**ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY**

A COMMUNIST TO THE RESCUE? -

Last week the island nation of Cyprus elected a new president – an event that went unnoticed by most Americans. However this tiny nation of just 700,000 people could have a dramatic impact on the future of both Europe and the Middle East.

Dimitris Christofias won the office of president with 54 percent of the vote. He is the leader of Cyprus' communist party. He is also the first communist to run for president in Cyprus and now he is the only communist head of state in Europe. However it is not his political ideology that is making headlines. Moreover, news of the communist leader's victory is surprisingly optimistic. A Financial Times editorial quipped that: "A communist election victory on a quarrelsome east Mediterranean island is not normally taken to be a harbinger of good tidings." However Cyprus, it claims, is the exception.

Why is everyone so optimistic about Cyprus' new leadership? Because Dimitris Christofias won office by promising to put an end to the conflict that has divided the island for more than 30 years. Christofias says he plans to restart talks with Turkish leaders and eventually reunify the island. He told reporters: "The solution of the Cyprus problem is the main reason I made the decision to run for president. Solving the Cyprus problem will be the top priority of my government."

So far his victory has been met with enthusiasm. Some of Cyprus' political leaders have even publicly stated that they expect the problem to be solved by the end of the year. However given the realities of the situation, it is premature to celebrate. Decades of diplomatic efforts to heal the rift have failed and bringing and end to the stalemate will be no easy task. There are still major issues to be resolved, such as negotiating the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island. There are also territorial and constitutional issues to settle as well as the question of what to do about the refugees.

The outcome of the situation in Cyprus will no doubt have a significant impact on the future of the European Union. Primarily because it is one of the biggest issues in the controversy over Turkey's EU membership. Turkey has yet to recognize the island nation of Cyprus and the EU has repeatedly threatened to halt membership negotiations if the problem is not solved soon.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the north in response to a military coup on the island. The northern third of the island is controlled by Turkish Cypriots and the southern two-thirds are inhabited by Greek Cypriots. A buffer zone between the two halves called the "Green Line" is patrolled by UN troops. Turkey maintains support of one half of the island while EU member Greece maintains support for the other half. In 1983 the Turkish-held area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but its sovereignty has only been recognized by Turkey. Cyprus was one of the 10 new states to join the EU in May of 2004. However the island remains divided, and EU laws and benefits apply only to the Greek Cypriot community.

Some say the future of Turkey's EU membership hinges on Cyprus. Turkey has long attempted to align itself with the western world. Turkey joined the United Nations in 1945 and NATO in 1952. In 1963 it signed an association agreement with the European Economic Community, and in 1987 it applied for full EEC membership. In 1999 Turkey was officially recognized as an EU candidate, but the predominately-Muslim nation still has a long way to go before it can become a member of the EU. Before Turkey can be admitted to the EU it must meet a long list of requirements. That includes more than 80,000-pages of rules and regulations on everything from air quality to the size and shape of bananas. A study by the politically powerful Turkish Industry and Business Association estimates the cost of reforming Turkey's huge agriculture sector alone would be about 76 billion dollars over the next decade. Even then, its acceptance into the European community is not assured. Experts say it could be 10 years or more before Turkey is granted membership.

The bumpy road to EU membership has many Turkish citizens questioning if the actual benefits are worth the trouble. In fact, in recent years many of Turkey's political and military leaders have suggested giving up the EU membership process in favor of building a deeper relationship with nations such as Russia, China, and even Iran. Trade between Turkey and Russia has more than tripled in last five years, and Russia is quickly becoming one of Turkey's most important allies.

The growing relationship between Russia and Turkey could be a sign that the Magog invasion, prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39, could be on our near horizon. It is during this famed battle that God will directly intercede to protect Israel from an apparent nuclear attack. To learn more about this topic, click on the links below.

Related Links:

 • Chance for Cyprus - Financial Times
 • Cyprus Elects Communist President - EU Observer
 • Cyprus Elects Communist Leader - Washington Post
 • Strategic Trends: Rise of a European Superstate – K-House Africa
 • Strategic Trends: The Magog Invasion – K-House Africa
 • Europa Rising - DVD – K- House Africa
 • The Magog Invasion - DVD – K- House Africa

A TIMELY STUDY: THE BRAZEN SERPENT -

This month we celebrate Easter. Whoops! Why is our most holy holiday named after a pagan goddess? It is at this time that we celebrate the very Gospel itself: "…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; that He was buried; and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." Yet for some reason we have allowed the remembrance of Christ's death and resurrection to be muddled by ancient pagan traditions (rabbits that lay eggs and other such nonsense). Nonetheless, it is perhaps appropriate at this time of year to examine a rather peculiar episode in Israel's history. This strange event was a foreshadowing of things to come:

It happened during the wilderness wanderings, after the children of Israel escaped from slavery in Egypt. On one of the many occasions that the Israelites were murmuring against God's provision, God sent deadly serpents as a judgment. In response to Moses' prayer for the people, God instructed Moses to set up a bronze serpent on a pole, and everyone who looked upon it would live (Numbers 21:4-9).

