Lavrov says fresh round of talks on N. Korea welcomeApril 12, 2013 - 15:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says he would welcome a fresh round of talks on Swiss soil over North Korea's nuclear program, according to The Associated Press. Lavrov said Friday, April 12, he would support renewed talks in Geneva if Pyongpang agreed to hold discussions with Russia, Japan, South Korea, the United States and China. North Korea agreed in principle in 2005 to scrap its nuclear program including a presumed small stockpile of weapons in return for aid and diplomatic incentives from other members of the six-party talks. But Pyongyang walked out of talks in 2009 and later conducted more nuclear tests. Russia's top diplomat spoke after discussing North Korea, Syria and other issues with Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, whose nation also offered to mediate the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. 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 | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |