Further expansion of NATO could have a negative effect on Alliance vitalityMarch 26, 2009 - 21:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - German Minister of Defense Franz-Josef Jung has noted that further expansion of NATO could have a negative effect on Alliance vitality. "An Open Door Policy should be effected with care toward countries seeking NATO membership. We must set clear limits for Alliance expansion in new NATO strategy." "Granting NATO membership to aspirant countries of Albania and Croatia is on NATO Jubilee Summit agenda. Macedonia can gain NATO membership upon settling the country name issue with Greece. Inviting Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO is still a possibility, as announced at 2008 Bucharest Summit," Saarbrücker Zeitung cited Franz-Josef Jung as saying. 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. |