Russia helicopter unit withdrawn from UN mission in SudanJanuary 24, 2012 - 18:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia ended its participation in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sudan on Tuesday, January 24 with President Dmitry Medvedev ordering four military helicopters and 120 troops to leave the country by the middle of February. The pilots and support staff deployed to Sudan in 2006. “The Russian soldiers have done their duty and fulfilled honourably their mission of ensuring peace and security in the country,” Medvedev said in a presidential decree, M&C reported. The main missions of the four Mi-8 helicopters had been to transport UN military observers, goods, and to participate in search and rescue operations. Russia in mid-January ordered another four-ship helicopter squadron from southern Sudan when its planned six months deployment term came to an end. 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 | Armenia-Azerbaijan: Turkey wants deal after “positive developments” Turkey hopes “positive developments” in negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan will lead to an agreement. Police try to impede Armenian Church head’s access to war memorial Police tried to stop the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, from visiting a war memorial. Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. |