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...

Middle East

Violence in Syria intensifies; UN team attacked
16.05.2012
War & Terrorism|Middle East|Syria

At least 46 people were killed across Syria Tuesday in violence that targeted restive cities in the north and east, while a United Nations convoy was attacked in a rebel area, activists said, dpa reported.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces in the Khan Sheikhoun area had fired on two vehicles carrying members of the UN observing team monitoring a shaky UN-brokered ceasefire, which went into effect on April 12.

UN observers' car damaged in Syria
16.05.2012
War & Terrorism|Middle East|Syria

A car of UN observers in Syria has been damaged as a result of an explosion in the province of Idlib, The Voice of Russia reported.

The local media reported on Tuesday that none of the observers suffered from the explosion. No details have been reported yet.

The first attempt on peacemakers in Syria occurred on the 9th of May. An explosion thundered on the way of a convoy of trucks carrying the head of the mission Norwegian General Robert Mood. The incident happened at the approaches to the city of Dera'a, 110km south of Damascus. Several Syrian soldiers were injured.

Erdogan lambasts opposition, says Syrian crisis not sectarian
16.05.2012
Public Policy & Politics|Middle East|Turkey

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed suggestions that the crisis in Syria stems from a sectarian rift between the Sunni majority and Alawites, and slammed Turkey's main opposition leader for siding with President Bashar al-Assad, apparently due to sectarian affinities, Today's Zaman reported.

Turkey says supportive of Macedonia’s NATO bid ahead of Chicago summit
16.05.2012
Public Policy & Politics|Middle East|Turkey

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Macedonia's membership in NATO will greatly contribute to regional stability and that NATO's only Muslim member Turkey will do everything to tackle barriers facing the country's membership, Today's Zaman reported.

6 killed by militants in Iraq
16.05.2012
War & Terrorism|Middle East|Iraq

6 were killed, 24 were wounded as a result of a militant attack on an army checkpoint in northern Iraq. This was reported Tuesday by local security forces, The Voice of Russia reported.

The extremists blew up an explosive-laden car, and entered an exchange of fire with the military. The attack took place west of the city of Mosul.

German FM: Turkey EU bid boosted by votes
16.05.2012
Public Policy & Politics|Middle East|Turkey

Recent election defeats for opponents of Turkey's bid for EU membership offer a chance to unfreeze negotiations, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told an audience in Turkey on Tuesday, Today's Zaman reported.

"After the latest elections we have the chance, but we also have the challenge, to overcome this frozen situation," Westerwelle told a forum hosted by the Sabancı University İstanbul Policy Group.

EU Advisor: Iran, India have to replace euro with other forex
16.05.2012
Business & Economics|Iran|Middle East

India and Iran agreed to pay 45 percent of Iranian oil purchase through rupee and the rest though euro, Mohammad Mehdi Rasekh, secretary general of Tehran's Chamber of Commerce told Mehr News Agency on Sunday, but The European Union economic advisor Mehrdad Emadi told Trend that Iran-India trading through euro is impossible because of the EU sanctions on Iran's Central Bank imposed on Jan.23and they should replace other foreign exchange with Europe's official exchange.

Israeli MPs to visit Georgia
16.05.2012
Public Policy & Politics|Middle East|Israel

Members of Knesset (parliament) of Israel Faina Kirschenbaum (Yisrael Beiteinu Party) and Orit Zuarets (Kadima party) will visit Georgia on Wednesday.

The Israeli MPs will meet with Deputy Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia, Tamar Kintsurashvili and Vice-Speaker of Georgian Parliament Rusudan Kervalishvili.

On May 17 they will meet with State Minister for Diaspora Affairs Mirza Davitaia. On the same day, before his departure for Israel, Kirschenbaum will be received by Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili.

Bahrain protests against Iran
16.05.2012
Public Policy & Politics|Iran|Middle East

Iran's Charge d'Affaires to Bahrain was summoned to the Bahraini Foreign Ministry, where he received a note of protest, Al Arabiya TV channel said today.

The note included a protest in connection with Iranian officials' statements about the establishment of an alliance between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. These statements are a direct interference in Bahrain's internal affairs. Bahrain has called for the immediate cessation of the actions that are detrimental to bilateral relations, the note said.

Turkish Airlines cancels flights to Baku
16.05.2012
Business & Economics|Middle East|Turkey

Turkish Airlines (Turk Hava Yollari) have canceled flights to Baku, scheduled for May 16 and May 17, due to bad weather conditions, the company said on Wednesday.

Twenty three domestic and international flights from Istanbul, including to Beirut, Kuwait and Rome have also been cancelled.