UN chief urges Russia, U.S. to ensure continuation of Syria talksFebruary 1, 2014 - 13:50 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The United Nations' Secretary-General has pressed the U.S. and Russia to help ensure that peace talks aimed at stemming Syria's civil war can resume on Feb 10 as proposed by the UN mediator, the Associated Press reports. A week of peace talks ended in Geneva Friday with no concrete progress and no immediate commitment from President Bashar Assad's envoys to return on the date suggested by mediator Lakhdar Brahimi. Ban Ki-moon said Saturday, Feb 1, he urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at a security conference in Germany "to use their influence to ensure the talks proceed as scheduled on Feb 10." He urged the warring sides to return to the talks "with more sense of earnestness as well as seriousness and urgency." 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 | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |