UN team to visit Syria March 19March 17, 2012 - 22:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A UN team mandated by international envoy Kofi Annan will leave for Damascus on Monday, March 19, the former UN secretary general's spokesman said. UN-Arab League envoy Annan said Friday the team would discuss setting up an international monitoring mission for Syria. "I hope they will have all the access that is necessary," he added at a press conference in Geneva after a video briefing of the UN Security Council. He told a closed meeting of the council that he was sending the team even though he has had a "disappointing response" so far to his proposals to President Bashar al-Assad. He said his "six-point proposals" to Assad remain on the table and that he had "no illusions" over the scale of his mission to try to end the year-old military assault on protest cities that the United Nations says has left more than 8,000 dead. Annan also said he feared that the fallout from the Syria crisis could affect the whole of the Middle East. "The talking continues," he said in Geneva, urging caution because the whole region is concerned. The UN Security Council has been riven by divisions over its response to the Syria crisis, with China and Russia having blocked two resolutions criticizing the Assad regime's year-long crackdown on the opposition. However Annan said he had been encouraged by the response of the Security Council's members in his address and expected a unified response from them. Syria's envoy to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, told reporters in New York: "I would like to assure you on behalf of my government that Syria is committed to making Mr Annan's mission successful." The "technical team from Mr Annan's office" will discuss further issues related to the fulfillment of his mission," he said. Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said Saturday that members of the mission would leave for Syria from both Geneva and New York, AFP reported. 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 | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |