European Parliament: Turkish-Armenian border should be openSeptember 19, 2008 - 15:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The president of the Liberal Group of the European Parliament said yesterday that Turkey's relations with the European Union were on track, despite periodical ups and downs. Graham Watson urged the government to take stronger steps in areas of judicial reform and freedom of expression, which will undoubtedly strengthen Ankara's hand in negotiations with the 27-nation bloc. Watson, and a group of parliamentarians from the Liberal Group, met yesterday with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and Ahmet Turk, the leader of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Toptan, Watson expressed support for Turkey's bid to join the EU. "We are closely following the progress made in Turkey," he was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency. Watson asked Toptan if the government would be able to live up to its commitments in the national program, a roadmap for progress in negotiations with the EU. In response, Toptan said Parliament passed many reforms for alignment with the acquis and vowed the work would continue when Parliament opens its fall session next month. Meanwhile, Watson praised the Turkish president's landmark visit to neighboring Armenia early this month and suggested that the sealed border between the two countries be reopened, the Turkish Daily News 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 | 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. |