Parliament to elect Lebanon’s new president next weekApril 16, 2014 - 16:20 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An aide to the speaker of the Lebanese parliament said that a parliamentary session to elect the country's new president has been set for next week, according to the Associated Press. Aide Mohammed Ballout said Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri made the announcement Wednesday, April 16. Ballout said the session will be held next Wednesday, April 23. According to Lebanon's sectarian-based power-sharing system, the president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the parliament speaker a Shiite Muslim. Politicians have clashed over who should take the role after the six-year term of the current president, Michel Suleiman ends. Much of the bickering is related to the war in neighboring Syria. Suleiman is seen as hostile to the Lebanese Shiite party Hezbollah, whose fighters are battling alongside forces of President Bashar Assad in Syria. 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 | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. 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. |