Turkey, Germany seek greater NATO involvement in refugee crisisFebruary 8, 2016 - 17:27 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says Turkey and Germany have agreed on a set of steps to halt the flow of refugees from Syria, including a joint diplomatic initiative to stop the onslaught against Aleppo, the Associated Press reports. Davutoglu said during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the two countries would also carry out "joint efforts" for greater NATO involvement in the refugee issue. He said they would seek the use of NATO's observation capabilities at the border with Syria and in the Aegean Sea. Merkel said, in turn, that she's "not just appalled but horrified" by the suffering caused by Russian bombing in Syria. Merkel, speaking Monday, February 8, after a meeting with Turkey's Prime Minister, said that Turkey and Germany will push at the United Nations for everyone to keep to a UN resolution passed in December that calls on all sides to halt without delay attacks on the civilian population. She said: "We have been, in the past few days, not just appalled but horrified by what has been caused in the way of human suffering for tens of thousands of people by bombing — bombing primarily from the Russian side." Davutoglu said the Syrian city of Aleppo "is de facto under siege. We are on the verge of a new human tragedy." 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. |