World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (May 20, 2011)

The Los Angeles Times published an article devoted to the recent presidential address headlined “Obama makes a blunt push for Middle East peace”.  In his speech the president hails the pro-democracy movements in the Arab world, says the author. He also underlines that Obama didn’t mentioned the Saudi Arabia by name, speaking about the importance of improving democratic system since the country remains a strategic partner. However the president urged the leaders of Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain to start reforms immediately, the author notes.

The Guardian published an article devoted to the current political situation in Iran.  A top aide in the office of the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has been arrested,  says the article. According to the author, move against close ally of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's chief of staff steps up tension within regime. The country’s parliament has started the procedure of impeachment of the president, and many expert believe that the reason is his conflict with the Supreme Ruler of Iran, Ali Khomenei.

The Moscow Times published an article by Yuliya Latynina entitled “No Trial Does Not Mean No Justice” devoted to Osama bin Laden’s death. “Now that the initial euphoria over the killing of Osama bin Laden has passed, everybody from sincere human rights activists to inveterate enemies of the United States is raising a cry of indignation over the fact that he did not receive a trial,” says Latynina. According to her, even though no trial has taken place, Osama bin Laden’s guilt is quite evident. “If they could prove that any of the above charges were lies, they would succeed in discrediting the entire U.S. justice system,” says the journalist.

Turkish news agency Hurriyet published an article headlined “Erdoğan’s misguided approach to the Kurdish question”. The Kurdish question continues to be Turkey’s number one problem, thinks the author. According to him much-tuted Kurdish initiative begun by the Justice and Development Party’s  administration has gone awry. Matters are coming to a dangerous head today more than at any time, worries the author of the article.