June 19th, 2013
Czech PM Petr Necas resigns over major corruption scandal
The Czech Republic is in political chaos after a spectacular police raid that prompted Prime Minister Petr Necas to announce his resignation. Necas will stay on as caretaker leader until a new government is named. READ MORE
Lithuania and Slovakia aim for economically and politically strong Europe
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, currently on a working visit to Slovakia, met with Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič. The meeting focused on priorities of the upcoming Lithuanian EU presidency, prospects for bilateral cooperation, and energy security issues. READ MORE
June 17th
Baltic Breeze: Lithuania Is The First Baltic State To Take Over The EU Council Presidency
Taking over the EU Council Presidency, Lithuania will focus on pursing credible, growing and open Europe, country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius said at the launch event of the Official Guide to the Lithuanian EU Council Presidency, hosted by the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the EU together with Hill+Knowlton Strategies on 13 June. READ MORE
Russian-Chinese Energy Competition in Central Asia
The strategic importance of Central Asia and its vast energy resources draw a lot of external interest to it. Russia traditionally has been the strongest outside player in in the region. But now China’s active involvement in energy sector of Central Asia is quickly increasing its influence and challenging Russia’s position in the region. In this interview Dr. Robert M. Cutler, Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of European, Russian & Eurasian Studies at Carleton University discusses the issues of China-Russia competition and cooperation in the context of energy security in Central Asia. READ MORE
June 14th
A triumvirate of Eurasian Allies Moscow, Astana and Tashkent Are Forming New Geopolitical Axe
The visit of the Secretary of State Grigoriy Karasin, Vice Minister of the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Russian Federation to Tashkent became the continuation of the dialogue, started in Moscow this April by the Presidents Islam Karimov and Vladimir Putin. Then they signed a large set of documents on various spheres of cooperation – from economy to special services cooperation, up to 2017. Security and development of the total Central Asia region depends on its accomplishment. READ MORE
Arctic Norwegian town looks north to Barents Sea oil and gas
As both Norway and Russia race to extract potentially vast amounts of energy from the Barents Sea, a small Norwegian town in the high Arctic could become the hub for a new era of oil and gas exploration. READ MORE
LITHUANIAN PRESIDENCY APPROACHING: INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION IS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE COMMON EU GOALS
Lithuanian foreign affairs vice-minister Vytautas Leškevičius, while presenting the principal goals of the Lithuanian Presidency of the European Union (EU) Council in the Conference of Committee Chairs of the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg, stressed the importance of the cooperation of the EU institutions. READ MORE
NATO Defence Ministers endorse concept for new post-2014 mission in Afghanistan
NATO Defence Ministers on Wednesday (5 June 2013) endorsed the detailed concept for the new NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan security forces after 2014. “That concept will guide our military experts as they finalise the plan in the course of the coming months,” said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. READ MORE
June 12th
Bilateral meeting between General Bartels and Lieutenant General Qi Jianguo, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army
The Chairman of NATO's Military Committee, General Knud Bartels, attended the 12th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Security Summit ''The Shangri-La Dialogue 2013'' in Singapore from 31 May to 2 June. READ MORE
