Germany wants progress on Syria or Ukraine for Russia to return to G8August 31, 2016 - 12:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Group of Seven (G7) will be ready to discuss Russia's return to the informal bloc, making it the G8 again, if there is significant progress on the Syrian and Ukrainian conflicts, the German foreign minister said Wednesday, August 31, according to Sputnik. "The conflicts in Syria and Ukraine show that it is not in our interest to exclude Russia from a close negotiation format of the world's biggest economies,” Frank-Walter Steinmeier told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland news outlet. “If there is at last substantial progress in eastern Ukraine or in the talks on ceasefire in Syria, G7 partners will be ready to discuss this question with Moscow," Frank-Walter Steinmeier told The G7, consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, was joined by Russia in 1998. In 2014, the Group of Eight members refused to come to Russian city of Sochi, venue of G8 regular summit, citing disagreements over the Ukrainian crisis and have been meeting in seven-state format since. 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. |