Kerry pushing ahead with Mideast peace effortsApril 21, 2013 - 12:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is wrapping up a 24-hour visit to Istanbul with talks aimed at improving ties between Turkey and Israel and pushing ahead with Mideast peace efforts, The Associated Press reports. American officials say Kerry will use meetings Sunday, April 21 with Turkey's Foreign Minister and the Palestinian president to urge the Turks to make good on pledges to normalize relations with Israel and explore ways to relaunch peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis. President Barack Obama has made both issues foreign policy priorities for his second term. During a trip to Israel in February, Obama secured pledges from Turkey and Israel to restore badly strained ties. Earlier Sunday in Istanbul, Kerry announced that the Obama administration is doubling its non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition to $250 million. 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 | Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan. Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. |