THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS AT 50 YEARS. 2010 marks the 50^th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Cyprus. Undoubtedly, the history of this island state has been turbulent: there have been intercommunal and intracommunal strife and sustained foreign interventions and intrusions with 1974 being a devastating turning point with its effects still scarring the country. Turkey continues to … MORE

Perspectives on the triangle EU – Turkey and Cyprus: The latest developments (by Andreas Theophanous). On October 14, 2009 the European Commission’s Progress Report on Turkey described the poor record of the country in relation to several issues including Cyprus but did not make any recommendations for sanctions. It was therefore no surprise that two months later on … MORE

Obama: Year one (by Monroe Newman). At the end of his first year as president of the United States, Barack Obama knew that his standing with the populous had significantly eroded, his domestic agenda was in serious trouble, and his foreign policy had recorded no notable achievements. What contributed to this? The factors are many. Customarily, analysts dwell on unreasonably high expectations … MORE

High demand for a reform of European security: A view from Moscow (by Nadia Alexandrova-Arbatova). The Russian-Georgian conflict over South Ossetia has shown that none of the existing security institutions, called to resolve such conflicts, appeared capable to effectively execute the duties. The UN Security Council was not able to react to the South Caucasus crisis in a constructive … MORE

Who will mediate between Turkey and Israel? (by Anat Lapidot-Firilla). The behavior of Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, toward Turkish Ambassador Ahmed Oğuz Çelikkol, greatly embarrassed the Israeli public. The public’s argument is not with Ayalon’s message – that the Israeli government has reached the limits of its patience toward the unrestrained verbal attacks … MORE

European integration and the ratification of the treaty of Lisbon: Quo Vadis? (by Guy Harpaz). On 2 October, 2009 the Irish electorate, in an obligatory and legally-binding referendum, approved the Treaty of Lisbon. That vote, followed by the signing of the Lisbon Treaty by the Czech President on 3 November, 2009, completed the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty and paved the way … MORE

The EU’s legal dimension and soft power implications (by Demetrios A. Theophylactou). The legal dimension of the EU, deriving from its supranational judiciary structures and institutions, in effect embodies the essence of the rule of law as a fundamental value in the heart of the European project. At a practical level, it ensures the effective and efficient implementation of the Acquis … MORE

Iran: Frontlines and perspectives (by Hamid R. Khalaj). The persistence and continuity of the Green Movement of the Iranian people which reached its peak of political radicalism on Ashura has resulted in the emergence of unprecedented frontiers and groupings in various aspects. For the first time the idea of major political transition and even regime change has emerged on the agenda … MORE

Systems of order and systems of security (by Melanie Antoniou). The historical evolution of political systems into three main patterns of order – pre-modern, modern and post-modern – has carried with it an analogous evolution of the security systems. However, the historical evolution has never been clear cut, that is why, in the current international political and security systems, … MORE

A tale from the past and reflections on the present (by Emilios Solomou). In 1185 Isaac Dumas Comneus arrived in Cyprus with forged papers and presented himself as governor of Cyprus by appointment of the Byzantine Emperor Andronicus I. He soon afterwards revealed his true identity and nature; he rebelled against imperial authority and proclaimed himself ruler of Cyprus. The Cypriots … MORE

The political climate in Lebanon and the Armenian Lebanese community (by Arba Jebejian). Lebanon at last formed its cabinet on November 10, 2009, following weeks of bickering and a five month political vacuum since parliamentary elections. The cabinet is formed of 15 ministers from Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s US and Saudi-backed coalition, 10 from opposition, backed by Syria and … MORE