"Can Turkey bridge the gap between Islam and the West?
By improving ties with Iran and Syria, Turkey aims to help mediate tensions.
By Yigal Schleifer | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – After decades of keeping the Arab and Muslim countries of the Middle East at arm's length, Turkey is trying to strengthen relations with its neighbors while at the same time recasting itself as a mediator in the region.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech at the opening of the Arab League summit in Khartoum, Sudan, where Turkey for the first time was given the status of 'permanent guest' by the organization."
More:Can Turkey bridge the gap between Islam and the West? | csmonitor.com