Austria: EU must do 'everything possible' to avoid hard BrexitSeptember 17, 2018 - 18:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union must do "everything possible to avoid a hard Brexit," Austria's chancellor said on Monday, September 17 ahead of a summit of EU leaders where Britain's exit from the bloc will be top of the agenda, AFP reports. EU leaders are to meet for talks on Wednesday and Thursday in Austria, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. "In Salzburg there will be two main issues on the agenda. First Brexit, there we agree we have to do everything possible to avoid a hard Brexit and to make possible that there will be a strong cooperation between the UK and the European Union," Austria's Sebastian Kurz said ahead of talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. The second issue would be migration, Kurz added. Macron added that it was "essential that we find a deal (on Brexit), that the rules of cohesion and protection of Europe, of its single market, are fully preserved while the United Kingdom respects the vote by its people." A so-called "hard Brexit" would entail major trade barriers being erected between Britain and the other 27 members of the EU at the end of March next year, while investors fear a "no deal" scenario in which Britain crashes out without a new trading arrangement. British Prime Minister Theresa May is seeking a breakthrough in talks on the Brexit divorce and the future UK-EU trading relationship during the talks in Salzburg amid deep divisions in her own political party and her country at large. 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 | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |