COUNTRY REVIEWS

Southeast Asia

• Philippines Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario: US would be allowed to station forces at military bases in the Philippines; Aung San Suu Kyi visits Japan after twenty seven years; ASEAN Regional Forum defense officials' dialogue held in Shanghai; Malaysia frees thirty two Philippine nationals; Laos economy likely to grow 7.7 percent in 2013

Central Asia

Central Asia

• Kyrgyzstan and Turkey sign a number of bilateral documents as part of Turkish PM Erdogan’s visit to Bishkek; Tajikistan and European Union discusses the prospects of improving bilateral ties; Iran and Tajikistan sign an MoU to complete the construction of the strategically important Istiqlol tunnel; Kyrgyzstan is committed to joining the Customs Union; Russia to continue the sue of Baikonur space facilities; Uzbekistan to create a transport logistical center; Kazakhstan’s petrol production dipped by 18 per cent in 2013; Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev: Kazakhstan will assist in the economic development of Kyrgyzstan; United States hands over equipment and vehicles worth US$ 2 million to border troops of Tajikistan.

Russia

• Russia and Iraq agree to renew an arms deal worth US$ 4.2 billion; Russia will not support its citizens affected by the Cyprus crisis; Russia says that the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) has no prospects in the future; Russia’s Central Bank expresses concern over the slow economic growth; Russia’s arms exports increases by 12 per cent in 2012; Venezuelan Parliament ratifies an oil deal with Rosneft; Russia sends a warship to participate in Blackseafor drills; Russia to start state tests of new ballistic missile in 2014; Pentagon to buy Russian made helicopters for Afghanistan despite opposition from US lawmakers; Russia’s third Borey class nuclear submarine to start trials in June; Two landing ships of Russia’s Pacific Fleet will enter Tartus in May; Russia’s GDP growth to be less than 3 per cent in 2013; Russia has no plans to deploy a military base in Afghanistan.

West Asia

Syria

• Syrian media lashes out at UN envoy Brahimi.

Israel/Palestine

• Palestinian PM Fayyad resigns.

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

• Sarpanch of National Conference (NC) shot dead; Cabinet Secretary to visit Jammu & Kashmir; National Investigation Agency (NIA) team arrives in valley.

North East India

• Meghalaya Chief Minister claims no easy solution to Assam-Meghalaya border issue; Bangladesh not to be affected by Meghalaya hydro power projects; Tripura state to be declared fully literate; Dima Hasao to hold polls; President Pranab Mukherjee to visit Manipur and Sikkim.

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• Five Indian peacekeepers killed in South Sudan, UN condemns the killing; India and Germany to intensify efforts for UNSC reform; UN welcomes Yemen’s efforts to restructure security sector