Barroso: free trade deal with U.S. would be a ‘game-changer’June 17, 2013 - 17:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The top official with the European Union's executive arm said a free trade deal with the United States would be a "game-changer" for the global economy, The Associated Press reported. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso made the statement Monday, June 17 ahead of a formal launch of the trade effort at the Group of Eight Summit in Northern Ireland. Barroso said that a deal "can be a game-changer, not just for the trans-Atlantic area, the United States and Europe, but for the world." He added that the EU negotiating stance—which has left out the movie and television industry at French insistence—should not prevent a deal. The opt-out could be revised at a later date. "What is important, I insist, is the political will on both sides," Barroso said. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. 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. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. 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. |