Germany, Turkey urge to stop bloodshed in SyriaOctober 19, 2012 - 14:29 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey and Germany on Friday, Oct 19, joined an appeal for a ceasefire to stop the bloodshed in Syria during a Muslim holiday next week, The Associated Press reported. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said both Syrian forces and rebels should end hostilities "at least" through the four-day Eid al-Adha holiday that begins on Oct 26. He said the sides should also aim for a truce that lasts beyond the holiday. The Joint UN-Arab League envoy to the Syria conflict, Lakhdar Brahimi, and a number of countries are pushing for a temporary truce. Brahimi has called on the Syrian government to take the initiative, a position echoed by Turkey. Davutoglu said: "It is especially important for the Syrian regime, which has launched bombs on its people with planes and helicopters, to halt these attacks immediately and without preconditions." "Let's hope that the Syrian regime listens to this call by the international community and stops these attacks during Eid al-Adha," he said. "In response, we expect the opposition to abide by the cease-fire in the same way." Germany, a member of the UN Security Council, added its support for a temporary cease-fire. "This would be an important humanitarian glimmer of hope for people in Syria," Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement. Syria says it wants a cease-fire but the rebels lack a unified leadership that can agree to it. Both sides have flouted previous cease-fires after verbally agreeing to them. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, called for the truce on Thursday. The Iraqi government also expressed its support in a statement, calling on all sides to abandon violence "to save the region from more miseries and pains." Activists say more than 33,000 people have been killed since the anti-Assad uprising started in March 2011. Davutoglu on Friday also promised increased food and medical aid for Syria during the holiday. 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 | Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life, Strong Mind IDBank and Idram summarize the results of the May program of “The Power of One Dram”. Yerevan State University, Ucom sign Memorandum of Cooperation Rector of Yerevan State University Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian signed the memorandum. EU to provide budgetary support to Armenia The agreement is aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the educational system of Armenia. Aliyev: No peace treaty unless Armenia changes constitution Azerbaijan will not sign a peace treaty with Armenia unless the latter changes its constitution, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said. |