Merkel calls for Serbia-Kosovo dialogueAugust 20, 2011 - 14:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she will push for dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo when she visits Belgrade next week. Merkel is to hold talks with Serbian officials on Tuesday, August 23, during a visit which follows a recent spike in tensions with Kosovo, a former province that declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Merkel said in her weekly video podcast Saturday that she will call "for dialogue with Kosovo to be resumed." She added that "there can be no European perspective for this region if all do not make efforts - even though the scars of the past still have deep and difficult effects." Merkel's trip also will take her to neighboring Croatia, which has been cleared to join the European Union in 2013, the 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 | 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. |