OSCE CiO urged Azeri President to stop persecution of mediaJune 6, 2007 - 15:23 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - During a visit to Baku OSCE Chairman-in-Office Miguel Angel Moratinos urged the Azerbaijani President to put an end to persecution of media.The OSCE is ready to put efforts for normalization of situation in Azerbaijan. The OSCE Baku office plans to implement a number of projects targeted at improvement of freedom of speech and creation of a new generation of journalists. Earlier Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE representative for the freedom of the media voiced concern over the arrest of 7 reporters in Azerbaijan and called to the authorities to release them. When speaking of the forthcoming presidential election Mr Moratinos said the OSCE will do its utmost to assist in holding free and democratic election, Zerkalo (mirror) newspaper reports. 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 | 17 bridges collapse as a result of floods in Armenia As a result of floods in Armenia’s northern Lori and Tavush provinces, 17 bridges, including five large ones, have collapsed. Ex-mayor of Karabakh capital arrested in Yerevan Ex-mayor of the Nagorno-Karabakh city of Stepanakert David Sargsyan has been arrested for 20 days. 269 people evacuated amid severe floods in Armenia’s north According to the Interior Ministry, 269 people have been evacuated from their homes in Lori and Tavush provinces. Armenian delegation participating in NATO PA session The delegation is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the standing committee on defense and security matters. |