This seems like a strange remedy. Why a bronze serpent? Why did God choose this peculiar method? It would be Jesus Himself who would explain this strange remedy to Nicodemus in saying: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:14,15)." In fact, this would occasion the most well-known verse in the Bible: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)."

This emblem - a brass serpent raised on a pole - is distinctive in that the Lord Jesus Christ personally applied it to Himself. The more you examine it, the stranger it appears: brass was the Levitical symbol of judgment; brass was the metal that was associated with fire (as the brazen altar, etc.). The serpent was symbolic of sin, introduced in the Garden of Eden. This is a strange emblem, indeed, for the Savior of mankind. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

And this is precisely what we celebrate: Christ being raised up in our stead. His sacrifice is unfathomable. We may spend an eternity attempting to embrace the implications of this precious truth, and what it cost Him to purchase our pardon.

We will dig deeper into this subject next week when we discuss Palm Sunday and the Triumphal Entry. In the meantime, check out Chuck's briefing on the resurrection titled

From Here to Eternity on Seasonal Favorites -MP3-CD Rom

Related Link:

  • Pre-Easter Bible Study Resources - K House Africa

THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM? DON'T COUNT ON IT -

On Monday the United Nations Security Council passed economic sanctions against Iran in an attempt to prevent the Islamic nation from developing nuclear weapons. It is the third time the UN has imposed sanctions, it did so previously in December 2006 and March 2007. However the Security Council's efforts have been more symbolic than substantial. The UN sanctions are little more than a slap on the wrist. It might hurt a little, but it won't stop them. In fact, it probably won't even slow them down.

Iran's nuclear program has long been the subject of debate. It is viewed by most as one of the greatest threats to our security. Yet some have condemned efforts to stem Iran's nuclear ambitions as hypocritical. One such commentator wrote, "The US government cannot make a reasonable case as to why it's OK for Israel to have a stockpile of nuclear warheads but it's not OK for any other nation in the Middle East to pursue nuclear weapons technology." However such cursory remarks do not take into account some of the key dynamics behind the Middle East conflict.

Iran is governed by Shiite Muslim clerics committed to a stern interpretation of Islamic law. Hatred of the United States has been a key component of Iranian foreign policy since the 1978 Islamic revolution, and Iran's leaders often refer to the United States as the "Great Satan." Iran's distaste for the United States is surpassed only by their utter loathing of Israel. Iran's political and religious leaders have repeatedly called for Israel's complete destruction.

The State Department calls the Islamic Republic of Iran the world's "most active state sponsor of terrorism." Iran continues to provide funding, weapons, training, and sanctuary to numerous terrorist groups including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Iran uses such groups to carry out a proxy war on Israel and the West. It is therefore folly to allow Iran, and consequently its terrorist allies, to obtain nuclear technology.

Over the past five decades Israel has developed a nuclear-weapons program but has neither denied nor admitted the existence of its nuclear arsenal. Israelis call this policy "strategic ambiguity." Israel is surrounded on all sides by enemies bent on bringing about its destruction. Israel, therefore, developed its nuclear program to serve as a deterrent. Israel's nuclear arsenal is one of the primary reason nations like Iran have not yet succeeded in their plans to wipe Israel "off the map."

Israel is perhaps one of the most controversial members of the nuclear club. Israel's officially unacknowledged nuclear arsenal has been described as "the worst-kept secret in the Middle East." Reports indicate that Israel possesses a little over 100 nuclear missiles. It has never officially conducted a nuclear test, however some suspect that such a test may have occurred in 1979 off the coast of South Africa (an event now known as the Vela Incident).

Iran is heading steadily toward a confrontation with Israel. There has long been speculation that Israel is preparing for a possible attack on Iran's nuclear facilities - there has even been evidence to suggest that Israel may be planning a tactical nuclear strike.

Related Links:

 • UN Imposes Sanctions on Iran - AP
 • Iran Condemns Security Council Sanctions - China Daily
 • Iran Still Fuels Iraq Violence - LA Times
 • Strategic Trends: Weapons Proliferation – K-House Africa