Merkel calls on opposition to back EU fiscal pactJune 2, 2012 - 21:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A day after Irish voters backed a European Union fiscal pact, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday, June 2 called on her political opponents to do the same so Germany too could ratify the measure. According to AFP, in a speech to her party members, Merkel welcomed the Irish referendum result and said Germany should adopt the fiscal pact before summer holidays. The pact, agreed to by 25 of 27 European Union members, is designed to shore up the turmoil-hit eurozone by penalizing countries that fail to keep their deficits in check. Only countries that ratify the pact will have guaranteed access to the EU's new permanent bailout fund. Merkel needs a two-thirds majority in Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, to adopt the text. This means she must at least persuade the Social Democratic Party to vote "yes". "It's vital we get there because the situation in the eurozone is once again very fragile," Merkel said. More than 60 percent of voters approved the pact in Ireland, the only country to put the matter to a referendum. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. 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. |