A US Russia nuclear deal on reducing their arsenals has received global praise. But some in Russia worry that President Medvedev may have allowed too much leeway for the US to develop missile defense systems.

• Date: 26.03.2010  |  Published on EGF: 26.03.2010  |  External Relations  |  from csmonitor.com

Rumors have swirled in Western capitals of late that Turkmenistan is on the verge of committing a specific amount of natural gas to a Western-backed, trans-Caspian export route. But a source within the Turkmen government is telling an opposition website that such talk is nothing more than a pipe dream.

• Date: 26.03.2010  |  Published on EGF: 26.03.2010  |  Energy  |  from eurasianet.org

Tajikistan's prime minister has described as an "excuse" Uzbekistan's claims that technical problems are blocking freight trains bound for his country.

• Date: 26.03.2010  |  Published on EGF: 26.03.2010  |  External Relations  |  from Radio Free Europe

Energy projects in the Western Balkans have the potential to act as an important catalyst for regional integration – but also, if mishandled, to reverse positive trends.

• Date: 26.03.2010  |  Published on EGF: 26.03.2010  |  Energy  |  from balkaninsight.com

Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Azubalis acquainted members of the Group of Experts on NATO's new Strategic Concept with Lithuania's position regarding the preparation of this document, reported Latvia’s The Baltic Course Web site on Thursday.

• Date: 26.03.2010  |  Published on EGF: 26.03.2010  |  Security  |  from hurriyetdailynews.com

Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have gone on a weapons spending spree over the past decade, collectively increasing their defense spending five-fold, according to a report recently released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

• Date: 26.03.2010  |  Published on EGF: 26.03.2010  |  External Relations  |  from eurasianet.org

Consumer prices in Japan are continuing to fall, latest figures show, threatening the country's recovery from recession.

• Date: 26.03.2010  |  Published on EGF: 26.03.2010  |  Markets  |  from bbc.co.uk

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, seeking to revise a gas contract with Russia, called for the two sides to forget the legacy of Ukraine's previous government during talks Thursday with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

• Date: 26.03.2010  |  Published on EGF: 26.03.2010  |  External Relations  |  from themoscowtimes.com