An Armenian soldier has been killed on the line of contact separating Armenian and Azerbaijani forces. 22 year old Garnic Torosyan was killed by Azerbaijani sniper fire according to Armenian sources. The death on Monday came on the day that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan had seperate meetings in the Hague with international mediators from France, Russia and the US

World leaders have sent a strong and unambiguous message to Russia: respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, begin discussions with the Government of Ukraine, and avail yourself of offers of international mediation and monitoring to address any legitimate concerns.

The nuclear security summit in the Dutch capital will be the first opportunity for world leaders to consider the situation in Ukraine in face to face meetings. Karabakh is in focus too.

British Foreign Secretary Hague writes on future relations with Russia.

The circumstances of the casualties are not yet clear.

The Secretary of the National Security Council of Armenia, Artur Baghdasarian said a meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan is planned for next week.

The Russian leader outlined his position on the current situation in Ukraine and the international situation.

The Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan spoke on the phone with President Putin to discuss bilateral issues and the international situation. The two leaders agree the Crimea referendum "constitutes another case of exercise of peoples’ right to self-determination".

The Russian elite has decided that it does not care about losing the friendship of the west as long it has its respect. At the moment however it only has the contempt of the rest of the world.

On the occasion of the festival of Novruz the editorial team of commonspace.eu extend our greetings to our readers in Azerbaijan, Iran and Central Asia and wish them happy holidays.