France to summon Ukraine envoy over violenceJanuary 24, 2014 - 12:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - France will summon Ukraine's ambassador in Paris over recent violence in Kyiv, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Friday, Jan 24, according to Reuters. "I have given instructions to the foreign ministry to summon the Ukrainian ambassador in France today which is a gesture to show France's condemnation (of the situation)," Fabius said on i>TELE television. French President Francois Hollande condemned Thursday violence against what he called "peaceful protesters" in Ukraine, urging authorities to find a compromise to end the crisis. "I call on Ukrainian authorities to rapidly seek dialogue," Hollande's office said in a statement, adding that the European Union remained ready to work on an association agreement for closer ties with Ukraine. Protests against the four-year rule of President Viktor Yanukovich took off in November after Ukraine dropped out of a free-trade deal with the European Union, agreeing on a $15- billion bailout from Russia. The protests turned more violent on Sunday, as clashes between hard-core radicals and riot police killed three people on the side of the protesters and injured 150 policemen. "A big country like Ukraine, which aspires to play a full role on the European and international scenes, should put an end to such actions," Hollande said in the statement, adding his voice to the alarm expressed by European authorities. Photo: AFP Related links: Top stories 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". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |