French President to arrive in Russia for 1st official visitFebruary 27, 2013 - 12:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - French President Francois Hollande is preparing to make his first official visit to Russia. The Kremlin press service said Hollande will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss bilateral relations, particularly trade, energy, investment, and cooperation in innovation and advanced technology. Hollande is also expected to inform Putin about France’s military campaign in Mali, where French troops have helped local forces and forces from other African nations chase Islamic militants from positions they occupied last year. Hollande is due in Moscow late on February 27 and is expected to stay through the following day, Russian media reported. 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 | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |