Latest Articles about Middle East
Turkey Launches Economic Offensive against PKK Recruitment
On May 27, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced over $15.5 billion in additional state funding to complete the Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP), a huge irrigation and hydroelectric scheme in nine predominantly Kurdish provinces in southeastern Turkey. Speaking in Diyarbakir, the largest city in... MORE
Is Iran’s Mujahideen-e-Khalq a Threat to the Islamist Regime?
The People’s Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI), more commonly known as the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (“people’s mujahideen”; MEK), is one of the most organized and controversial Iranian opposition groups. Although it maintains an armed wing—known as the National Liberation Army (NLA)—and numerous front organizations, it derives its greatest... MORE
MEDVEDEV CONTINUES HARD LINE ON MISSILE DEFENSE
The main theme of President Dmitry Medvedev’s election campaign was a pledge of “continuity” of the politics of his predecessor Vladimir Putin, who is now the prime minister. The promise of continuity is being kept. Observers have been seeking out indications of change in the... MORE
DEATHS OF CORRUPTION FIGHTERS OVERSHADOW NEW ANTICORRUPTION CAMPAIGN
In the wake of President Dmitry Medvedev’s decree setting up a presidential anticorruption council to draw up a national anticorruption program (see EDM, May 21), a number of observers, including politicians, experts and journalists, have weighed in with their ideas on how best to get... MORE
RUSSIA AND CHINA: UNITED BY FOREIGN POLICY, DIVIDED BY ENERGY PRICES
The Kremlin has repeatedly pledged to forge what it calls a "strategic partnership" with China, and President Dmitry Medvedev came to the Chinese capital to reiterate these pledges. But while Moscow's and Beijing's respective positions have converged on international issues, bilateral economic ties have apparently... MORE
NORD STREAM PROJECT FACING MORE UNCERTAINTIES AND DELAYS
Nord Stream, the Russo-German gas pipeline project on the Baltic seabed, seems to be receding into the distance. According to Chairman of the Russian Gas Society and Vice-Chairman of the Duma Valery Yazev, the project’s first trunk line is to become operational by 2012 and... MORE
THE KREMLIN TAKES THE SIDE OF LOCAL LEADER IN KALMYIKIA POWER STRUGGLE
This year saw a growing power struggle in the Russian southern republic of Kalmyikia where President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov who has been in office since 1993, is trying to get rid of his main political rival, Rady Burulov, the mayor of the capital of Elista. In... MORE
RUSSIA’S ROSNEFT CLAIMS MARKET LEADERSHIP
Russia's state-run oil company Rosneft pledged to maintain its self-proclaimed role of market leader. It now appears that the company's acquisition-based model of expansion will be put to the test. Rosneft emerged as leader of Russia's energy sector in 2007, and the company was set... MORE
ARE MEDVEDEV’S LATEST PROMISES TO FIGHT CORRUPTION SIMPLY “RITUAL INCANTATIONS”?
Acting on his promises to battle corruption, instill respect for the law and overcome “legal nihilism,” President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree setting up a presidential anticorruption council and appointed Kremlin chief of staff Sergei Naryshkin to head the council’s presidium, which will have... MORE
Leading PKK Commander Cemil Bayik Crosses into Iran
On May 10, the Turkish General Staff posted a press release on its web site which stated: “As a result of the Turkish air strike on the Qandil Mountains, a senior PKK commander, Cemil Bayik, fled into a neighboring country together with a large group... MORE