Turkmenistan Ambassador Shakuliyev Nazarkuly, told Arab News that his country stands for peace, equality, respect for the sovereignty of states and the right to its own way of development based on the foreign policy of Turkmenistan.

• September 16, 2012

As Defense Secretary Leon Panetta visits Beijing this week, the U.S. is forging closer defense ties to countries near China and renewing its focus in the South Pacific.

• September 16, 2012

A senior Israeli official said on Sunday the United States should not wait for Iran to decide on building a nuclear weapon before it considers military action against the Islamic Republicing closer defense ties to countries near China and renewing its focus in the South Pacific.

• September 16, 2012

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during August 2012
Key Points:

• Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu leads the Turkish effort at the Security Council to establish buffer zones in northern Syria.
• Fears of the PKK’s resurgence in Syria are played up by opposition parties to undermine an already fragile AKP position.
• Relations between Iran and Turkey remain cool after the kidnapping of 48 Iranians in Syria by rebel forces.
• Egyptian President Mursi will propose a four power meeting over Syria between his country, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
• Turkey continues to court the KRG of Iraq, with the foreign minister’s visit to Kirkuk infuriating Baghdad.

• September 15, 2012

Head of the Dutch delegation, Goveraet Arno, at the opening of the Azerbaijani-Dutch Business Forum, Baku, said that the growing economy of Azerbaijan is attracting more and more attention.

• September 14, 2012

Russia believed unresolved issues with the U.S., including the missile defense issue, could be settled only after the U.S. presidential election, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.

• September 14, 2012

The United Nations' nuclear watchdog organization overwhelmingly passed a resolution Thursday stressing concern about Iran's continued nuclear activity while simultaneously urging Tehran to cooperate with international nuclear regulators.

• September 14, 2012

A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector for August 2012
By Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas

Key points:

• Gazprom and the Lithuanian Government both claim victory following the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Institute ruling over Lietuvos Dujos
• Gazprom signs contracts with four Turkish energy companies to supply 6 bcm of Russian gas from January 2013, replacing the volumes given up by Turkish state energy company, Botaş, in October 2011
• Nord Stream AG completes the welding of the second string of Nord Stream pipeline and requests permission to conduct research in Estonian territorial waters as part of plans for the expansion of the Nord Stream pipeline
• South Stream could be re-routed via Croatia, bypassing Hungary
• Putin and Yanukovych meet in Sochi, with Ukraine planning to reduce its Russian gas imports and hoping for an (unlikely) gas price discount
• Gazprom CEO, Alexei Miller, held meetings in Belarus, discussed investments in the gas transmission system of Beltransgaz and the expansion of natural gas as a motor fuel in Belarus
• Statoil withdraws from the Shtokman project, ceding its stake to Gazprom – Will Total follow suit?
• Novatek announces a breakthrough deal to supply gas to German utility company EnBW, as E.On Russia confirms that it will buy gas for its power stations from Novatek, not Gazprom, from 2013

• September 14, 2012