On March 17 The Washington Post published an article headlined 'Kadyrov’s rule inspires fear in Chechnya as Kremlin stands by'. The article is devoted to repeated human rights violations in the Northern Caucasian republic. The author tells about a series of arrests of young people, suspected of links with rebels. According to him, the Chechen people, especially women, pay no attention to the reconstruction of Grozny, but worry about their sons and fear they may be arrested without any reason at any time.
On March 16 The New York Times published an article about Israeli-Iranian relations. The latest row was caused by the Israeli military, which recently intercepted a cargo vessel on its way from Turkey to Egypt. According to the Israeli party, the vessel was used to deliver weapons to Hamas. Such scandals are not rare. Not long ago the Israeli navy intercepted a merchant ship that was considered to be delivering weaponry to Hezbollah, a Lebanese organization that, according to Israeli officials, is supported by Iran.
The same day The Los Angeles Times published an article devoted to the Middle Eastern crisis and the situation in Bahrain. The island kingdom is believed to be a sphere of interest for both Saudi Arabia and Iran. According to the author, the confrontation is provoked by a certain friction between the two countries, since each of them considers its model a better one and its faith to be the right one. "There's an ideological competition between the two countries to represent Islam," the author quotes a Saudi journalist.
The same topic is discussed in the article published today by the prominent British newspaper The Guardian. According to the author of this article, the Saudi intervention in Bahrain’s internal affairs has sectarianised the conflict and provoked serious friction with Iran, another regional superpower. The author underlines that radical change in the Middle East is inevitable and that the wisest course is not to stand in its way but to try to minimise the turmoil when it happens.
Turkey’s Hurriyet published an article devoted to the plans to build a nuclear power station in the country. The problem is an acute one in the light of the nuclear catastrophe in Japan, where thousands of people have died recently. According to the author, the construction of a nuclear plant is a national issue as well, as the country attempts to join the EU. That is why the author believes Turkish officials will still do their best to build a power station, though they may be forced to postpone it.
Another article published by Hurriyet headlined “Thou shall not kill!” is devoted to the Turkish prime minister's prejudiced position towards Israel. Prime Minister Erdogan, who has always been accusing Israel of violence, has made no official statement about the recent tragedy in Itamar, the Israeli settlement on the West Bank, where Palestinians butchered an Israeli family. Even though 3 children were killed, including a small baby, the Turkish official has not reacted.
