Sweden dismisses Ecuador’s offer to question Assange August 2, 2012 - 16:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Ecuador's foreign minister said Swedish officials have refused to accept his country's offer to let them question WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Belfast Telegraph said. Ricardo Patino said Sweden declined the offer to question Mr Assange in person or via video conference at Ecuador's embassy in London. Mr Assange, 41, took refuge in the embassy on June 19 to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning for alleged sexual misconduct. He claims the accusations are a pretext to extradite him to the United States, which he claims wants to prosecute him for publishing secret US documents. Ecuador has said it will not announce a decision on Mr Assange's asylum request until after the Olympics. Mr Assange's mother Christine met Ecuador's president Rafael Correa in the capital Quito on Wednesday.   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 |  Latest 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. |
