French President voices support to Kosovo independenceDecember 1, 2007 - 14:01 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - French President The breakdown earlier this week of talks between ethnic Albanians demanding independence and Serbs seeking to keep the province raise the likelihood Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia unilaterally at some point after Dec. 10. Sarkozy said he did not consider the date as a firm deadline and said he hoped the province's leaders would not act hastily making a declaration of independence. "We hope it will be done at the right moment," Sarkozy said during a Franco-Italian summit in the Mediterranean city of Nice. "If we have to give it a few more weeks to calm down the situation and get to that result, to France that seems preferable." Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi echoed the French position, saying time is needed to prepare Kosovo's independence. Serbia has threatened to impose an economic and travel blockade if Kosovo's leaders make good on their pledge to break away - stoking concerns of renewed unrest. Serbia, however, has also promised to refrain from violence, the IHT 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 | Armenia designates flood-hit communities as disaster areas The emergency situation was created by floods caused by heavy rains in Armenia’s north on May 25-26. 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. Armenia: Top cleric to retain title as he bids to become interim PM Galstanyan said earlier that the interim government would be tasked with stopping the “destruction of our homeland”. 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. |