Clinton to meet with Libyan opposition leaders in ParisMarch 14, 2011 - 10:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was on her way to Europe and the Middle East early Monday, March 14, for a round of diplomacy focusing on the Libyan uprising and the new governments in Tunisia and Egypt. Clinton, representing an Obama administration wary of intervention, will meet in Paris with a Libyan opposition pleading for foreign military intervention to repel a counter-offensive by troops loyal to Muammar al-Gaddafi. Clinton will also directly hear French calls to "speed up" multilateral efforts for a no-fly zone over Libya aimed at grounding Gaddafi's air power. The chief U.S. diplomat will then travel to Cairo and Tunis, where she will become the highest-level U.S. official to visit since their presidents were toppled in mass pro-democracy protests. During her stop in Paris on Monday and Tuesday, Clinton will join her counterparts from France, Russia, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan to debate the no-fly zone and other ways to help the opposition in Libya, ChannelNewsAsia reports. The United States has agreed to name a special envoy to deal with the opposition, but has refrained from recognizing any particular leader or group as it struggles to understand the nebulous movement. Washington welcomed the Arab League call for a no-fly zone, but is not yet supporting the policy. Clinton has said a no-fly zone plan will be presented to NATO on Tuesday, March 15. 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 | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |