Latest Articles about Middle East
PJAK Intensifies Its Struggle for Iranian Kurdistan
A recent upsurge of violence in northwestern Iran between ethnic Kurdish rebels and Iranian Pasdaran (Revolutionary Guards) forces represents the latest chapter in the ongoing tensions between the nationalist dissidents and Tehran. Iranian and Kurdish sources report that the armed wing of the Party for... MORE
MEDVEDEV REPORTEDLY SET TO NAME AN ANTI-CORRUPTION AIDE
President Dmitry Medvedev is reportedly planning to create a new post of presidential aide for the fight against corruption and may sign a presidential decree to that effect before the end of June. According to Nezavisimaya gazeta, in setting up the post of anti-corruption aide,... MORE
MOSCOW WANTS TO STRENGTHEN CIS AND OTHER POST-SOVIET GROUPS
Russia pushed for stronger ties among members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), while promoting integration with its closer allies, members of the Eurasian Economic Commonwealth (EEC) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Moscow's efforts have, however, been produced limited results so far.... MORE
TATARSTAN LEADER CRITICIZES THE “VERTICAL OF POWER” AND “GREAT RUSSIAN CHAUVINISM”
In the most serious verbal challenge to the “vertical of power” that Vladimir Putin created after becoming head of the Russian state in 2000, and what may be a sign that Putin’s influence is on the decline since stepping down as president and becoming prime... MORE
MEDVEDEV CONTINUES AND ESCALATES PUTIN’S HARD LINE ON GEORGIA
The Kremlin not only uses every available opportunity but also creates opportunities to show disdain for the weakness of Western policies on Georgia. Following the European Union-United States June 10 summit declaration, supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity in fine-print words only, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev promptly... MORE
Turkey’s Multifaceted Anti-PKK Strategy Continues to Unfold
Signs continue to emerge that Turkey has adopted a multifaceted strategy to combat the insurgency of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Following a series of military operations and economic reforms in Turkey’s largely Kurdish southeast region, it appears Turkey is now addressing PKK financing achieved... MORE
MEDVEDEV’S SOFT-SPOKEN HARD-LINE STATEMENTS
Before taking office Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was presumed to be a "liberal," who would somehow modify Vladimir Putin's anti-Western rhetoric and authoritarian ways. Medvedev's statements are indeed somewhat more polite, but Russian policy seems actually more hard-line. In Beijing last month, during his first... MORE
CRITICS PREDICT MEDVEDEV’S ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE WILL ALSO FALL SHORT
Last month President Dmitry Medvedev created an Anti-Corruption Committee that he will head and gave it a month to come up with a national anti-corruption program (see EDM, May 21). He devoted a June 9 meeting with Investigative Committee head Aleksandr Bastrykin to discuss this... MORE
Hardliners Assume Leadership of Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood
In an internal election for the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood’s top position, Hamam Sa’id, a senior member known as a hawk within the organization, defeated incumbent leader Salem Falahat (Jordan Times, May 2). The new general regulator of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood is a critic of... MORE
Turkish Generals Admit Military and Intelligence Coordination with Iran
On June 6, General Ilker Basbug, the commander of the Turkish Land Forces, confirmed that Turkey and Iran were sharing intelligence and coordinating military operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)—which is primarily composed of Turkish Kurds—and its Iranian affiliate, the Kurdistan Free Life Party... MORE