Bahrain agrees to ease treatment of political activistsSeptember 19, 2012 - 15:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Bahrain's Foreign Minister says the government has agreed to ease its treatment of political activists and demonstrators while accepting the vast majority of the UN's top human rights body recommendations for improving its treatment of people, according to AP. Among the 176 recommendations from the 47-nation Human Rights Council were concerns over the treatment of prisoners and prosecution of human rights activists during the unrest that has hit Bahrain, a key U.S. ally in the Gulf, since early 2011. Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa says Bahrain accepts 158 recommendations, including calls for fair trials and improving religious protections. The Sunni-ruled country, whose Shiite majority is demanding a greater political voice, says it rejects the recommendations for abolishing the death penalty, because those conflict with its constitution. Top stories 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". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |