Erdogan: nothing can prevent parliament from functioningJune 30, 2011 - 16:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday, June 30, challenged Turkey's main opposition party and the pro-Kurdish bloc, which have so far refused to take their parliamentary oaths in protest of the imprisonment of some of their deputies, saying it's their choice to boycott Parliament and that this poses no obstacle to parliament's functioning, Today’s Zaman reported. “There is no situation that would prevent the functioning of parliament, no matter whether the opposition comes or not. ... Parliament will begin working and the first step is the elections to be held for the parliament presidency on Tuesday,” the PM said as he addressed his party's first parliamentary group meeting at Justice and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters in Ankara. Turkish lawmakers on Tuesday took their oaths in a parliamentary session, but the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and independent deputies supported by the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) boycotted the ceremony. 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 | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |