Syria's President intends to lift state of emergency lawsApril 17, 2011 - 17:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Syria's president Bashar Assad said on April 16 he expects state of emergency laws that have been in effect for nearly 50 years to be lifted by next week at the latest, a key demand by a month-long protest movement that has posed the most serious challenge to the authoritarian regime. In his second public appearance since the protests began, Assad warned there will no longer be "an excuse" for organizing protests after Syria lifts the emergency laws and implements reforms. "After that, we will not tolerate any attempt at sabotage," he told the newly formed Cabinet in a televised address. Syria's widely despised emergency laws have been in place since the ruling Baath party came to power in 1963, giving the regime a free hand to arrest people without charge and extending state authority into virtually every aspect of Syrians' lives. The protest movement has been steadily growing over the past four weeks and swelled on April 15 to the largest and most widespread gatherings to date as tens of thousands of people made a bold march toward the capital, Damascus, Associated Press reported. 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”. |