Russian, Italian ministers to meet in RomeAugust 6, 2013 - 12:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian and Italian foreign and defense ministers will meet in Rome in a “two-plus-two” format Tuesday, Aug 6 to discuss global security and bilateral military collaboration, a senior Russian defense official said, according to RIA Novosti. The meeting will bring together Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on the Russian side, and Foreign Minister Emma Bonino and Defense Minister Mario Mauro on the Italian side. “As to the Defense Ministry, we will talk about military and military-technical collaboration as we have achieved significant progress in these areas,” Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters on Monday. “We will certainly discuss regional issues…including the “Syrian scenario” and the “Afghan scenario,” Antonov said. He added that the ministers will also discuss prospects of bilateral military collaboration, which so far “have been developing steadily.” The upcoming meeting is the third in the “two-plus-two” format, which was tested in May 2010 in Rome prior to a Russia-EU summit. The second meeting took place in April 2012 in Moscow. The sides reaffirmed at the time the strategic nature of the Russian-Italian relations and mutual desire to develop bilateral partnership. 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 | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |