Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held his first direct talks with Syria's opposition leader in Germany on Saturday, amid a renewed global push to iron out sharp differences over how to end the conflict in Syria.

• Date: 02.02.2013  |  Published on EGF: 02.02.2013  |  External Relations  |  from bangkokpost.com

President Dalia Grybauskaite and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen discussed the overall implementation of NATO's plans to defend the Baltic States, reported BC the presidential press service.

• Date: 01.02.2013  |  Published on EGF: 01.02.2013  |  External Relations  |  from baltic-course.com

The controversy over Iran’s nuclear program seems unending as Tehran remains adamant to go ahead with the program. In the latest development, the UN nuclear agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has told member nations that Iran is planning to upgrade and speed up its nuclear program.

• Date: 01.02.2013  |  Published on EGF: 01.02.2013  |  Energy  |  from allvoices.com

Iran has imported 4 billion bcm of gas from Turkmenistan since March 19, 2012, Deputy Oil Minister Javad Owji said, Mehr reported.

• Date: 30.01.2013  |  Published on EGF: 30.01.2013  |  External Relations  |  from trend.az

Cyprus' president said Wednesday that Russia is ready to join the European Union in putting together a rescue package for the heavily indebted country.

Dimitris Christofias said that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin assured him of Moscow's readiness to "extend a helping hand" to Cyprus in a telephone conversation the previous day.

• Date: 30.01.2013  |  Published on EGF: 30.01.2013  |  External Relations  |  from news.yahoo.com

Moscow and Astana have signed a deal to establish a regional defense system, which will also include missile defense.
The document was signed on Wednesday during a meeting between Kazakh Defense Minister Adilbek Dzhaksybekov and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who is paying an official visit to Astana, the Kazakh capital.

• Date: 30.01.2013  |  Published on EGF: 30.01.2013  |  External Relations  |  from rt.com

Prime Minister of Latvia Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity) has submitted a report on Latvia's security situation to Saeima, in which he points out that more transparency on Russia's military modernization goals would substantially improve mutual trust and enhance the security situation in Europe, informs LETA.

• Date: 29.01.2013  |  Published on EGF: 29.01.2013  |  External Relations  |  from baltic-course.com

Repeating the past, North Korea's young ruler Kim Jong Un has threatened the US and South Korea with dire consequences for opposition to the nation's missile adventurism. In a break from the past, Kim issued thinly disguised criticism of North Korea's principal benefactors - China and Russia. The latest turn in North Korea's brinkmanship will test China's newly installed party Secretary General Xi Jinping.

• Date: 29.01.2013  |  Published on EGF: 29.01.2013  |  External Relations  |  from asiasentinel.com