Turkey will be ready for EU by 2013February 1, 2008 - 14:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Turkey would have complied with the EU acquis by 2013. "Turkey is not only an aspirant but also a member state at the moment," he said."Over the last five months 229 meetings were held in both Ankara and Brussels to advance various chapters. In the same period, 46 visits were paid to EU countries at the level of state minister and head of government. Now the EU process is part of Turkey's daily work. We can't hold back the process only because one of the 27 EU members is discontent with something. Turkey's full membership is one of the most important peace projects of the 21st century," he said, Milliyet reports. Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke out for 'privileged partnership' for Turkey. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | EU, EAEU are incompatible, Russia tells Armenia The arrival of extra-regional players in Armenia “will have consequences,” Russian Deputy PM Alexei Overchuk has said. Armenia top European Youth Team Chess Championships after Round 4 The Armenian national team top the standings at the European Youth Team Chess Championships 2024 on the Greek island of Rhodes. GAIFF: Tarsem Singh to preside over Regional Competition jury Tarsem Singh is perhaps best known to Armenian audiences as the author behind Lady Gaga’s 911 music video, inspired by the aesthetics of Sergei Parajanov. ICRC reps visit Armenians held in Azerbaijan The staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross have visited Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians currently being held in Azerbaijan. |