Azerbaijan says now controls 4 villages as part of deal with ArmeniaMay 24, 2024 - 16:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan's border service has taken control of four villages in the Gazakh district on the border with Armenia under an agreement struck with Yerevan, Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev said on Friday, May 24, Reuters reports. The size of the territory ceded to Azerbaijan by Armenia under a border delimitation agreement on Friday was 6.5 square kilometres, Mustafayev said. In April, Armenia said it would return the uninhabited villages to Azerbaijan, which both sides said was a milestone on the road towards a peace deal between Yerevan and Baku who have clashed for more than three decades. The decision by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to hand over the four villages has triggered protests, with demonstrators calling for him to step down over what they cast as a betrayal. 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 | Shoghakat Vardanyan’s “1489” to be screened at GAIFF 2024 Shoghakat Vardanyan’s “1489” will be screened at the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival 2024, the Festival reveals. Yerevan to host 6th meeting of Asia Initiative Yerevan will host the meeting on June 24-25, according to statements from Armenia’s State Revenue Committee and the Asia Initiative. Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Doors to Armenia squad closed for me Former captain of the national football team, Inter midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has said doors to the national squad are closed for him. EU welcomes Armenia's proposal for ceasefire monitoring mechanism Toivo Klaar, EU's Special Representative for South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, welcomed the proposal. |