Syria opposition agrees to attend Geneva talksMarch 7, 2016 - 15:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Syrian opposition has agreed to attend a new round of UN-sponsored peace talks set for this week in Geneva, a spokesman told AFP on Monday, March 7, according to AFP. "After consultations, the High Negotiations Committee agreed to go to Geneva. The delegation is expected to arrive on Friday," said Riad Naasan Agha, a spokesman for the main opposition body. The opposition had been reluctant to attend the indirect peace negotiations, citing violations by government forces of a ceasefire in place since February 27. "We have noticed a sharp decline in ceasefire violations in recent days and progress in the humanitarian file," particularly with regards to aid deliveries to besieged towns, Agha said, according to AFP. "We find that the international community is insisting that all the sides, especially Russia and the regime, must respect the truce," he added. The announcement comes a day after regions of Syria covered by the ceasefire enjoyed the "calmest day" since the truce started, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Related links: 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 | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |