UN chief hails China's peacekeeping effortsJune 19, 2013 - 21:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised China's commitment to peacekeeping efforts on Wednesday, June 19 during a visit to a peacekeeping training base in Beijing, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Ban said China has provided more peacekeepers to the United Nations than all the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council. Ban inspected training facilities and communicated with Chinese medical staff dispatched to South Sudan for a peacekeeping mission, stating that he was impressed with the facilities he saw. China has dispatched 22,000 peacekeeping troops on 23 UN peacekeeping missions to date. Nine of the peacekeepers died while performing their duties. 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. |