Latest Articles about Middle East
RUSSIA EYES STRONGER ECONOMIC TIES WITH JAPAN
In the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Tokyo, Russian officials have reiterated their calls for stronger economic ties with Japan. However, there have been no indications of movement towards a solution of the bilateral territorial row. Disputed issues, including ownership of... MORE
RUSSIA’S ARMS DEAL WITH IRAN: KREMLIN BELIEVES U.S. TOO WEAK FOR STRONG RESPONSE
The Russian leadership appears to believe that the Iraq debacle marked the tuning point in the short-lived era of American global supremacy. The Iran arms deal suggests that the Kremlin will likely continue pursuing an assertive foreign policy in regions the U.S. deems vital for... MORE
BESLAN MOTHERS TURN TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO FIND THE TRUTH
The consequences of the September 2004 terrorist attack on the town of Beslan continue to shake the political situation in North Ossetia. Tensions between the Russian authorities and local residents have increased for more than a year and have now come to a head. Relatives... MORE
RUSSIA INSISTS ON TRANSFORMING THE TERMS OF GAS TRADE WITH UKRAINE
On December 8, live on Russian state television (which is widely received in Ukraine), Russian President Vladimir Putin harangued Ukraine at length to triple the price for Russian natural gas, and to pay in cash. Putin skillfully calibrated his tone to avoid antagonizing Ukraine's populace... MORE
RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AGREE TO DISAGREE ON GAS SUPPLIES
Despite top-level discussions and official pledges, Russia and Ukraine remain deeply divided over natural gas supply terms for 2006. Russia is satisfied with Ukraine's readiness to review prices for Russian natural gas to be supplied to Ukraine and then piped to Europe via Ukrainian territory,... MORE
CSTO SEEN AS A SHIELD AGAINST OUTSIDE MEDDLING
Russia has reiterated its pledges to strengthen the regional security grouping it has established with five former Soviet states. At an unprecedented November 29-30 meeting in Moscow of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO, which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan) Council of... MORE
MOSCOW VOTES FOR LUZHKOV AS RIVALRY WITH PUTIN INTENSIFIES
On Sunday, December 4, Muscovites elected the members of their City Duma. Elections of this kind usually attract so little attention from voters that the minimum turnout was set at only 20%. The city council has even less power within its borders than the State... MORE
The Salafi-Jihadist Movement in Iraq: Recruitment Methods and Arab Volunteers
This is the second in a two-part series on al-Zarqawi and al-Qaeda in Iraq. This article focuses on the Salafi-jihadist base from which al-Zarqawi draws support and new recruits. The experience of Arab fighters in Iraq is the latest and most important development of the... MORE
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN CHECHNYA: NO CLEAR WINNER
At noon on November 27, Russian TV broadcast a report about the progress of that day's parliamentary elections in Chechnya. The correspondent was standing alone inside the heavily guarded government headquarters in Grozny. No other people were visible in the area and the scene was... MORE
KREMLIN USES ENERGY TO TEACH EX-SOVIET NEIGHBORS A LESSON IN GEOPOLITICAL LOYALTY
Russia appears increasingly ready to use its status as a leading energy producer as an instrument of its muscular policy in the post-Soviet lands. Neighboring countries that do not have "special relations" with Moscow and that demonstrate pro-Western leanings are facing a steep rise in... MORE