EU slams Assad’s failure to find peaceful solution to Syria crisisJanuary 8, 2013 - 15:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton has expressed regret over President Bashar al-Assad’s failure to undertake credible steps to find a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis, according to RIA Novosti. “The High Representative regrets that the Syrian regime is not willing to commit to a credible political solution to the Syrian crisis which, according to the UN, has caused the death of 60,000 people since the beginning of the uprising in March 2011,” a spokesman for EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said on Monday, January 7. Ashton also reiterated her call to the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces to engage with the UN and Arab League Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi and his mission “to find a peaceful solution through an inclusive and democratic transition.” The EU foreign policy chief has repeatedly stated that Assad must step down in order to bring about a political solution to the war in his country. On Sunday, Assad addressed the Syrian people proposing a plan to resolve the country’s crisis which includes holding a national reconciliation conference, drafting a new constitution, forming a new government and declaring a general amnesty. In his rare televised speech, which was met with cheering applause by his supporters, Assad denounced the opposition as "puppets of the West" and said Syria wanted to negotiate with the "master not the servants." He said the reconciliation conference would exclude "those who have betrayed Syria." Assad’s peace initiative has already been criticized by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and dismissed by the United States and the Syrian National Coalition. 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 | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |