Fassier discusses Karabakh issue in TurkeyMay 19, 2009 - 12:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - OSCE Minsk Group French Co-chair, Ambassador Bernard Fassier was in Ankara yesterday for several meetings including one with Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, the undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry. This was Fassier's first visit to the Turkish capital in his capacity as a Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group - a post he assumed in 2004."The meeting between Apakan and Fassier focused on exchanging views concerning the current phase in the process of resolving the Nagorno Karabakh dispute in the light of a recent meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which took place in Prague on May 7," Today's Zaman cited a source as saying. "During the meeting with Fassier, the Turkish side reiterated its continued support of the OSCE Minsk Group as a permanent member that had been there from its inception," the source said. While speaking to reporters over the weekend in Baku ahead of his departure for Ankara, Fassier was quoted by the Azerbaijani media as saying: "This is one of the usual discussions between the members of the Minsk Group France and Turkey. We will discuss all current issues. There have recently been many visits from Turkey to Azerbaijan. We will discuss them." 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 | U.S., Armenia sign customs deal According to Armenian customs data, U.S.-Armenian trade reached $670 million last year. Glendale mayor to visit Yerevan Asatryan last visited Armenia in December 2022-January 2023 as she helped establish a partnership between Armenia’s Opera House and Los Angeles Opera. Ucom’s fixed network launches in Nor Hachn City residents will be able to use fixed-line Internet, mobile communications and television in one package at more affordable prices. Ambassador summoned to Russia returns to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin has returned to Yerevan more than two weeks after being recalled to Moscow for consultations. |