EU considering extra financial assistance for UkraineFebruary 3, 2014 - 22:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the 28-nation bloc is looking into providing additional financial assistance for crisis-ridden Ukraine but won't start a bidding war with Russia to buy Kyiv's allegiance, the Associated Press reports. Barroso said Monday, Feb 3, Ukraine is facing "very huge challenges" and the EU and its international partners are discussing what more can be done to help, provided Kiev will commit to reforming its economy in return. Barroso says the EU's offer of a wide-ranging free trade deal remains on the table and its readiness to provide further assistance wasn't about entering a "bidding competition of who pays more for a signature from Ukraine." Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's rejected the EU deal in November and accepted a $15 billion loan package from Russia instead, which triggered massive ongoing anti-government protests. 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 | 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. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. |