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The Patriarch is seen as a symbol of national unity and continuity that helped to keep Georgian society together in difficult times over the last three decades. Although Georgians were aware of divisions within the Church no one was prepared for today's news, which, if confirmed, is bound to have serious implications for the Georgian Orthodox Church and its future.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence named the soldier as Fuad Gafarov, and said he died as a result of Armenian shelling, but gave no further details

Commonspace.eu political editor said that the Azerbaijani position in the OSCE Permanent Council reflects a wider hardening of positions in international fora.

Both sides report multiple cease fire violations. The Azerbaijani side says it has destroyed an Armenian vehicle with personnel on board.

The visit of President Aliev to Brussels this week has been very positively assessed in both Brussels and Baku, however this relationship is not an automatic fit, and it will take time and effort on both sides for relations to develop to the qualitative higher level that the two sides want. But what is abundantly clear to both sides is that, this notwithstanding, Azerbaijan and the EU have much to benefit from a strong relationship, and also much to contribute.

The first confirmed communication since 2014 with former President's daughter, Gulnara Karimova, comes from a Swiss lawyer.

Armenian sources say that one Armenian soldier died and two were wounded, one seriously during the incidents.

The case has considerable legal and diplomatic ramifications, and will test Baku's relations with both Moscow and Tel-Aviv. It also drives another wedge in relations between Belarus and Armenia.

Among those attending was Armenian Orthodox primate of the diocese of Tehran, Archbishop Sebuh Sarkisian.