Japan pledges $1,5 billion to help migrants, boost peace-building effortsSeptember 30, 2015 - 10:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged $810m to help Syrians and Iraqis displaced by conflicts, BBC News reports. In a speech to the UN General Assembly, he also said Japan would also contribute $750m to peace-building efforts in the Middle East and Africa. However, he remained firm that Japan would not take in any refugees from those conflicts. Japan accepted only 11 of 5,000 asylum seekers last year. Huge numbers of people have fled to Europe in recent months. Heading north from the Mediterranean, large numbers have gathered at border crossings and some have died trying to cross into Europe by sea. "Before accepting immigrants or refugees, we need to have more activities by women, by elderly people and we must raise [the] birthrate," Mr Abe said at a news conference, according a translation seen by Kyodo news agency. Japan - along with Brazil, Germany and India - is pushing for a seat on the Security Council. Japan is in the process of changing the role of its military so that it can play a more active role in UN peacekeeping. Its post-war constitution bans the use of force to resolve international conflicts except in cases of self-defence. 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. |