Putin says EU’s Belarus sanctions “unacceptable”February 29, 2012 - 18:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - European Union sanctions against Belarus are “unacceptable”, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, February 29. “At the very least, they (sanctions) are ineffective,” Putin said, the Interfax news agency reported. “The unfortunate cases of Libya and Iraq have shown that no matter what sanctions one puts into effect, they always move things toward military intervention. They (sanctions) are an element of pressure by force.” As M&C reported citing DPA, the EU imposed travel bans on 21 Belarus officials and froze their assets because of their alleged involvement in “the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition.” Putin was addressing a conference of Russian political scientists one day after Belarus recalled its ambassadors to the European Union and Poland, and EU member states said they would recall their ambassadors to Minsk. 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. |