UN calls on countries to keep border opens for Syrian refugeesJanuary 17, 2014 - 18:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The UN refugee agency's chief has renewed a call on all nations to keep their borders open to Syrians fleeing their country, saying Syria's neighbors should not be "left alone" to cope with the influx, the Associated Press reports. More than 2 million people have been uprooted from their homes in Syria's civil war, many scattered in refugee camps and informal settlements dotting neighboring Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. UNHCR High Commissioner Antonio Guterres said during a meeting with officials from countries neighboring Syria Friday that the international community needed to assume "a true attitude of burden-sharing." Guterres said: "It is unacceptable to see Syrian refugees drowning and dying in the Mediterranean Sea or being pushed back from borders." Related links: 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 | Armenia to participate in key EU meeting for the first time ever National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan has said that Armenia will for the first time participate in the Conference. U.S. reacts to Russia’s criticism of upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting Matthew Miller has weighed in on Russia’s criticism of an upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting. Lavrov sees ‘collapse’ of Russia’s ties with Armenia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has underscored heightened tensions between Russia and Armenia. Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. |