Author and journalist Tom du Waal was recently in the South Caucasus for the launch of the Russian version of his book The Black Garden. Azerbaijani journalist Seymour Kazimov caught up with him in Tbilisi and asked him on his views on the Karabakh conflict and its resolution.

19 July: Azerbaijan has said that a civilian was shot dead by Armenian forces on Friday as he was fishing near the village of Chayli, in the Tartar District in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. The villager was named as 26 year old Mubariz Aliyev. The body of the deceased has now been handed over to his family for burial.

Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hassanov criticised the failure of the ICRC to secure a meeting with two Azerbaijanis taken prisoner by Armenians in the last days and said this may lead to the expulsion of the organisation from Azerbaijan.

Armenians say they were a terrorist group, but Azerbaijan insists they were simple people, nostalgic for their home village.

The situation following an incident near Kalbajar on Friday presents a challenge to the Red Cross and its on-going work dealing with POWs captured in the Karabakh conflict.

The funeral of the former President was attended by elder statesmen from different countries, foreign delegations and Georgia's national and religious leaders.

13 July: The funeral of former Georgian President, Edward Shevardnadze is taking place in Tbilisi. World statesmen and representative of many foreign governments are participating.

The Georgian Dream coalition now controls all local government councils throughout the country, and all levels of government from the Presidency to the Sakrebulos.

There has been no comment yet from the Azerbaijani side.

Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said he is against a change in the format, but the conduct of the co-Chair limits the effectiveness of the Group.