Merkel says “very interested” in lifting Russia sanctionsAugust 30, 2016 - 14:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday, August 29 that she has "the very greatest interest in stopping sanctions" against Russia, the Local reports. In further evidence that Germany is seeking to follow a path of rapprochement with Moscow, Merkel made clear she was prepared to push through a relaxation of EU sanctions against Russia almost immediately. “As soon as we see progress in the Minsk agreement, we will loosen the sanctions,” Merkel told party colleagues at an event in northeastern Germany on Monday evening. The Minsk agreement, signed in February 2015, aimed to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine by calling for the removal of heavy weaponry from the front line. Merkel emphasized that putting an end to sanctions was in Germany’s interests as well as Russia’s. In recent days, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also been vocal in his calls for detente with Moscow, urging a return to “a reliable understanding of common security." However, Merkel also voiced strong criticism of Russia on Monday evening, reminding her audience that the EU had imposed the sanctions due to Russia annexing the Crimea from Ukraine and sending its soldiers into eastern Ukraine. She said she was aghast when she saw the first Russian tank cross over into Ukrainian territory. “Now we are not talking about one tank, but about very, very many tanks.” 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 | Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan. Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. |