TEHRAN PRESENTED ULTIMATUM TO ANKARASeptember 22, 2003 - 23:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - In case Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan refuses to visit Tehran, Iranian president Mohammad Khatami will also refrain from the trip to Ankara. "Wave" Tehran newspaper reported about this categorical statement according to "Albanian" newspaper published in UAE. It was announced before that Erdogan's visit has been postponed because of Tehran's refusal to characterize KADEK Kurdish party as a terrorist one. However, later Turkish press furnished information, due to which the pressure exerted upon Ankara by Washington appeared the true reason for the delay. According to the source, US ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris "advised" Turkish officials to refrain from visiting Iran. In his turn Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul considers the information to be "false", noting that the visit is still on Erdogan's agenda. However, he mentioned no terms. 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 | CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. |