No 10015, Friday 03 Dec 10, Spiffytrix

Excellent fare today. Hats off to Spiffy.
ACROSS
1   - Indigenous hotel had… (6) - {INN}{ATE}
5   - …put advertisement in the capital of France — European heaven on earth (8) - {PAR{AD}IS}{E}
9   - Rushed back carrying a cover for a greeting (8) - {N{A}{MASK}AR<-}

10 - Gift from the east for an artist (6) - DRAWER<-
11 - Group of countries following communist philosophy? (12) - {COMMON}{WEALTH} Wicked clue as Bhavan would put it!
13 - Nothing new or hot in our capital's exotic food shop (4) - n.DELhI
14 - No female flier aims to fly around to redeem these for a free ticket? (3,5) - fAIR MILES*
17 - Soldier, back off — don't get excited (8) - {COMMA}{NDOt*} Nice clue
18 - Opening wine left on a ship's harbour (4) - PORT [DD&DD]
20 - Nervous Neal duly sang a Scottish poem (4,4,4) - AULD LANG SYNE*
23 - Informal way to greet a ruler when walking (6) -{HI}{KING}
24 - Not in favour of a second child? Use this rubber to maintain one's stand! (4-4) - {ANTI}-{S}{KID}
25 - Taboo articles with mother (8) - {AN}{A}{THE}{MA}
26 - U.K. and Iceland's conflict left ignored in that between the superpowers (3,3) - COlD WAR
DOWN
2   - Prepare this bread with basil for Albanians (4) - NAAN Anno pending (Addendum - NAANbasil* - See comments)

3   - Corrupt Chairman's political philosophy (9) - ANARCHISM*
4   - White house inhabitant could be in wife's kimono (6) - ESKIMO [T]

SEE THIS CARTOON

5   - He's considered an outcast — so a porn agent ran off (7,3,5) - PERSONA NON GRATA*
6   - The German came back to check an old star (3,5) - {RED<-} {DWARF}

7   - Lord Rama's play (5) - DRAMA [T]
8   - Knitted the sweater for one's spouse? (10) - SWEETHEART* Will all spouses be sweethearts :-)
12 - Change is the essence of Charles Darwin's theory? (10) - {R}{EVOLUTION} Is R an essence?
15 - Naughty kid overturned unfinished sweet dish when struck (9) - {IMP}{tRESSED<-}
16 - Hospital department's fish hamper (8) - {E.N.T.}{ANGLE}
19 - Cryptic setter's staff dismissed Kelvin (6) - {MY}{STICk}
21 - Doctor provided a drop of tasty substance (5) - {DR}{IF}{T}
22 - Crazy about Marilyn Monroe? (4) - DIVA<-

GRID