Scandal between France and Turkey expandsNovember 18, 2006 - 16:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul announced on late Thursday that France hasn't been officially invited to a defense industry fair over the French Parliament's passage of an Armenian bill last month, introducing punishments to those who question genocide claims. Gonul stated that Ankara gave a notice to French companies, instead of invitations, and added, "The French defense minister is a valuable government member. But he has not been formally invited here. We sent invitations to other countries." In related news, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry canceled the invitation of the a French music company to perform a remembrance ceremony for Turkish poet and Sufi mystic Mevlana Rumi, reports The New Anatolian. 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”. |