Greece's and Turkey's historical differences have brought them to the brink of war on several occasions, but now leaders from the two nations are trying to bury the hatchet. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been meeting with Greek leaders in Athens to discuss efforts to ease bilateral tensions.

Turkey is growing impatient with being cold-shouldered by the European Union, and resistance to its bid for membership is stoking Ankara’s ambition to turn towards the Muslim world. President Gül said that the EU and its leaders stood at an historic crossroads and had to decide whether or not to welcome Turkey in.

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan visits Athens on Friday for talks with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou in what Turkish and Greek officials hope will bring a new era in relations between the often feuding Aegean neighbors.

Closer Russo-Turkish relations and the latest indications that these relations may grow from economic cooperation into strategic partnership have caused concern among political circles in Armenia.

The cross-border spending sprees are one of the most visible effects of a recent rapprochement between Turkey and Syria, part of Ankara's drive to strengthen ties with its eastern neighbours, using trade and cultural links to increase its "soft power" in the Middle East.

President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had talks this weekend with a number of top leaders from Turkey's Middle Eastern neighbors, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Syria is ready to reopen peace talks with Israel, with Turkey serving as a mediator, but Israel has not asked Ankara to resume that role, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Saturday.

Like China, Brazil or the EU, Turkey in recent years has upgraded its engagement with Africa. Ankara's new interest in Africa is not just economically driven, but exemplifies a recalibration of Turkish foreign policy.