Hundreds protest against Ukraine’s suspension of EU trade dealNovember 22, 2013 - 12:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Kiev hours after the announcement that Ukraine had suspended a landmark trade deal with the EU and opted instead for stronger ties with Russia, local media said Friday, November 22, according to RIA Novosti. Some 1,500 protesters came at midnight to the capital's Independence Square, the scene of Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution, to show their opposition to Kiev’s decision to block the EU deal that would have weakened the former Soviet state’s ties with neighboring Russia. Opposition politicians, including Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the leader of the Fatherland parliamentary faction, and Vitaliy Klitschko, who heads the Udar party, attended the event. They called for further mass demonstrations on November 24. Similar protests were held in other Ukrainian cities, including Donetsk, Kharkiv, Uzhhorod and Lviv. Ukraine’s government announced Thursday it was halting plans to sign association agreements and free trade deals with the EU at a two-day summit in Vilnius starting November 28, citing a need to consolidate economic ties with Russia and members of the nascent Moscow-led Customs Union trade bloc. Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s parliament rejected draft laws aimed at allowing jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko to seek medical treatment abroad, which EU officials had stipulated as a condition for the agreements with Kiev to go ahead. The United States expressed disappointment with Ukraine’s decision. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, welcomed the move by its “close partner Ukraine” to increase cooperation with Russia. Related links: 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 | Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Pillars installed in Armenian border village of Kirants In the Armenian village of Kirants, three border markers have been installed, and border guards stand next to them. |