Russia criticised Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's government a week before a parliamentary election in the former Soviet state, saying that a prison abuse scandal raised questions about its ability to protect its citizens' rights.

• September 24, 2012

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during September 1-15th 2012
Key Points:

• Anti-American protests engulf the Middle East, leaving the U.S. Ambassador to Libya and three other embassy staff dead. Prime Minister Erdogan is the most prominent Muslim leader to criticize violence in the name of religion.
• Bloodshed in Syria continues, although Turkish public opinion remains opposed to military intervention.
• PKK-TSK fighting increases in the country’s southeast, with Ankara focused on PKK fighters’ control of safe havens in northern Syria.
• Baghdad halts new registrations for foreign firms, affecting Turkish investment in Iraq. Oil agreement reached by Erbil and Iraqi Oil Ministry may sooth tensions, but conviction in absentia of renegade, formerdeputy- president, Tareq al-Hashemi, remains a sore point in Turkish-Iraqi relations.
• Turkey and Iran may be on the verge of another energy related dispute and possible arbitration round, as Tehran continues to level Ankara with high gas prices.

• September 24, 2012

The Azerbaijani businessmen have been invited to participate in the Western Kazakhstan Investment Forum on expanding production and development, in Aktau.

• September 22, 2012

The Senate has overwhelmingly approved a resolution that reaffirms U.S. efforts to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and says containment of a nuclear-capable Iran is not an option.

• September 22, 2012

Uzbekistan and South Korea have signed a series of co-operation agreements in the areas of energy and industry.

• September 22, 2012

Iran's nuclear issue can only be resolved through political and diplomatic tools, Russia Foreign Ministry spokesman, Alexander Lukashevich said.

• September 21, 2012

Member of the US Congress Dana Rohrabacher recently sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging the United States to back freedom for Azeris from Iran. How would you comment on that?

• September 21, 2012

The European vector of energy policy is important for Turkmenistan. This was highlighted at a recent expanded government meeting in Ashgabat, an official Turkmen source said today.

• September 21, 2012