Yuri Merzlyakov Rated Consultations with Armenian and Azeri FMs SubstantialApril 24, 2006 - 19:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The consultations held with the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers in Moscow were very substantial, OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov stated when commenting on a meeting held last week between the Foreign Ministers of Armenian and Azerbaijan, Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mammadyarov within the framework of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers. "We mulled the details of further discussions. So, the next round of talks will start shortly," Merzlyakov announced, hinting at the next round of talks at the level of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers. According to Merzlyakov, the meeting is to be held in May, while the term and place of talks are still to be defined. Upon the completion of the meeting of the ministers the diplomats will mull the opportunities for organization of a dialogue of the Presidents. Merzlyakov noted that in early May the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs will set up consultations in Moscow, and after tour the Nagorno Karabakh conflict region, reported Trend news agency. 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 | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |