Despite the Greek parliament's approval of an austerity package, the country's enormous debt and EU countries' tortured debate over solutions raise concerns among some experts that default is unavoidable.

Michael Shuman of Time's The Curious Capitalist discusses the future of the U.S. debt burden in the context of Greece's fiscal debacle, suggesting a balanced approach to avoiding default.

Greece's government escaped a no-confidence vote, but the crisis over its massive sovereign debt continues to shake the eurozone. CFR's Sebastian Mallaby says there are no easy solutions and matters may be coming to a head.

Meghan O'Sullivan says the Middle East's Kurdish population could help promote moderation in the region.

Though Standard and Poor's ranks Greece as the world's lowest-rated economy, calling into question the eurozone's future, economist Iain Begg says the debt crisis will paradoxically have the effect of deepening EU integration.

There is little doubt Prime Minister Erdogan's AKP party will retain power in Turkey's June 12 elections. The focus will be on whether he uses his mandate to consolidate Turkish democracy under a new liberal constitution, says CFR's Steven A. Cook.

Greece will undoubtedly receive a second bailout from the EU and IMF. But expert Daniel Gros says it remains to be seen whether default is inevitable and if banks and other private bondholders will also take a hit.

European Union Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn expects negotiations on a new Greek aid plan between the EU, IMF, and Greek government will conclude "in the coming days," ahead of the EU finance ministers' meeting scheduled for June 20.

Today's arrest of Radko Mladic, accused mastermind of the slaughter at Srebrenica, will help clear the way for Serbia's accession to the European Union and is a step forward for the region, says CFR's Charles Kupchan.

Steven A. Cook argues that at a moment of unprecedented change in the Middle East, Turkey is falling far short of being a regional leader.

Joshua Walker writes in Foreign Policy that the unprecedented levels and inter-linkages of the protests against the traditional authoritarian regimes represented most starkly by President Mubarak, has brought the Middle East back to a period more reminiscent of the breakup of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of Arab nationalism than anything seen in recent memory.

Michael L. Baker discusses the seventh anniversary of the terrorist bombing in Istanbul.

Turkey's ruling party is sometimes criticized for being Islamist or ideological, but its policies remain essentially nationalist and commercially opportunistic.

As Wall Street hangs on the question "Will Greece default?," Vanity Fair's Michael Lewis heads for riot-stricken Athens, and for the mysterious Vatopaidi monastery, which brought down the last government, laying bare the country's economic insanity.

President of the Republic of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, discusses the transforming relationship of Turkey with the United States, Europe, and the Middle East

President of the Republic of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, discusses the transforming relationship of Turkey with the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül discusses a wide-range of foreign policy matters including U.S.-Turkish relations, Middle East peace, Iran, and Afghanistan.

The win by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's party in the referendum on constitutional changes could improve Turkish democracy, says CFR's Steven A. Cook, but fuels concerns about whether it augurs a more religiously oriented political environment.

In Reset, Stephen Kinzer argues that the United States should partner with Iran and Turkey to promote democracy and combat extremism in the Middle East. Although it is hard to imagine Iran as a friend of Washington, Turkey is ready to play that role.