Latest Articles about Middle East
EUROPE STRUGGLES TO THWART RUSSIA’S DIVIDE-AND-CONQUER POLICY
Today, October 20, leaders of the European Union countries gathered in Lahti, Finland, to try to forge a common Russia policy so that they can speak with a single voice at the EU-Russia summit next month. Europe’s unified strategy toward its giant eastern neighbor had... MORE
TWO MEETINGS, TWO TONES IN GUAM
Delegates of the GUAM member countries -- Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova -- held a meeting of their own during the October 17 Minsk session of the Commonwealth of Independent States Council of Foreign Ministers (see EDM, October 18). This informal GUAM meeting issued a firm... MORE
IS PUTIN BECOMING DESPERATE ABOUT BEING “BEST FRIENDS” WITH GERMANY?
Taking a short break from European affairs before a planned guest appearance at the EU summit in Lahti, Finland, tomorrow, October 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin has a moment to reflect on his achievements after making an extraordinary effort at strengthening ties with Germany. For... MORE
CIS ATROPHY PROCESS CONTINUES
The 15th, “jubilee” Commonwealth of Independent States summit of heads of state was to have been held in Minsk on October 16-17. However, it transpired as late as October 10 that the summit is being postponed, probably for late November, by a joint decision of... MORE
The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons Emerges as a Rival to the PKK
On August 28, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (also known as the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks, Teyrêbazên Azadiya Kurdistan, or TAK) set off several bombs in the Turkish cities of Marmaris, Istanbul and Antalya. The attacks, the latest in a series, killed three people and injured 21.... MORE
Jihadis Provide Internet Training for Female Mujahideen
The use of female suicide bombers by Islamist militant groups in countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan and Indian Kashmir has exceeded the traditional constraints that Salafi-Jihadi ideology imposes on women. Observers of jihadi cyber activities have noticed an increase in the number of websites... MORE
MOSCOW EYES COORDINATION WITH CHINA OVER NORTH KOREAN TEST
As Russia backed measured UN sanctions against Pyongyang following its October 9 nuclear test, Moscow appears to be seeking concerted action with Beijing regarding North Korea’s mercurial behavior. Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the North Korean test and argued that Pyongyang's nuclear program should be... MORE
EUROPE’S PATRONIZING ATTITUDE TOWARD TURKS CAN PUSH ANKARA CLOSER TO MOSCOW
Turkey’s prospects of becoming a full-blown member of the European Union are again seriously endangered -- this time by a fierce row with France over the “Armenian genocide” bill. According to analysts, the West’s continuous snubbing of the Turks could result in Ankara’s moving strategically... MORE
RUSSIA UNFAZED BY NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST
Although North Korea’s nuclear test on October 9 transformed the Northeast Asian landscape, it apparently has not changed the postures of the members of the six-party talks all that much. Russia’s reaction to this test is very much a linear progression from its previous stance... MORE
RUSSIA REVERSES PLANS ON SUPERGIANT SHTOKMAN GAS FIELD
On October 9 Russia’s Gazprom announced that it has canceled the international tender for part-ownership and development of its supergiant Shtokman offshore gas field in the Barents Sea. Instead, Gazprom will itself develop the field as 100% owner. Moreover, the eventual output’s planned destination has... MORE