"We want to take relations with the EU to a new phase," Turkey's Finance Minister Berat Albayrak said at a press conference in Paris with his French counterpart, adding that Turkey wanted to increase trade with France, which is currently at 14 billion euros, to 20 billion euros.

The Kremlin has re-affirmed its support for its two protectorates, despite the lack of international recognition of their independence

In Baku, Chancellor Merkel once more spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict "Berlin could help mediate between Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia to resolve a long-running territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh", the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported

The Chancellor said she is glad to come to Armenia not only in the year of the 100th anniversary of the First Republic, but also in the period of democratic reforms.

During the visit Germany and Georgia signed development cooperation deals worth over €193 million ($223 million), including projects to improve drinking water and sewage systems and to build a gas storage facility.

The visit of the Chancellor to the South Caucasus is being seen as an indication that Germany is ready to play a more active role in the region

A tanker is missing off the coast of Gabon, a security source in Gabon said Tuesday, as the Georgian foreign ministry said 17 Georgian sailors were on board. There is concern the ship has been taken over by pirates.

Throughout the Muslim world. including in Eurasian and Caucasus countries, Muslims on Tuesday celebrated Eid al Adha, or as it is better known in the Turkic world, Qurban Bayram.

One policeman and two teenage militants were killed in two related incidents on Monday in the Chechen capital

Earlier in the day Putin made a shorty private visit to Austria, where he attended the wedding of the Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneisl, and held what was described by the Kremlin as "a brief conversation" with the Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz.