The Iranian potatoes, oranges and raisins on sale in the bazaars of Astara are not the only signs of the Islamic republic's influence in this Azerbaijani border town.

• February 28, 2011

First, Germany announced that it would suspend its draft, ending one of the touchstones of its post-World War II society. Then Britain and France, frequent rivals since at least the Norman Conquest, announced plans to share military equipment and research. And smaller countries across Europe are cutting defense budgets and shrinking militaries that were never large to begin with.

• February 26, 2011

Russia's parliament approved a deal with the United States on Friday to allow transit for military equipment and personnel across Russia to the NATO force in Afghanistan, easing reliance on Pakistan as a transit route.

• February 26, 2011

James Appathurai, special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia of NATO, will discuss the regional problems, as well as the frozen conflicts with US officials next week, APA’s US correspondent reports.

• February 26, 2011

Last week Kamitsuki Toyohisa, the Japanese Foreign Ministry counselor for European Affairs, said that the relationship between his country and Russia is "at its worst point in decades."

• February 25, 2011

Russia's decision to plough more than 400 billion pounds into upgrading its armed forces is motivated by a fear of China and radical Islam on its southern borders.

• February 25, 2011

The Russian foreign ministry on Monday summoned the US ambassador to Moscow over comments in which Washington reportedly backed the Japanese position in a simmering territorial row with Russia.

• February 22, 2011

A top US official visiting Tashkent on Friday praised Uzbekistan for opening up supply routes and building infrastructure for NATO operations in Afghanistan.

• February 19, 2011