UK supports Turkey's bid to EUSeptember 5, 2007 - 16:23 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Britain's new Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Wednesday reaffirmed London's support for Turkey's bid to join the European Union and also urged the Muslim country to play a bigger role in the Middle East."It is the absolute determination of the new (British) government led by Gordon Brown that we will continue to play that role (of championing Turkey's EU bid)," Miliband told a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. "Shared institutions matter a lot and we want the European Union to be a shared institution of which Britain and Turkey are full and equal members," said Miliband, who took up his job after Brown replaced Tony Blair as prime minister in July. "We are grateful to the UK for the support and policy towards Turkey. We will continue the process of reforms provided by the process of European integration," said Ali Babacan, who is also Turkey's EU chief negotiator, Reuters 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 | CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. 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. |