Mount Athos Threatens to Cut Contacts with Greek Government

Mount Athos has threatened to cut all its contacts with the government of Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou should the latter insist that the Holy Mountain's monasteries pay tax on their properties in Greece. More here.

Erdogan Speaks On Thracian Turks, Ecumenical Patriarchate

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has lambasted Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou for failing to keep his promise to Turkish Muslims in Greek Thrace that they be allowed to elect their own grand mufti. In his comments he stated that Turkey itself had not recognized the legitimacy of the election of current Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) because of the involvement of non-Turkish citizens who were members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople, but had moved to 'legitimize' the situation by granting citizenship to hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate outside Turkey. More here.

PM Vows to End Anti-Muslim Discrimination in Grece

During his recent visit to a Turkish Muslim village in Greek-occupied Thrace Prime Minister George Papandreou of Greece committed himself to addressing the challenges faced by Greece's Muslims in public life. Among other things this would mean more Turkish-language services in Thrace and national efforts to end discrimination against Muslims in the majority Orthodox country. More here.