Putin to attend gas exporters summit in IranNovember 14, 2015 - 17:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Tehran on November 23 to attend a summit of gas exporting countries, his aide, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters on Friday, November 13, in a sign of warming ties between Moscow and Tehran, Reuters reports. The visit will be Putin's first to Iran since 2007 and he is expected to hold talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Ushakov told reporters. Iran is to host a Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) on Nov. 23, in preparation for the lifting of Western sanctions next year under the terms of a nuclear deal struck in July. Tehran has recently strengthened ties with Moscow, which is considering providing two loans worth a total of $7 billion to Iran. Russia has insisted on Tehran's inclusion in international talks over Syria where the two countries are coordinating their efforts to help President Bashar al-Assad defeat Islamist militants. The Kommersant newspaper has also reported that Russia is to press ahead with a plan to supply Iran with S-300 air defence missiles, despite concerns from the United States and Israel. Ushakov also confirmed that Putin would attend a United Nations conference on climate change which starts in Paris on Nov. 30. 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. |