Western, Arab countries want to disrupt peace plan – Syria envoyJune 14, 2012 - 14:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Western and Arab countries continue to supply arms to Syria in attempts to destroy a peace plan backed by UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad said on Thursday, June 14. “Some western countries, including France and Arab states, are doing everything to disrupt Annan’s peace plan…They continue to arm and fund terrorist groups,” RIA Novosti quoted Haddad as saying. The diplomat’s statement comes amid a new wave of Russian-U.S. tensions over Syria that have mounted after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton claimed that Russia was supplying attack helicopters to Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday denied the allegations, saying that Moscow was “completing the implementation of contracts that were signed and paid for a long time ago” and adding that the contracts "concern exclusively anti-aircraft defense.” 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 | Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. |