Did the meeting of the Group of 20 in London put the world economy on the path of sustainable recovery? The answer is no. Such meetings cannot resolve fundamental disagreements over what has gone wrong and how to put it right. As a result, the world is on a path towards an unsustainable recovery. An unsustainable recovery might be better than none, but it is not good enough. READ MORE

This is the full text of the Final Declaration of the Sofia Energy Summit, "Natural Gas for Europe. Security and Partnership", which was signed by 28 states and organizations from Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, the European Commission, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Egypt, France, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Montenegro, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the Ukraine, USA. READ MORE

Russian expansion into European energy industries stands poised to cross a new threshold with the stealthy acquisition of a large stake in Hungary's privately owned MOL by Russia's Kremlin-controlled Surgut Neftegaz. This move entails a number of bold novelties. READ MORE

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are preparing to jointly block Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan’s proposed hydroelectric projects, according to media outlets in Kyrgyzstan. READ MORE

This is my last state of the nation address to the people of Lithuania and members of parliament. Next year it will be delivered, as prescribed by the Constitution, by a new head of state in accord with own personal values, principles and viewpoint to Lithuania's present and future life. On many occasions, I have shared with the people of Lithuania my thoughts about the challenges that we face and ways of overcoming them. READ MORE

Joint Statement signed by Presidents of Lithuania and Poland

President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus and President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczyński signed in Vilnus a Joint Statement of the Presidents of Lithuania and Poland. READ MORE

The ousting of Mirek Topolánek is raising questions regarding a series of high-profile international meetings in Prague, as the Czech prime minister-in-resignation will still be the EU's official chair when the summits take place in early May.

Analysts said the Czech EU presidency had "de facto ended" after Topolánek's government lost a no-confidence vote in the Czech parliament on 24 March. READ MORE

Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a document on cooperative political plans in 2009.

“Azerbaijan and Georgia have no political problems”, stated Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigol Vashadze after negotiations with his Azerbaijani colleague Elmar Mamedyarov held in Tbilisi. READ MORE

During his official visit to Azerbaijan, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas gave a lecture called “Azerbaijan and Lithuania: Eastern Partnership from the Caspian to the Baltic” at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy in Baku. READ MORE

On April 6-7, Istanbul hosted the second United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) forum, co-chaired by Turkey and Spain under the auspices of the UN to foster international dialogue and cooperation. The forum was attended by five heads of state, 26 foreign ministers, 11 ministers and high-level officials from 12 international and regional organizations, providing an opportunity for Ankara to discuss bilateral relations with its neighbors and showcase Turkey's growing international profile . READ MORE

Belarusian Foreign Minister Syarhei Martynau stated that Belarus finds it important that the Eastern Partnership program offered by the European Union provides for equal partnership.

“Essentially Belarus has a positive attitude to the Eastern Partnership initiative. It is important that the Eastern Partnership is oriented to equal partnership,” stressed the head of the Foreign Ministry in Minskafter his meeting with the visiting prime minister of Germany's federal state of Brandenburg, Matthias Platzek. READ MORE

Russia's independent natural gas producers (IGPs) account for a growing share of domestic output, but they are now facing turbulent times amid the global financial crisis and the subsequent domestic economic downturn, as well as problems with sales and gas transit. The role of independent gas producers in Russia has increased over the past decade. Novatek and others have begun contributing significant volumes to the domestic market. In addition to the gas monopoly Gazprom, some 30 Russian companies produce more than 10 million cubic meters (mcm) a year. READ MORE

Mr. Obama has hailed the steps taken by Turkish and Armenian leaders to resolve their differences as "historic and courageous."
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The attempts of Russia to participate in Iranian gas supplies to Europe will hardly be successful. This point of view was sounded by the Senior Researcher of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations Ivan Danilin. READ MORE

The United States is taking a new approach to a host of emerging global challenges, but friends and allies such as Europe must shoulder their share of the burden, says President Obama, making the case for renewed trans-Atlantic ties. READ MORE

If Teheran manages to agree with Brussels, gas for the “Nabucco” pipeline could flow from Iran to the EU, comments Armenian analyst Armen Hanbabian for Deutsche Welle.

Today the Iran-Armenia pipeline has a regional importance and is in a way an alternative to the supplies of Russian gas by the pipeline via Georgia. But the Iran-Armenian pipeline could also transport “blue fuel” from Iran to European countries. Moreover, if Teheran manages to agree with the European countries, then gas for the “Nabucco” pipeline could flow from Iran, considers the expert Armen Hanbabian. READ MORE

According to the World Bank report, practically all developing countries are suffering from the economic crisis to greater or lesser extent. 84 of 116 developing countries are going over significant retardation of business activity. In 2009 international GDP reduced sufficiently for the first time since the Second World War. READ MORE

The diplomatic benefits of an undiplomatic outburst.

When Recep Tayyip Erdogan stormed out of a panel discussion with Israel’s President Shimon Peres in Davos last January, denouncing Israel’s offensive in Gaza and quoting the sixth commandment “Thou shalt not kill”, many wondered whether he had just demolished Turkey’s position as the bridge between the Jews and the Arabs, and between the West and the Islamic world. READ MORE

On March 17, Congressmen Adam Schiff, George Radanovich and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk introduced a resolution to the U.S. House of Representatives co-sponsored by over 70 House colleagues to recognize the Armenian "genocide" of 1915. The resolution is identical to the one introduced in both the House and Senate in the 110th Congress, which was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The timing of the legislation is especially critical, since President Obama will visit Turkey on April 6-7. Obama promised his American-Armenian supporters during his presidential election campaign that he would recognize the 1915 "genocide," yet his trip to Ankara will seek to improve U.S. relations with Turkey after the difficulties experienced in recent years. READ MORE