US lawmakers urged Obama to support Turkey's reconciliation with ArmeniaApril 3, 2009 - 02:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - US lawmakers urged President Barack Obama to throw his weight behind Turkey's accession to the European Union and strongly support the NATO ally's reconciliation with Armenia, AFP reports."The United States must remain an iron clad supporter of Turkish membership in the EU," 29 Democrats and Republicans from the House of Representatives said in a letter to the president, who is bound for Turkey within days. The lawmakers urged Obama to help Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government undertake the necessary political, economic and judicial reforms to join the European Union. "We believe Turkey's success as a secular democracy that fully respects the rule of law and guarantees freedoms, civil, religious and human rights are in the interest of the Turkish people, the European Union and the United States," they said. They also urged "unequivocal" US support for Turkey and Armenia's efforts at easing longstanding tensions. 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 | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |