NATO chief to meet Russian Foreign Minister for first timeFebruary 3, 2015 - 14:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - NATO says Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will meet with Russia's foreign minister for the first time this week, at a time when relations between Moscow and the West have plunged to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War, the Associated Press reports. NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said Tuesday, Feb 3, that Stoltenberg and Sergey Lavrov, the Kremlin's top diplomat, will hold bilateral talks during the Munich security conference, a three-day gathering of foreign and security officials from around the world that begins Friday. It will be Stoltenberg's first meeting with Lavrov since he became secretary-general of the U.S.-led NATO alliance in November. Stoltenberg's deputy on Monday said "Russia's aggression against Ukraine" has been a game-changer for NATO and European security. Meanwhile, Moscow has accused NATO of operating a "foreign legion" in Ukraine. 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 | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |