Armenia's non-participation in regional projects not a foreign policy omissionMarch 12, 2008 - 19:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - "Armenia's non-participation in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project is not an omission of our foreign policy," RA Prime Minister and President-elect Serzh Sargsyan said in Yerevan today."The project could embrace Armenia if we agreed to cede Karabakh to Azerbaijan. As to construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku, I can't agree that Armenia will suffer from implementation of the project. There is a railroad and we will use it if necessary. If you think thoroughly you will understand that the above mentioned project is directed not against Armenia but against major states," he said. "Exploitation of the existing Kars-Gyumri trunk would be advisable. But if it's never used it would be good to have a functioning railway nearby," the PM noted, adding that transformation of Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan economic union into a military-political bloc is not "so definite," IA Regnum reports. 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 | Iran, Russia discuss Caucasus developments Ali Bagheri Kani and Igor Khovaev, have reviewed the developments in the Caucasus region. Armenia Defense Minister travels to France A delegation headed by Defense Minister Suren Papikyan will travel to France, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry. Armenia, U.S. talk defense, security matters Secretary of the Armenian Security Council Armen Grigoryan met with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Armenia, Ukraine discuss bilateral relations Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council Armen Grigoryan met with Ukrainian Foreign Dmytro Kuleba on June 16. |