Last week the region, comprising the Middle East and the South Caucasus, registered developments, which to some extent will determine its future for 10-15 years. Turkey held a referendum on introducing amendments to the constitution and it can be considered the main event of the week. After summarizing the plebiscite, the United States and some EU countries immediately declared that the country is moving towards the European Union and, according to U.S. State Department, America favours Turkey’s EU membership.

Karabakh issue continues to dominate Armenia’s internal political agenda. Azerbaijani authorities turned provocations into tradition, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan stated, referring to recent incident on the line of contact of NKR and Azeri armed forces. “Diversions aim at frustrating the mediators’ efforts toward maintaining ceasefire, withdrawal of snipers from the line of contact as well as promotion of conflict settlement negotiations,” he said. Kocharyan called on international community to give adequate assessment to Azerbaijan’s provocative actions, aimed at undermining the peace process.

By decision of the Public Services Regulatory Commission, the gas prices have risen 37.5%, totaling AMD 132 against the previous AMD 96 for ordinary consumers, and 13%, totaling USD 243.13 for 1 thousand cu m for enterprises respectively since April 1, 2010.