To Be or Not to Be...? Someone’s grief, and someone’s drinking party

Traditions of the Kyrgyz people were being formed with the help of economic, trade, domestic and other relations with kindred and other tribes that were closely related to the geography of their ha...

Iran of the 60s: unsuccessful attempt to reform

After the coup of 19 March 1953 in the socio-political history of Iran there were fundamental changes: the powers of parliament were limited and the absolute power of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was...

Topic: Regional rivalry in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are two countries that claim to leadership in the region. With a powerful resources and political potential these countries are the...

Turkey

Erdogan says Hezbollah, foreign countries fighting in Syria
22.05.2013
War & Terrorism|Middle East|Turkey

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected on Tuesday criticism against his government's support for the Syrian opposition, saying that Turkey only provides "logistical support" for the opposition Today`s Zaman reported.

Speaking upon his return from a visit to the US, the prime minister said that Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah and others are involved in fighting along with forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and slammed his critics for turning a blind eye to that.

Tanker explosion in Turkey leaves one dead
22.05.2013
War & Terrorism|Middle East|Turkey

A tanker with gasoline on board exploded in the Silopi district of the Turkish province of Sirnak, CNN Türk TV channel reported on Wednesday.

The explosion killed one person, while two others were seriously injured. One of the injured is a Syrian citizen. It is reported that the tanker exploded during welding work.

Turkish security forces arrived at the scene of the explosion and are clarifying the details of the incident.

Turkish defence industry investments increase by 85 per cent
20.05.2013
Business & Economics|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey's investments in the defence industry have increased by 85 per cent to 45.3 billion lira for the last five years, Anadolu agency said on Monday.

According to the report, the turnover of the Turkish defence and aerospace industry sectors increased by nine per cent to $4.7 billion in 2012 compared to 2011. Exports of the defence and aerospace industries increased by 16 per cent to $1.2 billion last year.

The agency reports that Turkey intends to bring the turnover of defence products up to $8 billion till 2016, while exports up to $2 billion.

Turkey signs agreement for third airport construction in Istanbul
20.05.2013
Culture & Living|Middle East|Turkey

An agreement for the construction of a third airport in Istanbul was signed on May 20 in Turkey, Turkish online newspaper The Lira reported on Monday.

According to the report, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Transport, Shipping and Communications of Turkey and the consortium Limak-Kolin-Cengiz-MaPa-Kalyon, the tender winner for the construction of the airport.

The Limak-Kolin-Cengiz-MaPa-Kalyon consortium won the tender for the project on May 3, offering 22.1 billion euros for the project.

Turkey, US to sign free trade agreement
17.05.2013
Public Policy & Politics|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey and the United States will sign a free trade agreement, Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, who is on an official visit to the United States said, Hürriyet newspaper reported on Friday.

According to Caglayan, the parties are to first establish a working group to develop the legal framework for the creation of a free economic zone between the two countries.

Main suspect in Reyhanlı bombings detained in Turkey
17.05.2013
War & Terrorism|Middle East|Turkey

On May 17, Turkish Security Forces detained the main suspect behind the terrorist attacks in Reyhanlı in Turkey's Hatay province, Hürriyet newspaper reported on Friday.

According to the report, the suspect is Mehmet G., a resident of the province of Hatay. Two minibuses that exploded on Saturday in the Turkish city of Reyhanlı were registered under his name.

As reported earlier, the number of those detained over the terror act in the city of Reyhanli in the Turkish Hatay Province reached 13. Four of them were arrested, while an investigation is underway on the others.

Turkey to manufacture domestic passenger car
17.05.2013
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey, which ranks 16th in the world in terms of the development of the automotive industry, intends to manufacture a passenger car made on a domestic production line, Anadolu agency quotes Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on an official visit to the United States, as saying.

According to Erdogan, Turkey is the second country in the world after China in terms of a growth in electricity consumption.

"Turkey has implemented a programme to increase the GDP in 2011-2017. This will result in the GDP growing by an average of 6.7 per cent," Erdogan said.

Terror attack prevented in Turkey
13.05.2013
War & Terrorism|Middle East|Turkey

Some 25 kilograms of explosives were found on the main road between Ankara and Mersin, the Sabah online newspaper reported on Monday.

A truck driver who was passing by found the explosives. The explosives were packed in a bag and left on the road.

If the explosives were not found, an explosion could have resulted in casualties or major property damage. A special unit of the Turkish security forces has been sent to the scene, they are conducting an investigation.

Death toll in terror attacks in Turkish Hatay province reaches 49
13.05.2013
War & Terrorism|Middle East|Turkey

The death toll of the dual terror attack in Reyhanli of the Turkish Hatay province has reached 49 people, CNN Turk TV channel reported on Monday.

Earlier, 46 people were reported dead. Today it was clarified that it was impossible to save three people who were injured.

At present, restoration work is underway on administrative buildings and houses that were damaged.

Two vehicles packed with explosives blew up near the town hall and industrial area of Hatay.

Turkey to produce Black Hawk helicopters
07.05.2013
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey is going to start mass production of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk multi-purpose helicopters previously produced in the U.S., Hurriyet newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the helicopters will be produced by Turkey's aerospace company Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Endüstrileri (TAI) under the supervision of the Secretariat of the Defence Industry under the Ministry of Defence of Turkey.

The Black Hawk helicopters production programme has been developed in Turkey since 2011. The budget is estimated at $3.5 billion.