Today, Azerbaijan and European Union have signed Protocol of Intent on establishment of working group on South Corridor, in Baku. The document was signed by Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy Natig ALiyev and Günther Oettinger, European Commissioner for Energy. Press Secretary of Ministry, Azer MAnsimli says that this document was signed in accordance to the orders of President Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and it is next step for solution of forthcoming issues: “Both presidents gave a task to us, yesterday.

Exporting Azerbaijani gas to the European Union remains a priority, considering that the market of the EU countries are the markets where the gas price is determined concretely on the market, a senior representative of SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) said.

Trend News Persian Desk's interview with the Nobel Peace Prize 2003 Laureate, human rights activist Shirin Ebadi

Work on the performance of a feasibility study for the proposed Trans-Caspian Project can be started in the second half of 2009, said Kairgeldy Kabyldin, President of KazMunaiGaz, the national company of Kazakhstan.

Bulent Aliriza, the Director and Senior Associate, Turkey project at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), interviewed by APA’s US bureau

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Interior Minister, Lieutenant-General Oruj Zalov interviewed by APA
-What made it necessary to amend the law on “Police”?

Russia, of course, will seek to strengthen and expand its influence in the Caucasus, but it will not hardly to lead to new military actions in the region, experts believe. "Russia strives for more influence in the Caucasus, but I do not think that the most powerful forces in Russia today want another military conflict in the region," American Expert on Georgia Henry Hale said.

Experts argue despite privileges of establishment of a customs union involving Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, it is unlikely to take effect by early 2010. "I am not sure, if the custom union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus will be realized up to January 2010, because there are some difficulties in the relations between Russia and Belarus," European expert on Russia Stefan Meister said.

The establishment of a Customs Union within the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus may hinder apprehension of the post-Soviet space be under the direct influence of Russia, Director of the Center of the Russia-Eurasia Council on Foreign Policy of Germany Alexander Rahr said.

Azerbaijani Authoritative Representative to European Court Chingiz Asgarov spoke with Trend News in an exclusive interview.
Trend News: What is the last situation with the Azerbaijani complaints at the European Court?

Trend Capital: What kind of work for reconstruction of railways is scheduled for this year?
Arif Askarov: The State Railway Office (SRO) of Azerbaijan, which is one of the main structures of the transport systems experiences development stage.

The Georgian opposition's confusion during the negotiations with President Mikheil Saakashvili turned into the government's advantage over the rivals, and this meeting will not seriously influence on a political situation in the country.