French PM confirms warships sale to RussiaJune 6, 2014 - 13:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has confirmed the sale of two warships to Russia will go ahead, saying many jobs are at stake, BBC News reported. "The contracts were agreed in 2011, they represent many jobs and they will be carried out," he said in a tweet. U.S. President Barack Obama has said he is concerned about the sale, in light of the crisis in Ukraine. Both he and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to attend D-Day events in France later on Friday, June 6. French President Francois Hollande has come under sustained pressure from European allies over the Mistral-class helicopter carriers, which are set to be delivered to the Black Sea ports in Crimea, which joined Russia after a referendum in March. The first carrier in the 1.2bn euro ($1.6bn) deal is due for delivery this year. Obama said while he recognised it was a big deal and important for French jobs, "I think it would have been preferable to press the pause button". Pro-Ukrainian bloggers reacted with anger to the tweet by Mr Fabius. "Life/blood of non-compatriots are cheap," wrote one on Twitter, while another remarked "so French jobs more important than Ukrainian lives". 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 | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |