Russia and the Uniteds States have agreed to a work plan towards a new strategic arms reduction treaty, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday, March 6, after talks with her Russian counterpart. READ MORE

Moscow is still going to persuade its partners in the OSCE to realize by means of this organization an ambitious reform of the system of international security.

Appearance in Washington of the new administration has agitated the hopes on softening confrontation with Moscow. In some political narrators’ opinion, the presidents Obama and Medvedev, both representing the first generation of politicians, developed after the Cold War, can manage to do what their predecessors did not. This optimism strengthened still more after a presentation of the US vice president Joe Bayden on recent Munich conference, where he stated that in Russian-American relations it came time to press the button "reset". READ MORE

Interview with: Campbell Keir, Shell’s Country Chairman in Kazakhstan.

Royal Dutch Shell has been one of the first foreign investors, which started its activities in Kazakhstan. Cooperation of one of the largest international oil company with oil-rich republic of the former Soviet Union has started in 1992. Campbell Keir, Shell’s Country Chairman in Kazakhstan, in an exclusive interview with New Europe correspondent in Astana Kulpash Konyrova discussed Shell’s involvement in the Caspian region, the Kashagan field, and a controversial tax law launched in Kazakhstan. READ MORE

This was a suggestion of the Foreign Affairs Minister of France Bernard Kouchner.

As Bernard Kouchner stated, according to the “Agence France Press”, the European Union suggests Russia and Turkey to join a number of summits within the “Eastern Partnership” program, that is devoted to the promotion of cooperation between the EU and six former Soviet Republics – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. “Everybody agreed to invite Russia and Turkey to join discussions in special cases depending on the agenda,” – stated Kouchner.  READ MORE

Politicians agreed they don't want divisions in the EU, but internal conflict continues EU leaders tried to overcome their differences on how to address the ongoing economic crisis as protectionism fears and calls for aid from smaller members raised warnings of a "new iron curtain" in Europe. READ MORE

Georgian Way to Europe in the Retrospect of the August War.

The address of Tomasz Pojar within the IV International Conference for “European Way of Georgia - Implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy” in Tbilisi “Sheraton Metekhi Palace” hotel was highly expected, as he represented the country that presides in the EU currently. And the comments of Pojar on “Georgia’s expectations” were symbolic to some extent. READ MORE

"The EU should review its perception of what Russian outward-looking economic policies stand for," argues Maria Ordzhonikidze, secretary-general of the EU-Russia Centre.

Historically, Russia's gas monopoly has always been in "perpetual conflict with [European] transit countries for its commodities," the author states. However, she laments that the EU seems yet again "to have been unprepared for what was a predictable sequel to an old conflict". READ MORE

After much thought Ukraine has finally decided to join the International Uranium Enrichment Centre (IUEC), established in 2007 by Russia and Kazakhstan on the basis of the Angarsk Electrolytic Chemical Combine in Irkutsk region. On February 9th Vladimir Putin authorized Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to exchange notes between Governments of the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the participation of Ukraine within the IUEC. For Russia this is a start of an important project that promotes its regional and international significance within energy sphere, as the IUEC should assure dual objective: to strengthen the regime of nuclear weapon nonproliferation and to guarantee the availability of the “peaceful” nuclear fuel cycle to the consuming countries. The success of this project mainly depends on the ability of its participants to combine their interest in harmony and proportion. READ MORE

A low-key tug of war is developing between the EU and Russia as both sides battle for the long-term allegiances of Eastern European states, according to the president of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

Central and Eastern European/South Eastern European (CEE/SEE) countries are a major trading and financial partner for the euro zone. The annual surplus in the balance of payments with eurozone countries is estimated at €60 billion. READ MORE

In the last decade, developing good relations with Kazakhstan has become an ever more important priority for the European Union — driven by Kazakhstan's growth as an energy supplier and the country's rising profile on the international scene. At the same time, Europe has become increasingly significant for Kazakhstan as a leading economic partner and a source of inspiration in terms of providing potential models for the economic, social and political modernization of the country that is advocated by President Nazarbaev. READ MORE