Al-Moussawi Says Iraq Can Be'Bridge' to Syria Solution In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Ali Al-Moussawi, top media adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, discusses the Geneva II Syria conference and Iraqi-Turkish relations. Iraq
AK Party’s Sovereignty Over Istanbul Threatened Polls show current mayor of Istanbul Sisli district Mustafa Sarigul is likely to win local elecations as main opposition CHP candidate if he chooses to run in 2014. Turkey
Headscarf Returns to Turkish Parliament Four female deputies from Turkey's Justice and Development Party went on the hajj and are now making history by returning to parliament wearing headscarves. Turkey
Hamas Gives No Credit to Abu Mazen For Prisoner Release Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh decided not to broadcast or celebrate the recent prisoner release. Palestine
Washington, Moscow Fight Over Post-Geneva II Syria Investments The recent sacking of Syrian Deputy Prime Minister of Economic Affairs Qadri Jamil sheds light on under the table dealings going on ahead of the anticipated Geneva II conference. Originals
Five Trends in Iran-Turkey Trade, Energy Ties International sanctions and regional tensions over Syria could still upset the uptick in Iran-Turkey economic relations, but the trend is positive. Turkey
Five Reasons US Should Change Policies Toward Syria’s Kurds The United States may have been placating Turkey by denying a visa to Salih Muslim, head of Syria's Democratic Union Party. Syria
Egypt Sets New Limits On Mosque Activities Setting stringent, if hard to enforce, rules on activities that take place in mosques, Egypt’s new government has incensed Islamists of various political persuasions. Egypt
New Kurdish Party Could Impact Local Turkish Elections The election strategy of a small, fledgling Kurdish-socialist party may have a disproportionate impact on local polls next year and sway Turkish politics. Turkey
Iran Parliament Steps In On Nuclear Talks Iran's parliament will seek to to assert influence in supporting the nuclear negotiations to ensure that red lines such as full rapprochement are not crossed. Iran
Iraq's Moral Deficit Iraqis have the moral and historical responsibility to find an agreed-upon national project, if they want to save their country from collapse. Iraq
Saudi-Backed Salafists Returning To Iran’s Border? The sectarian war in Syria comes to the Iran-Pakistan border. Saudi Arabia
Political Forces Opposing Better US-Iran Ties Get Busy As the next round of Geneva talks between Iran and the P5+1 nears, currents that oppose better US-Iran relations have become active but some signs of hope have also appeared. Iran
Release of Palestinian Prisoners Not a License for Creeping Annexation Did US Secretary of State John Kerry know that Israel would approve new settlements after releasing Palestinian prisoners? Palestine
Where Do Babylonian Jewry's Archives Belong? The archives of Iraq's Jewish community should be returned to Baghdad and serve as the cornerstone for a historic reconciliation between Babylonian Jewry and their homeland. Iraq
Iran Nuclear Talks Overlook Terror Progress in the nuclear talks may have taken terrorism off the agenda. Israel
