Merkel says won’t step down earlyJuly 18, 2014 - 16:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Chancellor Angela Merkel says she will carry on leading Germany until at least 2017 — dismissing recent speculation that she may step down before her third term is up, the Associated Press reports. Merkel, who won a third four-year term last year, has led Germany since late 2005 and turned 60 on Thursday, July 17. Her birthday has been accompanied by a spate of media speculation that she could choose to quit early. Merkel noted Friday that she ran last year for a full term. She told reporters in Berlin: "People in Germany can assume that I will do what I told them. Everything else (comes) later." Merkel dominates her conservative Union bloc and hasn't cultivated any single obvious successor. She hasn't said whether she would be interested in a fourth term. 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. |