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In 2017 Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia will have to navigate through an even more challenging and complicated regional and international context, and with heightened risks

"Moscow has to walk on a thin line in order both to keep solidarity within the institutions that it patronises, and to safeguard its own interests which at the moment are best served by not alienating Azerbaijan, whilst keeping Armenia firmly in the fold"

Armenian MOD spokesperson posted on his facebook page: "The logical development of the Azerbaijani provocation on Thursday took place tonight. The Armenian army divisions carried out retaliatory actions, and as a result, the adversary suffered four more casualties"

Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland will assume the position on 1 January, replacing Ambassador James Warlick, who will step down on December 31

There are conflicting reports of serious incidents on the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border on Thursday (29 December). Armenia says it has killed seven Azerbaijani soldiers. Azerbaijan denies the report but says one of its soldiers is missing. Armenia says three of its own soldiers are dead. Both sides accuse each other of starting the incident.

Ziyafat Asgerov said his country can only rely on its own strength, and therefore the defence budget was not being reduced despite the economic downturn. Asgerov accused Armenia of simulating its participation in negotiations for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, and as a result Baku has the right to liberate its territories by military means

Mahmoud Vaezi is in Baku to attend the 11th meeting of the Azerbaijani-Iranian intergovernmental commission on economic, trade and humanitarian issues which will discuss opportunities for expansion of bilateral ties.

President Vladimir Putin has declared Monday as a day of national mourning after a military plane crashed over the Black Sea on Sunday The Tu-154 plane - carrying soldiers, members of the famed "Red Army choir" music ensemble and reporters - was heading for Syria

Regional analyst Dr Dennis Sammut looks back at how the region fared over the last year.