The European Commission has warned of deepening economic problems in France, Italy and Spain, and said Slovenia must take urgent steps to offset the risk of a wider destabilisation across the eurozone. READ MORE

The Eastern Europe unanimously placed its bet on the South Stream. Plain fact is that the new Europeans chose to protect their national interests in spite of all temptations and threats from Brussels and Washington. Now the South Stream business blueprint is complete and it is entering construction stage. By the end of 2018 the pipeline is planned to reach a transport capacity of 63 billion cubic meters per year – enough gigajoules to supply energy needs of 38 million households. What has encouraged the pro-South Stream choice of Eastern European political elites presuming their frosty relations with Russia? Why did they not resort to broadly advertised alternatives? READ MORE

For the first time for more than 20 years the court of this country is ready to decide whether to extradite or put into jail a citizen of the Post-Soviet state under the accusations imposed in his motherland. And this is considering that right after his arrival in Vienna a former Kazakh (following the tradition) announced himself to be the “prisoner of conscience” and fighter for democracy. The case is about ex-Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Austria Rakhat Aliyev. READ MORE

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen discussed cooperation prospects at the meeting in Brussels on Wednesday. READ MORE

Security policies in the Euro-Atlantic region — an area that includes six of the world’s 10 largest economies, four of the five declared nuclear weapon states, and more than 95 percent of global nuclear inventories — are dangerously out of date and demand urgent attention. With a new approach that is grounded in today’s opportunities and challenges, the European community, Russia and the United States can chart a more secure path for their people and the world and avoid the risks and costs of a new downward spiral in relations between states. READ MORE

G8 foreign ministers struggled in vain to agree on a united approach to the bloody conflict in Syria. The talks in London did, however, achieve consensus regarding the situation on the Korean peninsula.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday warned central banks to be alert to the potential financial risks of super-loose monetary policy adopted to cope with the financial crisis. READ MORE

Next year, Georgia will host large-scale military exercises in which, perhaps, will participate region partner countries, said on Friday Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania after the demonstration exercises at a military base in Vaziani. READ MORE

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference 2013 closes Monday. The theme of this year's BFA is "Asia Seeking Development for All: Restructuring, Responsibility and Cooperation." Given that economic recovery was not steady in 2012 and the outlook in 2013 is still not optimistic, all Asian countries have to search for common interests, transcend differences and seek common development.  READ MORE

Ukraine buys Russian gas at the highest prices in Europe. Last year the country was paying for gas on average 414,5 USD / thousand. cu. M. Due to the high cost of Russian gas to the country was forced to reduce purchases of Russian gas to 27 billion cubic meters. m, although the contract they had to be 41 billion cubic meters. m own gas production was 20.2 billion cubic meters.  READ MORE