Eurasia

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to push for a “constructive dialogue” in Ukraine amid the ongoing unrest in the country. Merkel held telephone talks with the Russian leader asking him to “push at his end for a constructive dialogue between the opposition and government,” the Chancellor’s office said in a statement. 

Turkey’s foreign minister on Thursday welcomed the adoption of a new constitution in Tunisia as a significant step on the road to democracy.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday said the operation to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons programme is “now behind schedule” despite Damascus’ ability to speed up the process. Ban told the Security Council in a report that “while remaining aware of the challenging security situation, it is the assessment”

Pakistan and Turkey have pledged to intensify efforts for further promoting their defense cooperation besides discussing proposals for transfer of technology, possibility of export of defense equipment and service, said an official

A bill passed by Ukraine’s parliament to amnesty arrested activists gives protesters a 15-day deadline to leave occupied streets and administrative buildings otherwise it will not be implemented, according to the text published

The Ukrainian parliament approved a bill late Wednesday to grant amnesty to protesters arrested during the anti-government rallies in Kiev and other major Ukrainian cities, the parliament’s press service said Thursday.

France wants a sustainable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, French ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Monnier said to journalists on Jan. 29, commenting on the situation on the border line between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

In a setback to Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed his petition seeking a review of its verdict that declared as unconstitutional the 2007 emergency imposed by the embattled former dictator. A 14—judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, said the time period for filing an …

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen criticised Russiaon Wednesday for pressuring Kiev not to sign a free trade pact with the European Union, a move that triggered mass protests. 

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov will serve for the time being as acting PM following Prime Minister Mykola Azarov’s resignation.