OSCE CiO granted sick leave over text messagesApril 1, 2008 - 17:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Finland has appointed a new foreign minister to replace Ilkka Kanerva, who was involved in a scandal over text messages sent to an erotic dancer. Mr Kanerva sent 200 allegedly explicit messages to the dancer, and later made misleading statements about them. The leader of his Conservative party said Mr Kanerva had lost the confidence and general respect that would allow him to stay in the job. The new minister will be Alexander Stubb, aged 40, who is an MEP. As a PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from Mr Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the OSCE, whoever occupies the post of Foreign Minister of Finland, will serve as OSCE Chairman-in-Office. 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 | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |