January 30th
Czechs elect pro-European Miloš Zeman for president

Miloš Zeman, a leftist former prime minister seen as pro-European, won the Czech Republic's first direct presidential election on Saturday (26 January), marking a departure from the late Eurosceptic President Václav Klaus, who had pushed the country towards the margins of the European Union. READ MORE
January 28th
Can Obama rely on Europe?

Plagued by deep domestic problems, Barack Obama would love to outsource many international issues to the EU in his second term. The problem is no one knows whether Europe is up to the task. READ MORE
January 25th
Georgian Defense Minister Unveils Plans to Create Entirely Professional Army, Compatible with NATO Forces

Minister of Defense and First Deputy Prime Minister Irakli Alasania, who does not conceal his plans to participate in the presidential elections in October 2013, revealed several important initiatives for reforming the Georgian army and future cooperation with the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Alasania proposed switching to an all-contract service army by 2016. “No one needs to serve in the army against his will. On the contrary, the service should be prestigious and not accessible to all. Only people who received professional education and are prepared to give up their lives for their country must serve in the army,” the minister stated on January 7, in an interview with the Georgian paper Kviris Palitra. READ MORE
January 23rd
Cybercrime centre Chief: 'We will focus on criminal groups or networks who steal your money'

Troels Ørting is the head of the newly established European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) at Europol, the European law enforcement agency in The Hague. Ørting is a senior police chief from Denmark with more than 30 years’ experience in serious, organised international crime including cybercrime. As chief of the Danish equivalent of Serious Organised Crime Agency he also managed the Danish High Tech Crime Unit and developed the Danish early response to cybercrime. He spoke to EurActiv’s Jeremy Fleming. READ MORE
January 21st
Will Ilia II reconcile Georgia and Russia?

Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II is the first for a long time official person of the country who is going to visit Russian capital. Patriarch arrives in Moscow at the award ceremony. Ilia II will be awarded the prize "for his outstanding contribution to strengthening the unity of Orthodox peoples". Celebrations have been organized by the International Fund of Orthodox Christians. Visit of the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church will be held at the invitation of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill. READ MORE
Major events in Caspian countries' oil and gas industry for week

Azerbaijani State Oil Fund budget approved for 2013 READ MORE
Mali Intervention Exposes Europe’s Security Shortcomings

Since the intervention in Libya in 2011, which highlighted strong dissensions between France and Germany in the conduct of military engagement, Europeans have been waiting for a new opportunity to prove they could unite around a common objective, away from Brussels and the near-constant series of crisis meetings. READ MORE
Ukraine has done everything for successful OSCE chairmanship - Viacheslav Yatsiuk

The head of the working group on ensuring Ukraine's OSCE chairmanship and the director of the political department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Viacheslav Yatsiuk, spoke in an interview with UKRINFORM about how Kyiv prepared for its chairmanship of the organization, and about the prospects and possible consequences for Ukraine from the fulfillment of a complicated international mission. READ MORE
January 18th
Energy for the future

Energy shortages in the world makes the leading powers seek new ways to solve this problem. While in the field of sports leaders are determined during the Olympic Games, in the sphere of innovations development such a venue is International Specialized Exhibition EXPO. In 2017, it will be held in Kazakhstan. The main theme of the site designated as the "Energy for the future". We emphasize that showcase of the best mankind achievements in the development of green energy will be held in a country whose economy has been historically kept at the edge of the angle. Perhaps this will be the main "zest" of the upcoming event. READ MORE
Smart defence or optimisation of security according to NATO

The concept of smart defence is quite new although its principles have been discussed for several years. Today smart defence could be considered as one of the main NATO‘s philosophies which will be pursued by the Alliance at least during the recent decade. READ MORE