EU postpones parliamentary visit to TurkeyJune 18, 2013 - 18:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union has scrapped a parliamentary visit to Turkey following the Ankara government's stinging criticism of an EU resolution about the handling of Turkish protests, The Associated Press reported. European parliamentarian Elmar Brok said that visit of the legislative delegation initially planned for Wednesday, June 19, was postponed following last week's rebuke and told Turkey that it "should understand how to deal with criticism." He said Tuesday he hoped a constructive dialogue would soon be resumed. Last week, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at the European Parliament over a non-binding resolution expressing concern over "the disproportionate and excessive use of force" by Turkish police against the demonstrators. Turkey first applied for EU membership in 1987 and was granted the status of an EU candidate country in 1999, but any progress since has been slow. 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 | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |