Middle East to dominate UN General Assembly agendaSeptember 25, 2012 - 13:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - World leaders are gathering in New York for a UN General Assembly likely to be dominated by Syria, although it is not formally on the agenda, BBC News reports. Discussions are also expected to centre on Iran's nuclear program and the video that has prompted anti-U.S. protests across the Muslim world. U.S. President Barack Obama is due to focus on the Middle East when he gives one of the opening speeches on Tuesday, Sept 25. His address comes six weeks before the presidential election. But it is not to be seen as a campaign speech, according to White House spokesman Jay Carney. "I would expect the president to address the recent unrest in the Muslim world and the broader context of the democratic transitions of the Arab World." Syria's 18-month conflict is not formally on the UN General Assembly's agenda but it is likely to be addressed by several speakers on the opening day, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, French President Francois Hollande and Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. 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 | Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Armenian Foreign Minister regrets “tragic loss” of Iranian counterpart The Armenian Foreign Ministry has expressed shock over the death of the Iranian President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Armenian PM sends condolences to Iran Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a message of condolence to the Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. |