toward imposing new sanctions against Iran over the matter, according to two diplomats involved in preparing talks among the ministers, though no detailed decisions were expected on Monday. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said the EU should react strongly to new air attacks on Kyiv where drones struck buildings near a central railway station during rush hours on Monday morning. “What we can see now: Iranian drones are used apparently to attack in the middle of Kyiv, this is an atrocity,” Kofod said, saying the EU had to take “concrete steps” in response to that, as well as Tehran cracking down on protesters at home. President Xi Jinping’s expected reappointment for a third five-year term as head of the Chinese Communist Party and the military is set to be a watershed moment in China’s modern history. As with Deng Xiaoping’s launch of economic reforms in 1979 and his decision a decade later to crush pro-democracy protests with force, it will — for better or worse — radically alter the country’s course. The party’s 20th congress opens in Beijing on Sunday and will bring together more than 2,000 delegates from across the country. It will close a week later with the unveiling of the party’s new leadership, which is set to again be headed by Xi. In doing so, the congress will bring down the curtain on a two-decade period defined by predictable and orderly transitions from one party leader to another. Besides reaffirming Xi as the party’s paramount leader and head of its powerful Central Military Commission, which controls China’s armed forces, the congress will unveil a new central committee comprised of about 200 full members and 170 alternates, a 25-member Politburo and a seven-person Politburo Standing Committee. Will Xi be reappointed president? Not yet. State positions, including president and premier, will not be made official until March, at the annual session of China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress. But the head of the party is typically appointed president. The party’s second-highest ranking member usually, but not always, serves as premier. Xi is widely expected to be reappointed to a third term as the party’s top leader, or general secretary, although it is also possible he could resurrect and assume the title of party chair, which was discontinued in the early 1980s by Deng. How is this year’s congress different from previous ones? In taking a third term as party leader, Xi will formally scrap the system credited for the orderly leadership transitions of 2002 and 2012. In 2002, Hu Jintao succeeded Jiang Zemin as party general secretary. In 2012, Hu made way for Xi. Xi set the stage for this month’s power grab at the 19th party congress in 2017, when he did not appoint a next-generation president to the Politburo Standing Committee. Both Jiang and Hu had done so five years before they relinquished power. In March 2018, the NPC all but announced Xi’s intention to stay on for at least a third term, if not for life, when it scrapped the constitutional two-term limit on the presidency. There is no such term limit on the positions of party general secretary and military chief. How many members of the Politburo Standing Committee will step down? At least two. For everyone but the party leader, an unofficial retirement age applies to the Politburo Standing Committee. Anyone aged 68 or older cannot be reappointed to the body. Four PSC members, including Premier Li Keqiang, will be 67 or younger, and therefore eligible for another five-year term. It is possible, however, that Xi could lower the age limit to 67 to replace Li — or simply orchestrate the removal of anyone he does not want in order to promote more allies to the committee. Does that mean Li could serve a third term as premier? No. Unlike the presidency, the premiership is still subject to a two-term limit. If Li remains on the Politburo Standing Committee, he would probably retain his ranking as the party’s second most senior official, but would have to take on another government role, most likely to be head of the parliament. So who will be China’s next premier? This will not be known with certainty until he (it has never been a she) is formally appointed at the NPC in March. But if Li stays on the standing committee, its third-ranking member would be the most likely to succeed him as premier. If Li steps down, whomever replaces him as its second-highest ranking member will probably become China’s premier-in-waiting. At present, Wang Yang, the party’s fourth highest ranking official, is considered the frontrunner to replace Li. Another contender is vice-premier Hu Chunhua, who currently sits on the politburo but not the standing committee. Who are the others to watch? With the exception of Xi, a Chinese leader’s official party rank is not an indicator of his real clout. Li, for example, has been a remarkably weak premier despite his number-two party rank. During Xi’s first term as party leader from 2012 to 2017, the second most powerful man in China was clearly Wang Qishan, who managed Xi’s anti-corruption campaign but was ranked sixth in the party hierarchy. One critical position to watch is who emerges as the head of the party’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which oversees China’s vast internal security apparatus. Leading candidates for this post include two officials who worked closely with Xi two decades ago when he was climbing up the ranks in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces: Chen Yixin, who is currently the commission’s secretary-general, and Wang Xiaohong, who was appointed head of China’s public security ministry in July. Source: Financial Times TEHRAN: Iran’s government on Friday condemned French President Emmanuel Macron for remarks in which he expressed solidarity with protesters angry over the death of Mahsa Amini. The Islamic republic has been rocked by a month of protests since Amini died after being arrested by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women. Macron on Wednesday said France “stands by” the protesters in Iran and expressed his “admiration” for women and youths demonstrating in the country, while condemning what he called “repression” by the authorities. In a statement, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said the French leader’s remarks were “meddlesome” and served to encourage “violent people and law breakers.” Kanani said it was “surprising” that Paris was condemning Iran’s security forces for dealing with “violent people and rioters” while it was threatening to use force in response to “labor strikes in the oil and gas sector” in France. “This is clear hypocrisy and proves once again that human rights in the dictionary of many pretentious Western governments are nothing more than a toy and a tool to achieve political goals and interfere in the affairs of other countries,” he added. Macron’s government has forced some refinery workers back to work to open fuel depots after three weeks of blockades, a move that infuriated unions but was upheld by a court on Friday. Four of the country’s seven refineries remain shut, and around a third of France’s service stations are either low on petrol or completely dry, according to the energy transition ministry. According to natural gas providers, the pricing in October for household consumers will be approximately 0.11 euro per kilowatt-hour (kWh), but that may change in November. Heating fuel hit the market today with prices lower than original projections. According to OT’s source, HELLENiQ ENERGY refineries (formerly Hellenic Petroleum, or HELPE), has decided to offer an additional discount of 75 euros (including VAT) per 1,000 litres to commercial petroleum companies. HELLENiQ ENERGY discounts That results in final consumer prices of between 1.37 and 1.38 euros per litre. The government subsidy of 0.25 euro per litre has been factored into the above prices. Meanwhile, HELLENiQ ENERGY offered an additional five percent discount to its subsidiary, EKO, which now sells heating fuel at 1.33 euros per litre. Motor Oil price adjustments Motor Oil sources also said that the Group’s commercial companies – AVIN, SHELL, and CYCLON – are adjusting their pricing policies to the levels of the competition. Market sources attribute the move to refineries’ strategic choice to support society in the difficult period households are experiencing due to the energy crisis. Prices under 1.40 euros per litre represent an upset of prices until now, which ranged between 1.44-1.49 euros per litre. 18 percent hike of heating fuel starting price since a year ago It should be noted, however, that the starting price of heating fuel is 18 percent higher than the same period last year on the first day of distribution, when the median price was 1.16 euros per litre. Natural gas With extra discounts on heating fuel, the price difference with natural gas is being reduced. Natural gas will be 15 percent cheaper, instead of 20 percent as initially projected, than heating oil. According to natural gas providers, the pricing in October for household consumers will be approximately 0.11 euro per kilowatt-hour (kWh). That price includes the subsidy from DEPA Commercial, which is 0.09 euro per kWh. As previously noted, heating petrol kicked off with a price between, 1,37 and 1.38 euros per litre. To compare these prices with natural gas, there was a conversion of their values to the kWh unit of measurement. Based on the conversion, the resulting prices are between 0.13 and 0.131 euro per kWh. Hence, natural gas will be approximately 15 percent cheaper than heating oil. Consumers should also know that heating oil prices change on a daily basis, whereas the aforementioned natural gas prices apply throughout the month of October, and providers may have different pricing in November. By Christos Kolonas / in.gr |