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The Georgian Parliament convened for the first time on Friday after elections in October. The Parliament also elected the first Vice Speaker and five Vice Speakers.

An informal ministerial meeting of the Eastern Partnership countries was held in Armenia with a focus on innovation. EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn described the meeting as constructive

In this commentary for Caucasus Concise, regional analyst Dr Dennis Sammut considers the risk of further escalation of violence in the Karabakh conflict zone, as tension on the line of contact increases, and in the context of a fluid international situation

One Azerbaijani soldier was killed on Tuesday, and Azerbaijan says it has shot down an Armenian drone. Azerbaijan is currently conducting large scale military manoevres, but the Chief of Staff of the Armenian Army says the situation "is as it has been for the last twenty four years".

The EU Council called "for renewed efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region on the basis of the principles and norms of international law". "The EU remains committed in its support to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of all its partners. The Council recalls the EU's role in conflict resolution and confidence building efforts in support of the existing agreed formats and processes."

The European Union will start negotiations with Azerbaijan on a comprhensive agreement which will form a contractual arrangement between the two sides. A decision was adopted by the Council of the EU on Monday. Baku has welcomed the decision

A new electortal law, adopted earlier this year, provides a new framework, which has on the whole been welcomed by local political forces and the international community. However, as political analyst Sos Avetisyan writes from Yerevan, in this commentary for commonspace.eu, the government still has subtle ways in which it can influence the outcome of next spring's parliamentary elections

President Ilham Aliev, wearing military fatigues, inspected command and control capabilities of the Azerbaijani army, and observed Armenian positions on the front line.

Mehmet Simsek told a meeting of business leaders that Europe is a reference point for Turkey as it moves forward its democratic standards. "We want to improve the rule of law and the quality of our institutions. Europe has advanced standards in this regard", he said.