World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (July 27, 2011)

The New York Times published an article by Vladimir Novokoff headlined "Realistic About Abkhazia." According to the author of the article, Victor Erofeyev's conclusion that "only the gradual movement of Abkhazia toward Europe can facilitate its future rapprochement with Georgia" does not match the political realities. He underlines that Abkhazia's economy is heavily integrated with Russia -- the guarantor of its independence since the brief Russian-Georgian war in 2008 -- and the government and population of Abkhazia continue to reject any notion of reuniting with Georgia despite international wishful
thinking. Novokoff believes that the countries and territories on the Caucasus would do much better if they were to engage in constructive political and economic cooperation among themselves.

The Los Angeles Times published an article devoted to the current political situation in Iran. The author of the article thinks the
anti-American cleric Muqtada Sadr's movement is becoming more and more influential in the country as the US influence wanes. The evidence is the recent decision of Iraqi Prime Minister to pardon at least 50 prisoners, Sadr's supporters. The movement is backed by Iran and is very dangerous for the US, the author concludes.

Turkish news agency Hurriyet published an article by Mustafa Akuol headlined "Not all terrorists are Muslim, apparently." Avcording to the author, a silly motto has developed in the West in the past decade. "Not all Muslims are terrorists, of course," people would utter it, still thinking "but all terrorists are Muslims." Yet now, the monstrous violence committed by Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian terrorist who killed more than 70 of his innocent countrymen, clearly debunks that rhetoric.

The same topic was discussed in the article by David Ignatius published by The Washington Post. In the article entitled "How do you prevent a terror attack?" Ignatius stresses the point that there are homicidal cults all over the world -- some in Muslim countries and some in the heart of Europe. European extremists are no less dangerous then Al-Qaeda, the journalist believes.