The meeting between deputy Energy Minister of Iran Mohammad Behzad and Minister of Energy and National Resources of Armenia Armen Movsisyan took place in Tehran, during which the parties underscored importance of enhancing cooperation in the field of energy.

• August 2, 2011

Almost exactly three years after the brief war between Russia and Georgia, Washington and Moscow are trading challenging statements over its unresolved legacy, in another sign that the "reset" of relations between the two cold war enemies is coming under pressure.

• August 2, 2011

An Iraqi delegation will visit the United States this month to discuss the purchase of 18 fighter jets, a Pentagon spokesman said

• August 2, 2011

Bulgaria expects that Russia will withdraw its 58 million euro claim against the country' state-owned power utility NEK at the beginning of next week, Economy Minister Traicho Traikov told Bulgarian National Radio (BNR)

• August 1, 2011

An International Monetary Fund official on Monday praised Romania for sticking to austerity measures, saying the East European nation can afford to increase public sector wages as the economy rebounds.

• August 1, 2011

In the Informal Meeting of Ministers for European Affairs on 28-29 July in Sopot, Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilunas presented Lithuania's priorities in preparation of the new European Union's financial perspective, informed BC the Ministry.

• August 1, 2011

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during July 2011

Key Points:

• Turkey is shaken by the abrupt early retirement of the four highest-ranking military officials in the country just prior to the August meeting of the Supreme Military Council. The generals’ resignations, requesting retirement, are in protest at the continued detention of military officers as part of the “Sledgehammer” coup plot investigation.
• The domestic political scene calms as the Republican People’s Party (CHP) ends its parliamentary boycott, although the “independent” Peace and Democratic Party (BDP) delegates continue to refuse to be sworn in.
• Despite the fact that over 10,000 Syrians have crossed the border and sought refuge in Turkey, in July Ankara maintained a muted stance towards the Syrian crackdown as no viable alternative to the Assad regime has emerged.
• Iran, Syria and Iraq announce the Islamic Gas Pipeline project that will compete with Nabucco, while Turkey and Azerbaijan continue to argue over energy issues that could threaten the progress of the Nabucco gas pipeline.
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• August 1, 2011

A pilot error was the ultimate cause of the airplane crash that killed the Polish president and 95 others in Russia last year, but Russia's controllers and airport also played a role, a Polish committee investigating into the crash said Friday.

• July 30, 2011