Arab League says Syria election can thwart peace effortsApril 22, 2014 - 18:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Holding an election in Syria while civil war rages will only obstruct international efforts to resolve the conflict, the head of the Arab League said on Tuesday, April 22, according to Reuters. President Bashar al-Assad's government announced on Monday that a presidential election would take place on June 3 - an event that is certain to extend his grip on power. "This step could suspend the desired efforts of maturing negotiations for a political solution to the Syrian crisis," Nabil el-Araby, the head of the Cairo-based Arab League, said in a statement. Western and Gulf Arab countries that back rebels fighting to topple Assad have criticized the decision to hold elections, calling it a "parody of democracy" that would wreck efforts to negotiate a peace settlement. UN and Arab League-backed talks in Geneva collapsed in February with both sides far from agreement on any issue including the fate of Assad, whose family has ruled for more than four decades. "Practically, a fair, democratic and credible elections could not take place in the middle of the humanitarian tragedy that the children of the Syrian people are living...and with over 6 million homeless Syrians," Araby said, according to Reuters. Gun battles, shelling and air strikes take place daily in almost all of Syria's provinces and the weekly death toll from the conflict regularly exceeds 1,000. Although Assad has not yet announced if he would run for office again, preparations for his candidacy have already begun in state-controlled parts of the capital. 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 | 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. |