Latest Articles about Middle East
RUSSIA-TURKEY RELATIONS: COOPERATION AND COMPETITION IN ENERGY SPHERE
Both Moscow and Ankara appear intent on further developing their lucrative energy ties. At the same time, Russia and Turkey are destined to continue vying for the role of major fuel supplier to the countries of Southern Europe. The recent visits to Turkey by two... MORE
RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES TALK ABOUT GLOBAL THREATS, BUT PREPARE FOR LOCAL WAR
On May 10 Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered an address to the Russian Federal Assembly. Focusing on issues such as reform of the armed forces and threats to national security, Putin declared that Russia now had to address many security issues and the army should... MORE
CHINESE INVESTORS CONSIDER JOINT PROJECTS WITH RUSSIAN FAR EAST
Moscow and Beijing have long hailed regional cooperation as an important element of bilateral ties. While meeting Volgograd Governor Nikolai Maksyuta on May 27, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), noted that the Volgograd region has enjoyed successful... MORE
IRAN BLAMES “FOREIGN POWERS” FOR RECENT ETHNIC UNREST
Last week’s protests by Azeris in several major cities of Iran caught official Tehran off guard. Based on their response, Iranian officials fear domestic unrest could destabilize the ruling regime in Tehran. Leaders were quick to play up ethnic harmony inside Iran and argue that... MORE
MOSCOW GROOMS ACCUSED TERRORIST GIORGADZE FOR ROLE IN GEORGIA
The Russian government has announced its decision to grant political asylum to Igor Giorgadze, former chief of Georgia's state security, the presumed organizer of the 1995 assassination attempt that injured then-president Eduard Shevardnadze in the State Chancellery in Tbilisi. Indicted in Georgia on terrorism charges... MORE
RUSSIA, EUROPE DRAW BATTLE LINES IN THEIR DISPUTE OVER ENERGY
After the discussions at the latest Russia-European Union summit laid bare the growing disagreements between Moscow and the European bloc over how to guarantee "energy security" to the Old Continent's countries, the leaders of the pro-Western GUAM grouping (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) launched an initiative... MORE
RUSSIAN REGIONS CONTINUE TO RESIST KREMLIN CENTRALIZATION POLICY
On May 14, Sergei Mironov, speaker of the Federation Council, dismissed four members of the upper house of the Federal Assembly. The sacked MPs represented one northern and two Siberian regions (Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, and Khakassia) and one region in the Far... MORE
Al-Qaeda Doctrine: The Eventual Need for Semi-Conventional Forces
Earlier in 2006, Terrorism Focus published three articles on al-Qaeda's doctrine for what the United States government has taken to calling the "Long War." In recent weeks, Western media reporting on developments in the Iraq and Afghan insurgencies seems to make a fourth article relevant.... MORE
Assessing al-Qaeda’s Position in Iraq
There is a confusing portrait emerging from Iraq regarding al-Qaeda's position inside the country. Recent reports present contradictory views on the level of al-Qaeda support, success and long-term prospects. One picture depicts continuous violent attacks, the defiance of key al-Qaeda-affiliated Iraqi insurgent groups and Abu... MORE
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND KAZAKHSTAN SEEN AS “RELIABLE”
Russia has secured renewed pledges of allegiance from Kazakhstan, its "most reliable partner" in Central Asia. Speaking after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's southern Black Sea resort of Sochi on May 20, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said a strong Russia was important... MORE