Barack Obama has not faced the continuing revolutions in the Arab world with any passion...Yet change has come, and whether Mr Obama likes it or not this will alter Middle Eastern attitudes toward the United States.

The move has been closely coordinated with European, Turkish and Arab allies and would come one day after al-Assad told the head of the United Nations that military and police operations against anti-government protesters have stopped...

The Syrian revolt is an important part of the broader Arab Spring that is transforming the Middle East, and U.S. policy must transform with it. After months of disappointing statements urging Assad to "reform," the Obama administration has begun to align itself with the Syrian people....

Tens of thousands of people marched across Syria on the first Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan....Clinton repeated that the United States believed Assad had lost legitimacy in Syria...The European Union also agreed to further extend sanctions on Syria.

With the proliferation of information technology across all societies, people around the world are participating in shaping the political lives of their countries to an unprecedented degree. That drove us to an understanding that the United States government had to take a different approach to public diplomacy.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed al-Orabi said Egypt would adopt the principle of "soft power" in its foreign policy, taking into account the social, economic and cultural dimensions of relationships. The minister also said the foreign policy would be in complete harmony with the 25 January revolution, adding that it aims to retain Egypt’s leading regional and international roles.

To this end so-called “soft power” – the ability to win the battle of ideas not just the war – will become increasingly crucial. Unfortunately the Government is making cuts to institutions such as the BBC World Service and the British Council, which are key assets in our soft power capability.

This visit was not just about learning for Egyptian youth. It was also a great example of the “public diplomacy” which we have been hearing so much about recently, and a great sign that Turkish statesmen and Turkey have really learned this business well.