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."

"Where others see rivalries, we see opportunities for cooperation; where others think in near sighted self-interest and revert to using economic coercion, threats and covert action to instigate protests and instability, we strive to establish a common area of prosperity, stability and democracy, where the respect for human rights is the norm."

The events in Eastern Anatolia in 1915 are a blot on 20th century world history. The massacre of hundreds of thousands of civilians, most of them Armenians, in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire, has left a huge scar that has never been healed.

A lot of issues remain to be resolved before the next summit of the regions' leaders in September. The five countries are negotiation a Convention to regulate relations in the region which has become increasingly important for its oil and gas reserves.

There are signs that the Obama administration is losing patience with Moscow, and has now come to the conclusion that Russia is no longer a reliable international partner and needs to be contained not engaged.

Happy Easter

The exercises are being personally supervised by the Defence Minister. Col. General Zakir Hasanov. It is not yet clear how many troops are involved.

The appointment of Dimitri Rogozin as Chairman of the Intergovernmental Commission responsible for relations with Azerbaijan is an ominous sign.