Egyptian Military Retirees to form political partyDecember 25, 2012 - 18:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Association of Egyptian Military Retirees will become a political party, association coordinator Samir Ragheb announced on Tuesday, December 25, according to RIA Novosti. "The proposal to transform the association into a party came from a large group of former officers, who are set to unite former servicemen of the Egyptian armed forces and to take part in the country’s political life as a legal political organization,” Ragheb said. The party, tentatively called Vanguard of Liberation, would focus on turning Egypt into a democratic state “where all Egyptians take part in political, economic and social decision-making.” “The country has recently veered off the course established by the 2011 Egyptian revolution and taken another direction, which is creating a split in Egyptian society,” the coordinator said, adding that his party would seek a “more realistic policy.” If registered, Vanguard of Liberation will become Egypt’s first-ever officially registered party of the military. The Egyptian Armed Forces, the largest in Africa and the Arab world and the world’s tenth largest, remain a force to be reckoned with in Egyptian politics. The Armed Forces have traditionally enjoyed the public's support and respect. Egyptian ex-president Hosni Mubarak resigned a day after the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) gathered for an emergency meeting on February 9. The council, comprising 21 senior military officers, governed Egypt after Mubarak’s departure and ruled the country until incumbent President Mohammed Morsi took office. 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 | Armenian delegation participating in NATO PA session The delegation is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the standing committee on defense and security matters. Schengen visa cost won’t change for Armenia – diplomat The increase in the cost of a Schengen visa will not apply to citizens of Armenia, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said. Yeremyan Projects opens state-of-the-art dairy production plant Yeremyan Projects officially launched the Yeremyan Products state-of-the-art milk processing plant in Yerevan on May 24. Armenian PM’s helicopter makes emergency landing in Vanadzor The helicopter transporting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made an emergency landing in Vanadzor. |