Alcee L. Hastings: March events damaged Armenia's imageApril 18, 2008 - 16:31 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Although the OSCE observation mission's report described the Armenian February 19 presidential election as "mostly in line with international standards," majority of the republic's population took the streets to protest election outcomes, said chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission."Clashes with law enforces resulted in human losses. The events damaged badly Armenia's international image," Alcee L. Hastings said during the "Armenia after the Election" hearing. For his part, Vigen Sargsyan, advisor to the RA President, said that the authorities are willing to open political dialogue with the opposition and that all those responsible for the disorders will be punished. Meanwhile, Arman Grigoryan, spokesman for Armenia's first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, said the opposition doesn't recognize Serzh Sargsyan as the country's leader, since the election was badly marred. Grigoryan also urged the RA authorities to release opposition supporters. 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 considers Cyprus as one of its main partners in EU - envoy Armenia considers Cyprus one of its main partners in the European Union, Ambassador Tigran Mkrtchyan has said. Armenian, Albanian Foreign Ministers discuss ties, regional issues Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania Igli Hasani. POLITICO: Baku lobbying agains detained Karabakh ex-leader abroad Azerbaijan is lobbying agains former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan, according to POLITICO. Armenia confirms will attend NATO summit in Washington Armenia has confirmed its participation in the NATO summit in Washington, a spokesperson has confirmed. |