Participation of Turkmenistan and possibly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the Southern Corridor for gas to Europe would bolster their sovereign independence, according to a new report by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s GOP staff titled “Energy and Security from the Caspian to Europe”, reported Silk Road Newsline. READ MORE

EU countries are interested in further cooperation with Azerbaijan, EU foreign ministers said at a briefing after a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on Wednesday. READ MORE

Thursday the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development grounding on the donors of the Ignalina International Decommissioning Support Fund, made a decision to stop financing of one of the projects on Ignalina NPP decommissioning. READ MORE

December 16th, 2012 is the anniversary of sadly famous event in Kazakhstani city Janaozen, which gained broad fame, as on thoroughly developing island of peace and security unfavorable precedent took place.  READ MORE

How the president can seize back the initiative on foreign policy. READ MORE

In recent months, Kazakhstan and Georgia have joined with Azerbaijan and Turkey to make considerable progress in their Silk Wind Project, which aims to construct a high-speed, multimodal container transportation system for freight shipments between the countries of Europe, the Caucasus and Asia. According to the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan, the participating countries plan to introduce a single tariff for the transportation of goods within the project as well as share more preliminary information between their customs authorities and rail operators (Trend, November 28).  READ MORE

It is not easy to evaluate the relationship between Russia and NATO. In the public space the attitude toward NATO is negative. This attitude was inherited from the Soviet times, and Russia practically does nothing to change the situation. The statements of Russian authorities also demonstrate this hostile approach. On the other hand, Russia and NATO could be treated at least as partners, since Russia‘s interests are not always totally opposite to the ambitions of the Alliance. READ MORE

On 11 December in Brussels, ministers of the European Union member states endorsed the programme of the Council of the European Union for the Irish, Lithuanian and Greek Presidencies. The so-called Trio will be responsible for the EU’s legislative process from 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2014. READ MORE

The Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom outlined ambitious and costly plans to develop new production and exports hubs in the country’s Far East. Meanwhile, the gas giant has also apparently begun reassessing its ties with Central Asia. READ MORE

That corruption is a serious challenge for Russia has long been acknowledged, not least by President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. READ MORE