Boris Johnson visits Brussels for first talks since becoming FMJuly 18, 2016 - 10:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Britain's new foreign minister Boris Johnson was to meet with his European counterparts for the first time on Monday, July 18 in what will likely be a fence-mending trip to Brussels for the outspoken politician who led the victorious Brexit campaign, AFP reports. The gathering, which will kick off with a breakfast attended by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, marks Johnson's first high-profile foray onto the diplomatic scene after his appointment last week by Prime Minister Theresa May stunned European capitals. It will also be a homecoming of sorts for the eccentric former London mayor, who lived in the Belgian capital in the 1990s when he was the Daily Telegraph's EU correspondent, writing stories that whipped up euroscepticism. Monday's talks are expected to focus on the fight against terrorism in the wake of the deadly Bastille Day truck attack in Nice and relations with Turkey after a failed military coup there, AFP says. The conflicts in Syria and Libya are likewise on the agenda. But ministers will also be sizing up the diplomatic credentials of gaffe-prone Johnson, who is well-known for his quips mocking foreign leaders and who once famously compared the EU's ambitions for closer integration to those of Adolf Hitler, AFP says. While officials in Brussels have stressed they will welcome Johnson as they would any new foreign minister, there is little doubt that his prominent role in last month's vote for Britain to leave the bloc has ruffled feathers. 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 | Armenia to participate in key EU meeting for the first time ever National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan has said that Armenia will for the first time participate in the Conference. U.S. reacts to Russia’s criticism of upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting Matthew Miller has weighed in on Russia’s criticism of an upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting. Lavrov sees ‘collapse’ of Russia’s ties with Armenia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has underscored heightened tensions between Russia and Armenia. Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. |