Content

MENASource

Oct 1, 2015

EconSource: IMF Approves $301 Million Disbursement to Tunisia

By EconSource

The International Monetary Fund’s Executive Board approved the disbursement of $301.6 million to Tunisia as it held its final evaluation of its standby agreement with the North African country.

MENASource

Oct 1, 2015

These Are the Ten Issues Sisi Focused on in New York

By Brandan Martini

During a five day visit to New York, where he was participating in the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi gave two public addresses, conducted interviews with AP, CNN, and PBS, and published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal.

North Africa

SyriaSource

Oct 1, 2015

Syria: Moscow Strikes, Washington Watches

By Frederic C. Hof

Four years of failed US policy toward Syria have produced alarming results that transcend the Levant. Having carefully gauged the gap between Obama administration rhetoric and action, Russian President Vladimir Putin has elected to intervene militarily to help the Assad regime defeat its non-Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) enemies.

Iran Russia

UkraineAlert

Sep 30, 2015

Radars for Ukraine: Obama’s Strong Signal to Putin

By Adrian Karatnycky

A day after US President Barack Obama met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the United States announced that it will ship long-range counter-battery radars to Ukraine. Obama authorized $20 million to provide the country with radars, bringing US security assistance to Ukraine up to $265 million. Obama’s message is clear: the United States will not […]

Russia Ukraine

MENASource

Sep 30, 2015

Iraq: The Fragile Economy of a Fragile State

By Nussaibah Younis and Sali Mahdy

There is little to envy in the life of embattled Iraqi Premier Haider al-Abadi, who is struggling to finance a war against the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) even as the collapse of oil prices has crippled the Iraqi economy.

Iraq

MENASource

Sep 30, 2015

Top News: Russia Approves Airstrikes in Syria, Begins Attacks in Homs

By MENASource

On Wednesday, members of the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, voted unanimously to approve conduct of air strikes in Syria.

MENASource

Sep 30, 2015

Top News: Egypt-US Ties Have ‘Become Stronger’ Says Sisi

By EgyptSource

Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in an interview that the last two years have been “a real test that showed the strength of the strategic relations between Egypt and the US.”

MENASource

Sep 29, 2015

Will Tunisia’s Economic Reconciliation Law “Turn the Page”?

By Elissa Miller and Katherine Wolff

The bill has provoked considerable mistrust at a time when Tunisia, plagued by a spiraling economy and relentless security challenges, desperately needs unity. Trust is needed among the Tunisian people and the country’s political parties as the government prepares to embark on challenging reforms that may be its only hope for economic survival.

Democratic Transitions Middle East

UkraineAlert

Sep 29, 2015

Ukraine Must Embrace Radical Reform Now

By Melinda Haring

If the Ukrainian government does not follow through with an ambitious reform agenda, public support will wane while dissatisfaction will increase, threatening political stability and the country’s future. “There is no time for slow evolutionary changes. Radical and revolutionary reforms are the only way to success,” warns a new report issued September 28.

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Sep 29, 2015

Halfway There on National Unity in Ukraine

By Colin Cleary

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has lost the battle for the hearts and minds of the predominantly Russian-speaking regions of eastern and southern Ukraine that remain under Kyiv’s control. Support for those he calls “compatriots” has been at the core of Putin’s stated rationale for intervention in Ukraine. Polls show, however, that a clear majority of […]

Russia Ukraine