Russia is planning to increase annual defence spending from its current level of 3 percent of GDP to 3.7 percent in 2015, which equates to more than 3 trillion roubles.

• November 1, 2012

Ukraine will not place any restrictions on wheat exports in the near future as there is no grain deficit on the domestic market, an official from the Ukrainian Agriculture Ministry said here Wednesday.

• November 1, 2012

Several Azerbaijani officials will visit Italy by late 2012. The two countries are expected to hold events in economy and culture, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Italy Vagif Sadikhov told media today.

• October 31, 2012

The new government of Georgia formed by billionaire Boris (Bidzina) Ivanishvili, no longer sees Azerbaijan as the only energy partner. Former defender of "Milan” (A.C.Milan), and now the Minister of Energy of Georgia Tamar (Kakha) Kaladze has stated that since January "we" certainly need electricity imports from Russia. "We’re ready to cooperate on the subject with Inter RAO EES. We’re ready to meet and continue negotiations to have normal relations," Kaladze said.

• October 31, 2012

LPG exports strangled though EU ban applies to natural gas; sanctions likely to add to rising Europe heating oil bills.

• October 31, 2012

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today received a Belarusian delegation headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko.

• October 30, 2012

Iran will probably host a meeting between the warring sides in Syria, a top Iranian diplomat said on Monday, MNA reported.

• October 30, 2012

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has allocated $135 million to Iran to resolve environmental problems with shoaling Lake Urmia, Iran's Environment Protection Organisation director Mohammad Javad Mohammadizadeh said today.

• October 30, 2012