Georgian PM Mamuka Bakhtadze and EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker discussed the upcoming first meeting of the new format of the dialogue between EU and Georgia. The meeting will be held in Brussels shortly.

Speaking at a conference held in the Giustiniana Palace in Rome on Tuesday, Azerbaijan's First Vice President spoke about relations between Azerbaijan and Italy, and addressed issues related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Speaking in english and french Pashinyan spoke about the peaceful revolution that took place in Armenia in the spring, reiterated his commitment to democracy and human rights, and addressed the Karabakh conflict.

Bakhtadze later tweeted that talks centred on Georgia's new wave of reforms and the EU's continued support for Georgia's European path.

Pashinyan and his political team have secured 81.06% of votes in the important elections, which were the first electoral test since the popular protests in Armenia in the spring

Twelve political forces are fielding candidates for the sixty-five person city council, who in turn will choose the city's mayor

The Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted a declaration of independence on August 23, 1990 and this was approved by a referendum held on 21 September, after which the country became known as the Republic of Armenia.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry condemned the recent shelling of border villages. The killed soldier in Wednesday's incident was named as twenty-eight year old Private Haykaz Matevosyan.

The elections for the Council of Elders will be the first test of Pashinyan's popularity with voters since the events of last spring which brought him to power amid street protests.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the country's National Defence and Security Council and is to be communicated formally to Russia and to the international community by the end of the month.