Union for the Mediterranean inauguratedJuly 14, 2008 - 16:20 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Leaders of 43 nations with nearly 800 million inhabitants inaugurated a Union for the Mediterranean on Sunday, meant to bring the northern and southern countries that ring the sea closer together through practical projects dealing with the environment, climate, transportation, immigration and policing. The union has northern and southern co-presidents - to start, Sarkozy and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, The Associated Press reports. The new forum for cooperation is facing opposition from Libyan President Moamer Kadhafi who is boycotting the summit while Turkey and Germany have some misgivings. Kadhafi has assailed the club as a neo-colonialist ploy to weaken Arab and African unity and warned it would be a flop. 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 | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. 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. |