Les défis de la Méditerranée orientale

Abstract

Miguel Moratinos traces seriously and with great diligence the often conflict ridden past of the Eastern Mediterranean region highlighting the importance of the region throughout history. The essay makes reference to the impact on the region of: a) the fall of the Ottoman Empire, b) the ending of World War II, c) the creation of NATO and the assignment by the US and NATO to Turkey the role of regional policeman at the expense of other countries and most importantly NATO-ally Greece and Cyprus, now half-occupied by Turkish troops, d) the impact on the area of the Cold War and its aftermath after the fall of the Berlin Wall and e) the new antagonism between the US and Russia that brings into the fray other countries as well e.g. the EU stands to lose much from applying US sanctions on Russia as a result of the Ukrainian crisis.