Summit amidst looming war and economic crisisIn view of Egypt’s key status in the Arab world and Iran’s position in the region, the warming ties between the two states will indeed influence the general geopolitical situation in West Asia and North Africa. August 29, 2012  The 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement kicked off in Tehran. The summit is interesting enough since it is being held amid global instability worldwide and especially in the Near East. The situation in Syria will be perhaps the key issue of the summit; Iran supports Assad’s government and believes that Western intervention into Syrian affairs will detonate the region - actually, this is almost true. Adjara: another fake project of SaakashviliHowever good-looking Batumi’s downtown may seem, it falls short of the tourism center president Saakashvili keeps talking about. August 24, 2012  Adjara, like the whole Georgia, is perfect evidence showing that the Armenian-Turkish border should not be opened. Actually, Georgia always lacked developed light industry, and the available industries are now privatized by Turkish and Azerbaijani businessmen. Egypt as mirror of “Arab spring”Being a Copt in Egypt, a Druze in Syria and just a Christian in Tunisia, Algeria and Libya is quite dangerous. August 15, 2012  Christians have never been welcomed in Egypt, and in other Near Eastern countries either. Commonly, this is not the case with Armenian communities, except for Egypt, perhaps. Still, with Islamists coming to power, the Armenian communities may face serious problems. Azerbaijan may pay too much for opposing IranAzerbaijan made the first move by sidelining the Iranian NIco company, participant of Shah Deniz consortium from the planned pipeline projects. August 11, 2012  Baku is playing with fire, in the firm belief that the West will back Ilham Aliyev if the latter openly confronts Iran, and may even turn a blind eye to the lawlessness prevailing in Azerbaijan – “the most tolerant and democratic country of the region”. Azerbaijan has recently declared itself the strategic partner of the U.S., with certain encouragement by the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Baku Richard Morningstar who mostly engages in advocating U.S. interests in the Caspian region. “Kurdish spring” looming over Near EastIndependent Kurdistan won’t consider Ankara, Baghdad or Damascus; it has everything it needs – the oil, the key advantage in the Near East. August 13, 2012  The “Arab spring” is gradually transforming into the “Kurdish spring”; at least this is what the recent frequent clashes between the Turkish regular army and the Kurdish population of Syria, and, to some extent, Iran, resemble now. Apparently, the Kurds realized that the current mess in the Near East may aid them in creating independent Kurdistan and thus taking control over oil flows not only from Iraq but Syria as well.  International Arbitration Court to consider Iran’s claim over S-300 missiles against RussiaIran’s lawsuit just aims to “provide Russia with judicial grounds to resume cooperation”. August 4, 2012  Russian analysts believe that Iran’s almost $4 bln claim against Russia, to be considered in the International Court of Arbitration shortly, is a vivid example of the incompetence of the Russian officials who form the foreign policy in the East. Hormuz Strait challenges the West againThe U.S. and Israel seem to underestimate Iran, believing that an invasion will overthrow the ayatollah regime, to be replaced by “Democrats”. August 1, 2012  Amid rising civil clashes in Syria, the confrontation between Iran and the West continues, yet with different shades. Constant meetings and consultations will not resolve Iran’s nuclear problem, indeed, but will possibly put off Israel’s military plans which increasingly gain force nowadays. Islamic NATO as a new step towards Ottoman Empire revivalThe new organization first targets the Arab world, which Turkey is eager to attract under the “democracy protection” cover. July 28, 2012  Turkey is trying to become a more active player in the Near East, voicing ideas which then appear to be alarming, if not dangerous. Complete failure of the foreign policy pushes Ankara to seeking new ways of implementing the “neo-Osmanism”. This, first of all, assumes the endorsement of caliphate and restoration of the following title: Islamic fundamentalism in actionThe trouble of various groupings is that lacking education and breadth of mind, they have no idea of the whole world devoid of division into followers and opponents of Allah. July 18, 2012  Islamic fundamentalism is getting increasingly nastier, if not horrible. The last move was destruction of ancient shrines in Timbuktu. According to BBC, Islamist militants of Ansar Dine are ready to destroy all monuments they believe violate the Shariah law. The militants have already smashed two tombs in the well-known Djingareyber mosque, the locals say. Erdogan’s blitz visit to RussiaToday, Turkey needs to ensure support by both U.S. and Russia, which is now regaining the status of a world power. July 13, 2012  Russian-Turkish ties have been recently facing serious jeopardy named Syria and Iran. Syria is a major challenge, indeed, being a chief hub for almost all regional hydrocarbon transportation projects. The real transporter of oil and gas from Near East to Europe is namely Syria and not Turkey, which now tosses about in its foreign policy. |  Most popular Other articlesEconomy: 4 rules for business success Arts & Showbiz: The Armenian girl and her Resignation Syndrome IT & Technology: Revolut launches in Armenia  Interviews News from the section Turkey replacing term "Central Asia" with "Turkestan" in textbooks  The Turkish Ministry of Education is replacing the term "Central Asia" with "Turkestan" in textbooks.Azerbaijan hosting an anti-French conference The conference focused on what Azerbaijan’s describes Paris’ continued meddling in the affairs of its former colonies in Africa.Zourabichvili: Georgia’s future without EU will be tragedy for Armenia Zourabichvili believes that her country does not return to the European path, it will be a tragedy for Armenia too. |
