A highly successful roundtable discussion on Exploring the Role of Economic Initiatives as Peace Building Tools in the Nagorno-Karabakh Context took place on the 27th of March, 2014, at the European Parliament.  The event was organized by the European Geopolitical Forum and international NGO partners, and was attended by more than 40 experts from the South Caucasus region and Brussels-based think tanks and international organizations who engaged in discussion in a constructive, informal ‘atmosphere of exchange’. The roundtable focused constructive energies on discussing a common future in an economically integrated South Caucasus, as a way to build mutual trust aimed at helping to overcome the current stalemate within the political and security negotiations. Please click here for the summary of conclusions of the event. READ MORE. 

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 20.05.2014  |  Security
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By Armen Grigoryan,
EGF Guest Contributor

Armenia’s Russia-imposed self-isolation from the democratic international community continues and threatens to have economic and social consequences for the country. Russia is increasing its pressure in the South Caucasus, raising the specter of regional destabilization. While Russia already controls the most important sectors of Armenia’s economy, it seems set to reinforce its interests in the country so as to ensure that a fully dependent, loyal Armenia can constitute a tool for the projection of Russia’s political and military influence in the region. Russia’s overt attempt to fulfill its expansionist ambitions endangers the sovereignty of its neighbors, as well as regional stability and energy security. READ MORE

* This article was first published by the "Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program Joint Center" which holds the copyright for it.”

• Armen Grigoryan  |  Published on EGF: 13.05.2014  |  External Relations
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A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
By Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas and Lecturer in Energy Politics at the European University of St Petersburg

Key points:

• Special report on Ukraine: Naftogaz, Gazprom, debts and prices: the saga continues
• In a bid to limit its dependence on Russian gas, Naftogaz seeks alternative supplies from Europe
• South Stream divides EU as OMV (Austria) breaks ranks to sign deal
• EU continues formulating ‘statement of objections’ in antitrust probe as Gazprom and EU representatives confirm interest in retaining mutually beneficial energy relations
• Russian government seeks talks with EU over energy legislation in possible first step towards WTO arbitration
• Gazprom claims progress in talks with CNPC, expects contract to be signed in May
• Gazprom reports 2013 financial results in accordance with international financial reporting standards (IFRS)
• Gazprom and Turkey consider expansion of Blue Stream from 16 bcm to 19 bc

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 13.05.2014  |  External Relations
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Issue # 16
05/05/2014
Pro-Russian insurgents have shot down two Ukrainian helicopters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk and hit another one. There are victims. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 07.05.2014  |  External Relations
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Issue # 15
04/28/2014
In response, Russia starts an army drill on the Ukrainian border. Read more in SEPARATIST ACTS OF PROVOCATION IN SOUTHEASTERN UKRAINE. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 05.05.2014  |  External Relations
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by Dr. Radu Dudau, director of the Energy Policy Group Bucharest (EGF Information Partner)

Romania’s most important foreign energy policy project, the Nabucco gas pipeline, collapsed in June 2013 as the rivaling TAP (Trans-Adriatic Pipeline) won the bidding for transporting Azerbaijani gas to the EU. Hence, the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) will link the Caspian Basin to Southern Italy via Turkey, Greece, Albania, and the Adriatic Sea. Shah Deniz consortium’s choice was predominantly commercial, yet it came to the detriment of Eastern Europe’s strategic necessities. But, although left with no large scale international project, Romania keeps significant options to improve its energy security on the medium term. This paper reviews Romania’s prospective new sources –internal and external – of primary energy. READ MORE

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 02.05.2014  |  Energy
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Issue # 14
04/21/2014
Over the last week, pro-Russian activists in the east of Ukraine continued armed seizures of buildings. In particular, the separatists stormed and seized the city police department in Horlivka (Donetsk Region), with several injured reported. The protesters put up a Russian flag on the building. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 01.05.2014  |  External Relations
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Issue # 13
04/14/2014
Security Service of Ukraine reports massive detentions of Russian citizens who have arrived to Ukraine to destabilize the situation. Read more in SEPARATIST ACTS OF PROVOCATION IN UKRAINE'S SOUTHEAST. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 28.04.2014  |  External Relations
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Issue # 12
04/07/2014
The Ukrainian leadership said that the separatist unrest in the East of Ukraine had been paid by Putin and Yanukovych. You can find more details in the section "DOMESTIC POLITICAL". READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 21.04.2014  |  External Relations
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Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during March 16th- - April 15th 2014
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• The AKP emerges victorious in the country’s municipal elections, capturing nearly 43 percent of all votes.
• Opposition parties fare better than in previous contests, but their split gives the AKP the upper hand at the ballot box.
• His party’s success means that Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan will likely run for the presidency in August’s first ever election by popular vote.
• Erdogan’s government blocks social media sites, referring to critics as “enemies” and further degrading political discourse in the Republic.
• Recordings of high-level military and political meetings continue to leak to the public, and are used by the AKP as justification to push for bans of many social media platforms.
• The presence of hundreds of thousands of mainly Sunni Syrian refugees in southern Turkey continues to concern Turkey’s Alevi communities.
• The situation in Syria remains static, but a large-scale military escalation has the potential to severely destabilize Turkey’s southern provinces.

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 18.04.2014  |  External Relations
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