EU postpones deadline to review Iran oil embargo impactsApril 21, 2012 - 13:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The EU has postponed an April deadline to review the impacts of the bloc’s embargo on oil imports from Iran due to Greece's concerns on finding new oil suppliers, Press TV reports. On January 23, EU foreign ministers agreed to impose new sanctions on Iran which included a ban on purchasing oil from the country, a freeze on the assets of Iran's Central Bank within the EU, and a ban on the sale of grains, diamonds, gold and other precious metals to Iran. The sanctions are scheduled to become fully effective on July 1, 2012, to give EU member states enough time to adjust to new conditions and find alternative crude oil supplies. The bloc was to review the impacts of the Iran oil embargo on the member states on May 1, but postponed the deadline by one month upon a request by Greece, which is facing “difficulty finding alternative suppliers” of oil. "So far, Greece has come back to us saying that for the time being, they seem to have been able to handle and to keep the situation under control," AFP quoted a senior EU diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "But precisely because there was this deadline in April they have asked for the possibility to come back to this issue in May or maybe even in June and this has been accepted by all member states," the source added. In a move to counter the measures, Tehran decided to cut its crude exports to certain European countries and has already halted oil sales to France and Britain. 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 | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |