On June 30 an oppositional Egyptian newspaper reported that soon President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak, after 28 years of presidency, will send in his resignation, proposing to his post instead of himself his son, Deputy Chairman of the ruling National-Democratic Party Gamal Mubarak. The news, let us say, is rather unexpected, if we consider the prevalent traditions of "eastern democracy". The resignation of Mubarak, if it actually occurs, can change the configuration of the Great Near East, though in short term outlook.

Basic political events of the dying week in Armenia were the work of the Council of Elders in Yerevan, sluggish protests of the opposition, break-up of the fact-gathering group of March 1 events, review of the tax bill in the RA Parliament, and suspension of funding provided to Armenia by the program "Millennium Challenges".