Kerry urges U.S.-led coalition to address mounting IS threat in LibyaFebruary 2, 2016 - 15:27 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday, February 2 said at a Rome-hosted meeting of the American-led coalition fighting the Islamic State that the group must step up its efforts and prevent the militants from gaining a “stranglehold” in Libya, where it has become a growing threat, the New York Times reports. “We’re still not at the victory that we want to achieve and will achieve in either Syria or Iraq, and we have seen Daesh playing a game of metastasizing out to other countries, particularly Libya,” Kerry said, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State. Opening a day of meetings devoted to planning the next stages of the battle against the Sunni extremist group, Kerry said the formation of a national unity government in Libya would prevent the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, from seizing control of the country. Warning that the stakes were high, he said, “the last thing in the world you want is a false caliphate with access to billions of dollars of oil revenue.” President Obama and top officials in his administration have been meeting to determine how the United States will expand its offensive against the Islamic State, he said, “and over time we will lay that out.” Kerry also used the session, co-hosted by Italy and attended by 21 other nations participating in the coalition, to plead for more financial help to stabilize newly liberated areas of Iraq and for a strong international effort to address the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the NY Times says. “The situation on the ground for the Syrian people is unfathomable – we haven’t seen a catastrophe like this since World War II, and it’s unfolding before our eyes,” Mr. Kerry said. 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 | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |