ARMENIA SHOULD KEEP BALANCE UNDER CONDITIONS OF WAR IN IRAQ, ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAIDMarch 20, 2003 - 18:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The war in Iraq does not and will not pose an ecological threat to Armenia. Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian said when addressing the parliament. In his words, as reported by "Arka" agency, under the current conditions many countries are curious about Armenia's stand on the war in Iraq. The minister reported he had had numerous intense talks with both advocates and opponents of the war. In V. Oskanian's words, "balance should be kept here." "Armenia will observe the happenings at a short distance and will determine the further steps depending on the developments," - the Armenian foreign ministry head noted. At the same time he emphasized that the Armenian leadership was more worried about the fate of the Armenian community of Iraq, as the Armenian embassy officers had already left the country. V. Oskanian reported that the foreign ministry had prepared free visas for those willing to come to Armenia and had made arrangements with transit countries on their unhampered movement. The foreign minister noted the need for presence of representatives of Armenia in Iraq to render aid to the Armenian community in case of state of emergency and added, "relevant groups are already formed." 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 | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |