CoE Sec. Gen: Karabakh conflict sides close to agreementApril 16, 2008 - 18:31 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis supposes that parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict are close to an agreement."I met with Foreign Minister of Armenia and Azerbaijan and got an impression that both sides are close to an agreement," Mr Davis told a new conference in Strasbourg. He regretted over protraction of the peaceful process. "The OSCE Minsk Group is working for resolution of the conflict. But their decisions can't be imposed on the sides. The MG is only an intermediary," Davis said, adding that he can comprehend official Baku's criticism of the Minsk Group activities. "Peaceful settlement of the conflict is in the interests of the nations living in the region. Warlike spirit has subsided recently. It will help the sides to achieve peace," he said, Trend Azeri news agency reported. 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. |