Post-Soviet space: 20 years on

Post-Soviet states are facing new challenges: informational vulnerability, absence of development ideology, as well as the rupture between generations

OSCE MG urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to speed up development of principles for Nagorno-Karabakh settlement

Within the framework of the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group to Baku andYerevan on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, emphasis was put on thecommitment of the three countries to a peaceful solution, based on theHelsinki principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity and theequal rights of all peoples for self identification, Trend reports.They noted the progress reached in Italy by the three presidents ofthe USA, Russia and France and their affirmation of the declaration on26th June 2010.

Co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group meet Azerbaijani defense minister

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev met with the co-chairs ofOSCE Minsk Group today. According to 1news.az, citing the ministry’spress-service, Abiyev told the co-chairs that in order for peacefulsettlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem Armenia has to withdraw itsforces from the occupied territory.The minister said that it is time for the co-chairs to demand Armeniafree Nagorno-Karabakh.

Washington agrees to hurry with Nagorno-Karabakh

The USA wants specification of the general principles of Nagorno-Karabakh settlement and a signing of a final document.

Russia supports OSCE dialogue with Abkhazia, South Ossetia

Russia is in favour of expanding opportunities for dialogue with allthe participants at Geneva discussion on the Caucasus, the Russianrepresentative at the OSCE, Anvar Azimov said, RIA Novosti reports.He said that they could listen to the representatives of Sukhumi andTskhinvali within the format of unofficial briefings to receiveinformation for better cooperation in understanding concern in thejoint search for a compromise.

Co-chairs of OSCE MG lay groundwork for meeting of foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Kazakhstan

Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh settlement Robert Bradtke (USA), Igor Popov (Russia), Bernard Fassier (France) and the personal representative of the OSCE Andjey Kasprshik will visit Yerevan on 4-5 July. The co-chairs will travel on to Baku, ANS reports.

Status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh should be changed – G8

espite the visible agreement of the sides, the process does not move any further. In the new season the mediators expect to see actual results of their diplomatic efforts.

OSCE chairman reminds about uncertainty of Caspian legal status

The issue of the Caspian Sea's legal status is expected to be resolvedsoon, chairman of the OSCE Kanat Saudabayev said at the internationalconference on disarmament of Central Asian and Caspian states, Trendreports.There are 5 states on the coasts of the Caspian - Azerbaijan, Russia,Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. The world’s largest lake hasbiological resources, oil and gas fields. Construction of theTranscaspian pipeline project would give Europe access to thehydrocarbonic potential of Central Asia.

EU concerned about military incident in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, has made a statement about the incident on the border line between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh on June 18-19, urging the sides in the conflict to respect the peace conditions, News Armenia reports.Ashton urged the sides to avoid using arms and continue efforts aimed at a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. She expressed support for the OSCE Minsk Group and the work of its 3 co-chairs.

Dead end for compromises

Russia is trying to preserve the peaceful process of Nagorno-Karabakh settlement despite the sides facing a stalemate

Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to continue work according to Madrid principles

The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilkham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan, in their conversation with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to continue dialogue on a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, the press-secretary of the Russian president, Natalya Timakova, said, RIA Novosti reports.

Serzh Sargsyan to meet mediators from OSCE Minsk Group

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will meet mediators from the OSCE Minsk Group on a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, the head of Armenian Foreign Ministry Edward Nalbandian said after the meeting of the presidents of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan, Armenia Today reports.He noted that the co-chairs will visit the region in July and that the sides had made preliminary agreements within the negotiation process.

First Armenian collection of commentaries on Constitution published

Presentation of the first collection of commentaries on the Armenian Constitution took place within the framework of events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Constitutional Court, News Armenia reports.The Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, Gagik Arutiun, hopes that there will be collections of commentaries to other laws. He said that 68 legal experts, including those from state structures, had been working for 2 years to publish the commentaries.

Sukhumi and Tskhinvali accuse participants of Geneva negotiations of ‘misunderstanding’

All Abkhaz and South Ossetian attempts to be understood in theirposition on the most topical issues concerning the vital interests oftheir peoples faced obstacles from Georgia and the US participants inthe Geneva discussions, as well as from the moderators (the UN, theOSCE and the EU), a joint declaration by Sukhumi and Tskhinvali says,News Georgia reports.

CICMA gaining influence in Asia

The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia(CICMA) is gradually transforming into a full-fledged organization forcooperation and security on the Asian continent, Kazakh PresidentNursultan Nazarbayev said, opening the third summit of the heads ofCICMA member-states, ITAR-TASS reports.He noted that he welcomes Vietnam’s and Iraq’s joining CICMA andBangladesh becoming an observer. The forum unites 22 countries,comprising over 90% of the Asian landmass and half the world’spopulation.

OSCE evaluates the "parliamentary elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh

llegal "parliamentary elections" were held by the separatist regime of Nagorno-Karabakh. Many international organizations, including the European Council, have not recognized the elections.

