China to give $4.7mln in humanitarian aid for Syrian refugeesAugust 23, 2012 - 22:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - China will give 30 million yuan ($4.7 million) in humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, the official Xinhua news agency said on Thursday, Aug 23, according to AFP. The aid will go to refugees in Jordan and Lebanon to "show Chinese people's friendly sentiments toward Syrian people", Xinhua reported, citing the foreign ministry. More than 265,000 Syrians have fled their country's raging conflict since March last year and 1.2 million are internally displaced, the United Nations estimates. China and Russia have locked horns repeatedly with their fellow UN Security Council members on how to handle the Syria conflict, now in its 17th month with little sign of easing. The two have rejected efforts by their Western counterparts to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, and instead accused them of prolonging the conflict by backing the opposition forces. China has urged the Syrian government and opposition to engage in dialogue and has repeatedly stressed its policy of non-interference in other countries' affairs. About 17,000 Syrians have died since the conflict erupted, the UN estimates, including 37 in the capital of Damascus on Wednesday as regime forces battled rebel fighters. China donated $2 million in aid to Syrians in March through the International Committee of the Red Cross, Xinhua said. 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 | 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. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |