Ukraine plans by 2014 to liberalize gas laws in line with the requirements of European laws, Deputy Energy and Coal Industry Minister Volodymyr Makukha said at the Polish-Ukrainian gas conference in Warsaw on Thursday, April 11.

• April 11, 2013

EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger stated that European dependency on Russian gas must be reduced, APA-Economics reports.

• April 10, 2013

China expressed serious concern on Wednesday after Japan and Taiwan signed a fishing agreement for the seas around a disputed group of East China Sea islands which have been at the center of an increasingly hostile stand-off between Beijing and Tokyo.

• April 10, 2013

North Korea has been unusually blustery of late, threatening its southern neighbor with destruction, closing the jointly administered Keasong industrial complex , and flirting with what would be its fourth nuclear test since 2006.

• April 10, 2013

Civil aviation authorities of Turkey and Russia signed a civil aviation agreement Monday to enhance cooperation in airspace use, code sharing and increasing the number of flights between the two countries.

• April 9, 2013

The unlocking of domestic shale gas reserves could help India meet its growing
energy demand, besides reducing its dependence on expensive energy imports.

• April 9, 2013

The Eastern Europe unanimously placed its bet on the South Stream. Plain fact is that the new Europeans chose to protect their national interests in spite of all temptations and threats from Brussels and Washington.

• April 9, 2013

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during March 16-31 st 2013
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• A cease fire is declared by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to coincide with the Kurdish New Year. PKK fighters cross into Iraq, though the next steps in the process remain unclear.
• Leftist militants attack the Ministry of Justice and AKP headquarters in Ankara while Erdogan visits Denmark. Prime Minister pins the blame on the “Deep State”.
• Israel officially apologizes for the Mavi Marmara incident and promises to compensate the victims’ families. Full diplomatic relations are restored between the once close allies and Erdogan offers a conciliatory note on his huge diplomatic success.
• Iraq and Turkey continue to work on planning a Basra-Ceyhan oil pipeline despite rift over Iraqi-Kurdistan. In apologizing to Turkey, Israel’s future for cooperating with Turkey on a gas pipeline project looks bright

• April 9, 2013