Turkey to launch lobbying campaign in U.S. CongressAugust 28, 2010 - 15:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish policymakers are planning to intensify contacts with the U.S. Congress, where many are raising questions on the future of ties with Ankara after Turkey voted against further UN sanctions on Iran and amid a deterioration in Turkish-Israeli ties, Today's Zaman reported. The decision to reach out to Congress came after a series of talks between a Turkish delegation and senior U.S. administration officials in Washington earlier this week. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu and Deputy Undersecretaries Tacan Ildem and Selim Yenel met with U.S. officials, including Under Secretary for Political Affairs William Burns, National Security Council Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy and Special Envoy of the Secretary of State for Eurasian Energy Richard Morningstar. The campaign is foreseen to be launched after the Congressional elections due November 2010. Related links: 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 | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |