Latest Articles about Middle East

NOBEL COMMITTEE SENDS WARNING TO THE RUSSIAN MILITARY

The Kremlin approved wholeheartedly the "exceptionally right decision" to award the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize to the International Atomic Energy Agency and Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei, noting particularly that "he does not react on various shouts and is a very reliable partner" (Newsru.com, October 7). Apparently,... MORE

MOSCOW SKILLFULLY USES ENERGY LEVERAGE TO DIVIDE EUROPE

The October 4 Russia-EU summit in London, as well as the talks Russian President Vladimir Putin held with Belgian leaders in Brussels on October 3 and with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on October 5, once again laid bare an important aspect of modern geopolitical... MORE

RUSSIAN LIBERALS JOIN FORCES FOR MOSCOW ELECTIONS

On September 25, the Union of Right Forces and Yabloko, Russia's two main democratic parties, announced the formation of coalition for the December 4 Moscow City Duma election. The two parties will field a single list of candidates. Evoking the old adage: "Our strength is... MORE

RUSSIA STILL GETS IT WRONG ON UKRAINE

Russian leaders were delighted, even gleeful, when Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was fired in early September. Their unabashed gloating confirms that Moscow still does not realize why its interference in the 2004 Ukrainian presidential elections failed so miserably (see EDM, September 23). Instead, Russian... MORE

RUSSIA’S NAVY PINS HOPES ON BULAVA NUCLEAR MISSILE

During his September 27 call-in television program, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again invoked one of his favorite themes. Specifically, he stressed that under his leadership Russia is developing new hypersonic, high-precision missiles that can change their course and altitude unlike any other missiles belonging... MORE

RUSSIA’S PACIFIC OIL PIPELINE GAME REMAINS INCONCLUSIVE

In a statement on September 29, Russia's Natural Resources Ministry rejected a feasibility study for a Siberia-to-Pacific crude oil pipeline. The pipeline would pass within just 800 meters of Lake Baikal, a violation of Russia's environmental legislation. According to the Ministry, "As the pipeline crosses... MORE

The Second Algerian Amnesty

As widely predicted, the September 29 referendum on the proposed amnesty (the second since 1999) was a resounding ‘yes,' although the monolithic media campaign made any other result unlikely. The issue is a thorny question for human rights activists, since—unlike the Truth and Reconciliation committees... MORE

Al-Qaeda TV, Via the Web

The first editions of the weekly al-Qaeda TV news broadcasts, under the heading Sawt al-Khilafa (Voice of the Caliphate) have now appeared via the Internet. Dedicated to Osama bin Laden and Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, Mulla Omar and Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, the Islamic armies in Chechnya,... MORE

Clashes in Egypt with Sinai Bedouin Mujahideen

Egyptian police have spent the weeks following the July 23 bombings of Sharm al-Sheikh searching for bomb suspects and others involved in attacks. On September 28, they appear to have made progress, given the announcement that police forces shot and killed Moussa Mohamed Salem Badran... MORE

TATARSTAN RETAINS PRIVILEGED RANK AMONG RUSSIAN REPUBLICS

Following the September 2004 tragedy in Beslan, the Russian State Duma adopted President Vladimir Putin's new law to eliminate the direct election of regional leaders. Now, all incoming governors in Russia are appointed by the president, subject to approval by local parliaments. Tatarstan, a republic... MORE