We use "Near East" as well in Italy!
Or at least so thay taught me at school!
Anyway I think nowadays middle-east is the arabian-muslim block (our near-east), inside which there are exceptions (Israel is not muslim of course). Former Soviet republics of the Caucasus can be included, geographically they are middle/near East; while the 5 *stan could be considered middle/far East. It's always complicated, I prefer to refer at Asia, Europe or just the physical geographic names like Caucasus, Caspian and so on!
