Ankara and Berlin could be entangled in diplomatic crisis after reports that the German intelligence agency, Bundesrichtendienst (BND), has been spying on Turkey since 2009. The Turkish government reacted to the reports by summoning the German Ambassador for explanations. The spying allegations are expected to affect the relationship between the two governments. Almost 3million Turks […]
Tag: Turkey
U.S. Africa Leaders Summit : America’s (Interested) Declaration of Love
The U.S. Africa Leaders Summit that brought to Washington this August 4-6 more than 50 African leaders and hundreds of governmental officials, CEOs and civil society activists was an opportunity for President Barack Obama to make a declaration of love to the black continent, announcing new partnerships and initiatives and pledging that America will be […]
Libya : Exodus of diplomats and foreigners
After the capture and killing of Colonel Muamar Gadhafi, Libya was poised to head for a transition towards democracy. However, the past two weeks have been the most intense fighting the country has witnessed since the end of the war. Governments which once backed the rebels against the regime are now evacuating their diplomats and […]
Egypt: Ambassadors’ joint statement for respecting rights and liberties in the country
Egypt’s foreign ministry has reacted to the joint statement signed by the U.K, France, Germany, Japan, Turkey, the US and 21 other European countries by summoning their Ambassadors. The joint statement called on Egyptian authorities to respect the rights and liberties of individuals following the crackdown on protesters since the arrival of the military backed […]
Nile Dispute and the Dilemma of National Approaches
Amid deep political turmoil, there is a mounting concern in Egypt as Ethiopia forges ahead with its plan to build the $4.8 billion Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile’s main tributary. The hydroelectric dam, to be Africa’s biggest, sounded the alarm bell for Egypt due to its possible impact on the flow of the river. […]
Libya: Former Major General calls for military takeov
Aiming to bring Libya’s political crisis to a halt, Maj. Gen. Khalifa Haftar, former Libyan army commander called on Libyans to support his military campaign in a recorded video message. In the video, he announced that Libya’s interim government has been dissolved and was to be replaced by the army, what was understood by some […]
Tunisia : Technocratic government already proving itself
It’s been barely a couple of weeks and Tunisia’s apolitical government, composed of a team of young technocrats, has already started showing high level of competence. The government came with a new approach in dealing with state affairs and the past two weeks have been enough to mark its broad guidelines. The new team unlike […]
Burqa, Hijab, Niqab or ‘Nothing’? – MENA’s Attitudes to Female Dress Code
The Pew Research Centre has recently compiled the results of its research on the opinions of people in different countries across the MENA region on the way women dress. Respondents from seven MENA countries – Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia – were asked which of the six styles of Muslim women’s […]
Turkey urges Iraq to accept Kurdish oil deal
A Turkish delegation headed by its Energy Minister Taner Yildiz met with Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister for Energy, Hussain al-Shahristani, in the Iraqi capital to foster bilateral relations which were affected by a deal between Ankarra and the regional autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region. Baghdad has always maintained that all oil deals should be approved by […]
Turkey and Iraq to discuss Kurd oil deals
Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari will be on a working visit to neighboring Turkey as both countries continue to reinforce their bilateral relations. Ahead of his arrival on Friday, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said that they are implementing projects worth billions of dollars in Iraq and willing to continue abiding by its rules. During […]