Armenia appreciates Russian role in Nagorno-Karabakh settlement

Russia plays a constructive role in the process of Nagorno-Karabakhsettlement within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, ArmenianForeign Minister Edward Nalbandian said, Madiamax reports.Nalbandian noted that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had made greatpersonal contribution to the peace process by initiating meetingsbetween Azerbaijan and Armenia leaders.

European Parliament arguments on South Ossetian war report

The European Parliament approves the basic arguments of the reportmade by the independent international commission of the EU headed byHeidi Tagliavini, investigating the circumstances of the SouthOssetian conflict. The report shows that Georgia was the initiator ofthe war in South Ossetia, the resolution made at a plenary session ofthe Supreme Legislative Body of the EU in Strasbourg said, ITAR-TASSreports.

Azerbaijani foreign minister met OSCE chairman

On his visit to Tajikistan the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, met the OSCE chairman-in-office and head of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, Kanat Saudabayev, ANS PRESS reports. The meeting took place in Dushanbe within the framework of the 37th session of the council of foreign ministers of member-states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Czech Republic and EU to support negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh settlement

The Czech Republic and the EU in general are ready to support thenegotiation process on a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, Czech ForeignMinister Jan Kohout said at a press-conference after negotiations withAzerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, ITAR-TASS reports.Kohout noted that the Czech Republic refers to international legalnorms, the act signed in Helsinki and the Madrid document, reflectingthe principle of territorial unity.

Co-chairs of Geneva negotiations arrive to Tbilisi

Co-chairs of negotiations in Geneva from OSCE, UN and EU arrived to Tbilisi today. According to Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalanadze, the co-chairs will have meeting in Tbilisi to discuss various issues planned for June 8th on the 11-round of talks, Trend reports.They will meet Deputy Interior Minister Gigoy Bokeriya to coordinate the exact schedule of meetings in Tbilisi.

Medvedev sees progress in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Although the sides have not fully come together, progress is being made on a Nagorno-Karabakh resolution, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said at a press-conference in Ankara after negotiations with Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, RIA Novosti reports. He said that they discuss the issue regularly. The last time it was discussed was in Washington. Medvedev said that they are continuing their efforts to solve the issue. He met President Sargsyan and President Aliyev and carried out joint meetings on the problem,

Co-chairs of discussions in Geneva to visit South Ossetia

The co-chairmen of the discussions in Geneva on security in the Transcaucasia are to visit South Ossetia, Yuga.ru reports.According to the presidential envoy of South Ossetia on post-conflict settlement Boris Chochiyev, the co-chairs from the EU, the OSCE and the UN will arrive for preparatory works on May 13th.

Kazakh, Georgian foreign ministries to cooperate

Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze signed a document withKazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev on cooperation between thetwo states' foreign ministries during a visit to the Kazakh capital ofAstana, VK reports.The projects the two countries plan to work on include the transit ofoil, gas and grain. There is a route going through the Black Sea portof Batumi, Georgia, to transport Kazakh oil to world markets.

OIC, OSCE should work together to fight Islamophobia - OIC secretary general

Coordinated efforts are needed to battle the rise of Islamophobia,intolerance and discrimination against Muslims, Organization of theIslamic Conference Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu told theOSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today, reports Trend."The goals and objectives of the OIC are not much different from thoseof the OSCE, as both our organizations are devoted to the cause ofinternational peace and security," Ihsanoglu said. "It is the exactmoment for the OSCE and OIC to put together tangible and

Afghanistan is grateful for Kazakhstan support

Afghanistan is grateful for the efforts of Kazakhstan as the chairman of the OSCE in attracting resources to solve the Afghanistan problem, Afghani Foreign Minister Zalmay Rasul said in a telephone conversation with Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, VK reports.Zalmay Rasul expressed special gratitude to Nursultan Nazarbayev for his efforts and for the humanitarian aid and education program for Afghan students in Kazakhstan.

22 NGOs to monitor the elections in Georgia

18 local and 4 international non-governmental organizations willmonitor the elections in Georgia on May 30th. They have alreadysubmitted their requests to the Central Electoral Commission, Trendreports.

Russian Foreign Ministry did not receive approval of Turkish membership in OSCE Minsk Group

The Russian Foreign Ministry did not receive any official requests from Azerbaijan to allow Turkey to join the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh, RIA Novosti reports citing Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrey Nesterenko.At the same time Nesterenko declared that Russia is open to Iran holding a trilateral meeting of foreign ministers from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Iran on Nagorno-Karabakh. He noted that this meeting is Iran's only participation in the settlement process.

New Russian co-chairman of OSCE Minsk Group arrives in Karabakh

The new Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Igor Popov, who replaced Yuri Merzlyakov, arrived in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic from Yerevan today. According to Armenian media, Popov is meeting the leader of the Karabakh Armenians, Bako Sahakyan. Popov visited Ilkham Aliyev in Baku, then Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan, before visiting Nagorno-Karabakh, TURAN reports.

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen to discuss Karabakh settlement in Moscow

The co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group will discuss the Karabakh settlement in Moscow today at a full meeting, Armenia Today reports.On April 21 the American and Russian co-chairs Robert Bradtke and Igor Popov visited Baku and met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov.French co-chair Bernard Fassier will join his colleagues in Moscow today.