Azerbaijan and Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding on the possibility of opening direct flights between the two countries, secretary of the Iraqi embassy in Azerbaijan, Jassim Mohammed Ahmed told Trend.

• July 13, 2012

Tajikistan is demanding no less than $250 million a year from Russia for the lease of a military base on its territory, Kommersant reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed source. Russia and Tajikistan are reportedly having difficulties agreeing on terms for the base's lease, which is due to expire in 2014. Russia currently has 7,000 military personnel stationed at the base.

• July 12, 2012

Russia and Kazakhstan are set to sign an agreement by the end of this year on the creation of a joint regional air defense system. The documents are ready and currently being agreed on at presidential administrations of the two states, Kazakh Air Defense Chief Nurzhan Mukanov told journalists on Wednesday, reports Itar-Tass.

• July 11, 2012

On Tuesday, Defense Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Adilbek Dzhaksybekov met with United States Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.

• July 10, 2012

Russia despatched a flotilla of warships to its naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus on Tuesday in an apparent show of support for President Bashar al-Assad.

• July 10, 2012

A senior Russian official said Monday that Moscow is halting its weapons sales to Syrian authorities until the situation there calms down.

• July 9, 2012

New U.S., Canadian and European economic sanctions against Iran have taken effect over the last eight days, aimed at finally persuading Iran to give up its quest for nuclear weapons.

• July 9, 2012

Syrian forces bombarded towns in the northern province of Aleppo on Saturday, as the conflict spilled into neighbouring Lebanon and opposition representatives in France welcomed the defection of a general who was close to President Bashar al-Assad.

• July 7, 2012