China, Kazakhstan tightly connected by both friendship and strong strategic partnership - Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi
The three-day state visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to China at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao completed. READ MORE
Italy and Czech Republic back Gaddafi despite bloodbath
The EU is struggling to speak with one voice following a massive loss of life in Libya over the weekend and the regime's vow to fight protesters to the "to the last bullet. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has spoken of her "extreme concern," while Rome does not want to "disturb" strongman Moammar Gaddafi and Prague has warned of a "catastrophe" if he falls. READ MORE
Turkish-Iranian Economic Ties Flourish
Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, paid a four-day state visit to Iran starting on February 13, to discuss ways to further bilateral cooperation. The sheer frequency of such high level mutual visits between the two countries in recent years indicates the growing multi-dimensional ties between Ankara and Tehran. Coupled with the convergence of both countries’ positions on many regional problems, the Turkish-Iranian cooperative relationship in economic and political affairs has been one of the most constant elements in the emerging Middle Eastern geopolitical map which is often fluid and full of uncertainties. READ MORE
A difficult balancing act for head of Gazprom
Alexei Miller has to champion natural gas, while playing down price pressure from alternative supplies, says Sarah Arnott. READ MORE
Dispatch: Crisis in Libya
Analyst Reva Bhalla examines Libya’s spreading unrest and the threat of civil war. READ MORE
Easing EU Dependence on Russia
After a trip to Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan just a few weeks ago to boost support from those governments for the “Southern Corridor” to bring gas to Europe (while avoiding Russia), José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, is organizing a dinner in Brussels on Thursday to promote the “North-South Corridor.” That’s a day ahead of a European Union summit on which the bloc’s energy strategy is the first thing on the agenda. READ MORE
Transformation in Egypt: With or Without Mubarak? – Middle East Quartet Meets in Munich
It is one thing if the Tunisian dictator flees. It is quite another if the regime in Egypt is shaking. The implications of the transformation in Egypt for the entire Middle East and beyond can hardly be overestimated, the participants of the conference panel held on Saturday evening agreed. READ MORE
Egypt's revolution to win or lose
Sixty years ago, American politics was embittered by an accusation couched as a question: "Who lost China?" The implied indictment was that America had fumbled away a possession through incompetence or sinister conniving. READ MORE
European Union fails to see strengths of Ukraine, Turkey
Once upon a time Turkey and Ukraine were defining the destiny of Europe. Now they have seemingly been sidelined. Both are knocking on the European Union’s door and both are being told, more or less, that they are not welcome. READ MORE
New nuclear power plant in Lithuania: utopia or realistic project?
Pursuant to the National Energy Strategy which came into force in 2007, Lithuania decided to build a new nuclear power plant by retaining the infrastructure of the current Ignalina NPP. It was envisaged to finalize construction of the new NPP not later than by 2015. Realization of this project could help Lithuania to become independent on energy import in case of closure of Ignalina NPP. READ MORE
