Syria ceasefire comes into force under U.S.-Russia dealFebruary 27, 2016 - 10:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The first major truce in Syria's five-year civil war has come into effect, BBC News reports. The "cessation of hostilities" began at midnight (22:00 GMT Friday, February 26) with early reports suggesting that guns had fallen silent over major battlefields. UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said fighting had "calmed down" but one breach was being investigated. In the run-up to the deadline U.S. President Barack Obama warned the Syrian government and its ally Russia "the world will be watching." Russian jets were reported to have intensified attacks on Syrian rebel positions on Friday. But as the deadline passed monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said while some gunfire was heard in the northern city of Aleppo elsewhere it was quiet, BBC says. De Mistura has said that peace talks will resume on 7 March if the truce "largely holds." He added he had no doubt "there will be no shortage of attempts to undermine this process." "This will remain a complicated, painstaking process," he told the UN Security Council via videoconference from Geneva. But he added: "Nothing is impossible, especially at this moment." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Ucom’s fixed network launches in Nor Hachn City residents will be able to use fixed-line Internet, mobile communications and television in one package at more affordable prices. Armenia to send Deputy Foreign Minister to Berlin’s Ukraine Recovery Conference Georgia will attend the forum at the level of Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, while Azerbaijan will send their Foreign Minister. About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. |