Boris Johnson visits Brussels for first talks since becoming FMJuly 18, 2016 - 10:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Britain's new foreign minister Boris Johnson was to meet with his European counterparts for the first time on Monday, July 18 in what will likely be a fence-mending trip to Brussels for the outspoken politician who led the victorious Brexit campaign, AFP reports. The gathering, which will kick off with a breakfast attended by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, marks Johnson's first high-profile foray onto the diplomatic scene after his appointment last week by Prime Minister Theresa May stunned European capitals. It will also be a homecoming of sorts for the eccentric former London mayor, who lived in the Belgian capital in the 1990s when he was the Daily Telegraph's EU correspondent, writing stories that whipped up euroscepticism. Monday's talks are expected to focus on the fight against terrorism in the wake of the deadly Bastille Day truck attack in Nice and relations with Turkey after a failed military coup there, AFP says. The conflicts in Syria and Libya are likewise on the agenda. But ministers will also be sizing up the diplomatic credentials of gaffe-prone Johnson, who is well-known for his quips mocking foreign leaders and who once famously compared the EU's ambitions for closer integration to those of Adolf Hitler, AFP says. While officials in Brussels have stressed they will welcome Johnson as they would any new foreign minister, there is little doubt that his prominent role in last month's vote for Britain to leave the bloc has ruffled feathers. 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 | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. 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. |