S. Sudan pledges to acquire anti-aircraft missiles to defend territoryMay 16, 2012 - 20:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Chief of General Staff of South Sudan’s military, General James Hoth Mai, has pledged that within a few months the country will acquire anti-aircraft missiles to defend its territory from attacks by neighboring Sudan, RIA Novosti reported citing Sudanese Tribune daily. When the South Sudanese military receives the missiles, it will "not have an issue with air defense," Gen. Hoth Mai said at a meeting of high-ranking military officers on Tuesday, May 16. South Sudan became the world's newest independent nation in July last year. However, the country’s independence, which followed decades of civil war, has failed to resolve all issues with its northern neighbor Sudan and fighting still rages in disputed territories along the border. The newly independent state currently has no anti-aircraft batteries or warplanes to defend itself from Sudanese air attacks. This April, South Sudan forces entered the oil-producing border region of Heglig, which a 2009 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague included in Sudan’s Southern Kordofan state. Heglig accounts for 60,000 out of 115,000 barrels of oil produced in Sudan daily. During the recent battles in Heglig, the Sudanese air force carried out regular air attacks on the positions of the South Sudanese army on the border areas but also deep inside the South Sudan territory, the Sudan Tribune said. The UN's top human rights official last Friday said she was outraged by Sudan's "indiscriminate" aerial bombing of South Sudan and warned that attacks that harm civilians could be considered international crimes. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |