Despite visa free travel for Azeri citizens and dynamic trade, long mutual borders and some shared interests, Iran and Azerbaijan do not seem to be able to get along. Good Azeri-Israeli relations, political and criminal intrigue, Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the West, and the fact that Azerbaijan, due to its Soviet legacy is more secular than the Islamic Republic of Iran are often cited as the roots of the two countries issues with each other. But perhaps the true root of trouble lies in geography; whether it be physical, cultural or political which has allowed for these other problems to ferment. READ MORE

Rapid national economic growth and integration in the European Union are among the top priorities in the current strategy of Albanian Government. Albania’s aspirations in international trade would be incomplete if Turkish markets and investors are not part of this process and strategy. READ MORE

Afghan forces will require significant support from the U.S. military and its allies after the NATO combat mission ends next year, according to a new Pentagon report implicitly warning against a "zero option" of total withdrawal. READ MORE

Partnerships writ large was the focus of the third annual Euro-Atlantic Partnership Day, hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine in Kyiv on 11 July 2013. The event served to highlight the importance of dialogue and cooperation between countries as well as international organisations in today’s security environment. READ MORE

A Russian-Chinese joint antiterrorism exercise in Russia’s Urals region enters its active phase on Saturday, a spokesman for the Central Military District said. READ MORE