The US Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Process outlined in a keynote policy speech in Washington the basis on which a Karabakh peace settlement can be achieved and called on the sides to commit themselves to negotiations.

Azerbaijani activists have used social media sites to mock recent statements by European leaders on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan which they consider inadequate.

The recent statements by senior officials of the Government of Azerbaijan criticising Ambassador James Warlick have created a controversy around the process.

Azerbaijani politicians have often criticised the work of the OSCE Minsk Process, but in recent weeks this criticism has become more vocal.

The Minsk Group co-Chair diplomats met in Warsaw earlier this week, but no clear strategy of taking the stalled peace process forward has so far emerged.

Official Baku says that public diplomacy is wrong, but civil society activists in Azerbaijan and worldwide are not impressed.

Stefan Fule calls for more determined and resolute commitment to the Eastern Partnership and the values that underpin it, after a meeting with the Visegrad 4.

The European Union has extended its sanctions against Russian officials implicated in the violation of Ukraine's sovereignity and territorial integrity. A statement from the EU said that "In the absence of any de-escalation in the eastern part of Ukraine, the EU decided to target 15 additional persons with a travel ban and assets freeze. This brings the total number of persons subject to sanctions in connection with Ukraine's territorial integrity to 48".

Ambassador James Warlick says that track two programs bring trust and understanding between Armenians and Azerbaijanis.His tweet came shortly after the arrest in Baku of prominent public diplomacy activist Leyla Yunus.

US President Barak Obama will later today speak in a conference call with the leaders of Britain, Germany, France and Italy on the next set of sanctions against Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine. Yesterday Secretary of State John Kerry said that Russia "has put its faith in distraction, deception, and destabilization". Kerry said that "the window to change course is closing. President Putin and Russia face a choice. If Russia chooses the path of de-escalation, the international community – all of us – will welcome it. If Russia does not, the world will make sure that the cost for Russia will only grow. We are ready to act."