The new Georgian government will implement a plan to improve relations with Moscow, while maintaining its policy of pro-Western orientation, Foreign Minister designate Maya Panjikidze said on Monday.

• October 8, 2012

As a part of his visit to Austin, Texas, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the US Elin Suleymanov met with analysts at Stratfor global intelligence company, one of the leading geopolitical research centers of the US.

• October 8, 2012

Strong explosion on a gas pipeline in eastern Turkey has led to suspension of supplies to the country from Iran, Turkish Hurriyet newspaper reported on Monday.

• October 8, 2012

ISSUE #38
10/01/2012
President Viktor Yanukovych has refused to comment on the US Senate recent resolution on Ukraine. "I would say any assessment should be treated in earnest: whether it is biased or not, adopted according to procedures or not. It is not up to us to judge the US Senate," he said in the USA on 26 September 2012. However, Yanukovych noted that the Senate stance was slightly different from that of the Department of State and the White House. READ MORE

• October 8, 2012

The Iranian Oil Ministry downplayed the importance of the recent threat by the European Union to ban imports of Iran's natural gas supplies, reminding that Iran has no gas export to the EU members at all, FNA reported.

• October 6, 2012

Latvian President Andris Bērziņš cut the ribbon at the festive opening of the Valka heating and electricity station which is the fist investment of Estonia's state-owned energy company Eesti Energia in Latvia, LETA/Postimees Online reports.

• October 6, 2012

A delegation headed by Azerbaijani Minister of Economic Development Shahin Mustafayev will visit Budapest to participate in the third meeting of the Azerbaijani-Hungarian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, spokesman for the ministry Abbas Aliyev told Trend on Friday.

• October 6, 2012

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

Key points:

• The European Commission launches an antitrust investigation of Gazprom, as the company is suspected of imposing unfair prices in Central and Eastern Europe. Gazprom claims innocence, but a Presidential Decree preventing Russian strategic companies (such as Gazprom) from disclosing information to foreign investigators without Russian government permission suggests that Moscow is concerned about the investigation.
• President Putin claims that the second line of Nord Stream is to be launched on 8 October, although this is yet to be confirmed by Nord Stream AG, Gazprom, or the Russian Energy Ministry.
• South Stream AG considers tenders for steel pipes for South Stream, as Gazprom vows to continue with the project despite the launching of the antitrust investigation of Gazprom by the European Commission.
• Gazprom hosts a meeting with the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation and claims ‘a step forward’ in long-running negotiations, although sources suggest significant disagreements remain between the two parties.
• As Ukraine seeks lower gas purchases (27 bcm) from Russia in 2012, a new winter dispute cannot be ruled out.
• Gazprom indefinitely suspends the Shtokman project, but signs a long-term cooperation agreement with Rosneft for the development of Russia’s continental shelf.
• Gazprom and Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy sign a Memorandum on the Vladivostok LNG project – with a final investment decision expected in early 2013.

• October 6, 2012