France pulling out of peacekeeping mission in KosovoNovember 28, 2013 - 19:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - NATO's supreme commander says France is pulling out of the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo because of commitments in Mali and Central African Republic, according to the Associated Press. U.S. Gen. Philip Breedlove says the decision to remove most of the 320 peacekeepers was a national decision taken by Paris and the withdrawal won't impact the mission. Breedlove said Thursday, Nov 28, that some French military staff will remain in Kosovo. No timing for the withdrawal was given. French peacekeepers, which serve as part of the 5,000-strong NATO-led mission, were often caught in violent clashes between minority Serbs and ethnic Albanians in Kosovo's volatile north. NATO sent 50,000 soldiers into Kosovo in 1999 after a 78-day air war forced Serb troops to withdraw and end a brutal crackdown on separatist ethnic Albanians. Photo: AFP 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 | Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. 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. |