Ambassador Warlick said that the Minsk Group co-Chair hope they can organise a meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in December.

The toll road, with a total length of 1956 km, will pass through several regions of Russia and is expected to be finished in 2019.

Eduard Nalbandian was speaking at at the opening of III International Forum of MGIMO Graduates, currently being held in Yerevan.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council gave the green light for negotiations to start on 12 October. The new agreement will exclude a number of provisions of the current Partnership Agreement (PCA) that came into force in 1999.

Foreign Minister Mammadyarov said the issue of a meeting between the Presidents will be discussed during the visit of the Minsk Group co-Chair to the region next week.

Minister Eldar Mahmudov was dismissed on Saturday, and large scale anti-corruption investigation is under way. Some sources suggest there could be more to the matter.

The Heads of State of the EEU have also agreed on procedures for admiting new members and on how to "dissafiliate them".

Outgoing CIS Chairman, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbyev said that "frankly speaking, we had a difficult time of presidency because of the economic situation".

Russia confirms settlement of Karabakh conflict remains a high foreign policy priority, but a breakthrough to the present impasse in the peace negotiations during the Astana meetings on Friday is unlikely.

President Putin has inaugurated the 7th Annual Investment Forum of VTB Capital "Russia Calling!" It is being held in Moscow on October 13-14. It was first held in 2009.