Conflict and Peace

The President of the European Council has reiterated the EU's support for Ukraine in a visit to the Donbas region and the state capital, Kyiv.

On 21 January this year, the European Court of Human Rights found Russia responsible for a number of major human rights violations during the 2008 war against Georgia. In this opinion piece, Erekle Koplatadze gives his perspective on what this decision means.

The European Court of Justice will start considering the Western Sahara issue in a case brought by the Polisario Front challenging fishery and agriculture agreements between the European Union and Morocco that allow Rabat to export agricultural products and fish from the disputed territory. 

The US Special Envoy to Yemen, Timothy A. Lenderking, is scheduled to begin an extended tour of the Gulf region in a diplomatic effort to bring an end to Yemen's six year conflict. The visit by Lenderking comes as Houthi forces reach closer to the city of Marib where forces loyal to Yemen's recognised government are trying to defend the last northern governorate in their hands.

Syria's White Helmets, officially known as Syrian Civil Defence, are shifting their function from saving lives of people buried under the ruins of war to burying the deceased from COVID-19. 

Armenia's asymmetric dependence on Russia has cost it dearly, especially during the recent Karabakh war, argues Alexander Petrosyan in this commentary for commonspace.eu. Two projects – the Iran-Armenia railway, and the Iran-Armenia-Georgia gas pipeline – can help restore the balance, he contends.

Azerbaijan plans to spend up to $59 billion over the next ten years to rehabilitate the territories it has recently taken back after being for decades under Armenian control. It is a huge sum even for an oil rich country, but for President Ilham Aliyev developing the new territories now has become the primary mission of his presidency.