Fassier: much depends on Foreign Ministers meetingMay 6, 2008 - 18:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian of Armenia and Elmar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan held their first-ever meeting in Strasbourg today. According to OSCE Minsk Group French Co-chair Bernard Fassier, the intermediaries held a consultative meeting on Monday. Today's agenda includes a similar meeting and separate talks with Mammadyarov and Nalbandian to be followed by joint discussion with participation of both Ministers and the mediators. Mr Fassier said the Co-chairs will give a dinner in honor of the FMs to continue talks in an informal atmosphere. He said he hopes for constructive negotiations. "It is the first meeting between the ministers and of course, it is an acquaintance. So, it is too early to speak about results." The Co-chair noted that the sides could discuss possible directions to continue the talks. "The Foreign Ministers may need to meet once more before a presidential meeting. If necessary, we will organize this meeting. All depends on the results of the Tuesday talks," he said, the Azeri Press Agency 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 | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |