France wants to close Jungle migrant camp “in stages”September 2, 2016 - 17:41 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - France will gradually dismantle the sprawling "Jungle" migrant camp in the northern port of Calais, the interior minister said ahead of a visit to the site on Friday, September 2, AFP reports. Bernard Cazeneuve told regional paper Nord-Littoral he would press ahead with the closure "with the greatest determination" and that the site would be dismantled "in stages." Accommodation for thousands of migrants will be created elsewhere in France in an attempt "to unblock Calais", Cazeneuve said. France has made repeated efforts to shut down the camp of tents and temporary shelters, which authorities say is currently home to nearly 7,000 migrants following a surge of new arrivals in recent months. Charities helping the migrants in the camp say the real figure is as high as 10,000. Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart claimed the camp could soon contain as many as 15,000 migrants if authorities took several months to dismantle it, AFP says. "We want to call for this dismantling but not in the way that it has been announced," said Bouchart, who has often clashed with the government over the "Jungle". "If we accept this situation (of a gradual dismantling), then in six months' time there will be not 9,000 migrants but 15,000." 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 | About 32,000 rally in Yerevan to deman Pashinyan’s resignation About 31,700 people attended an opposition rally on Thursday, May 9 in Yerevan demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Armenian, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister to meet in Almaty Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov will meet in Almaty. Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015. Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. |