Obama: U.S. mission in Afghanistan to shift to support roleJanuary 12, 2013 - 12:00 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. president Barack Obama has said the country's mission in Afghanistan will shift to a support role in the spring and he will soon get recommendations from his top military advisers on U.S. troop reductions, Belfast Telegraph reported. Obama said in a joint news conference with Afghan president Hamid Karzai that any withdrawal agreement must include an immunity agreement in which U.S. troops are not subjected to Afghan law. Obama said the path of the U.S. military remained clear and the war was moving towards a "responsible end" in 2014. The two leaders met at the White House on the future of the U.S. role in Afghanistan and the 66,000 American troops serving there. The U.S. military mission will shift from combat to support in the spring, a few months ahead of schedule. 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. |