The Turkish government has started a serious chase after the Kurds. At the same time it is “getting ready” for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide committed in the Ottoman Empire during the World War I. Turkey is in a hurry: time is pressing, and the centenary of the massacres may have negative consequences for the authorities. Naturally, they won’t surpass Armenian expectations, but continued and persistent denial of extermination of the Christian nations in the Ottoman Empire will hardly add to the prestige of Turkey, now seeking to enter the top 10 list of the world countries, as stated by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

On November 12 the League of Arab States (LAS) suspended the membership of Syria in this organization due to the “violation of civilian rights”. Naturally, the solution was welcomed by the UN, U.S. and UK. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called this move “courageous”, noting that international community is ready to support the protection of civilians in Syria.

After all Georgia “agreed” to Russia’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), having pretty spoiled the nerves of not only Russia, but also the U.S., which in the end talked Saakashvili into abandoning the unnecessary and, most importantly, senseless struggle against the “Russian bear”. On November 10, an agreement on Russia’s joining the WTO was finally signed in Geneva.

The visit of Foreign Minister of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi to Yerevan generated more questions than answers on the true role of Iran in Armenia. The constant tension over Iran’s nuclear program, together with its weighty position and role in the region makes Tehran look for allies, should a dangerous point arrive, followed by invasion or bombing.

After the establishment of “alternative Kurdistan parliament” in Diyarbakir, Official Ankara stepped up pressure on the Kurds and intensified the military operations against PKK guerrillas. The Turkish army is freely invading the neighboring countries, particularly Iraq and Iran, motivating the aggression by a fight against Kurdish rebels.

The Middle East has always been among the vital interests of the USA. This position was established especially after the World War I, when America, seriously forcing the UK to the background, replaced her in this troubled region, rich in oil. In the Soviet years there was a ding-dong struggle going on between the two world powers for leadership in the Middle East. However, after the collapse of the Soviet empire the struggle tuned into a sluggish clarification of who the stronger is.

Libya grew into an Islamic state, and Syria now is the only remaining secular Muslim country in the Middle East. Lebanon, naturally, does not count as she is too diverse and to consider her a Muslim country would be wrong; even the president’s post is occupied by Maronites. That said, torn by controversies and civil strife, Lebanon may one day cease to exist. However, this is not today’s issue. For NATO and USA the main concern is Syria, which is reluctant to welcome the “Arab spring” that did absolutely no good to the region.

After long rounds of voting, Azerbaijan finally made its way into the non-permanent members of the UN. The fact itself is unimportant unless you take it into account that the Organization has become a “chat room” in which everyone is free to express themselves, without any benefit. Over the past 20 years, namely after the USSR collapse, the United Nations has long become something like a sump, in which Muslim countries together with the U.S. are playing first fiddle for the simple reason that they outnumber the others.

Confrontation between National Transitional Council (NTC) and Muammar Gaddafi seems to be over. The colonel is killed. Maybe he died of wounds, committed suicide, or, most likely, was shot in his hometown of Sirte that is entirely under the control of rebels.

Following French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to the region, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, as expected, started an official visit, too. If we also add to this the upcoming visit of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Moscow, it turns out that the U.S., EU and Russia have started preparations not only for their own elections, but also for the regional ones.