Brazilian Foreign Minister resigns amid Bolivia scandalAugust 27, 2013 - 10:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota has resigned in the wake of a diplomatic scandal with Bolivia, BBC News reported. He quit after a Bolivian opposition politician holed up in the Brazilian embassy in La Paz for more than a year fled the country in a diplomatic car. A Brazilian official has admitted using his diplomatic immunity to drive the senator across the border without permission from either country. Senator Roger Pinto was given asylum at the Brazilian embassy last year. He had been accused of at least 14 crimes in Bolivia, including corruption. He denied the charges and asked for asylum saying he was being persecuted. Patriota's resignation was announced in a brief statement from the office of President Dilma Rousseff on Monday, August 26. The same statement named Luiz Alberto Figueiredo, Brazil's head of mission at the UN, as the new foreign minister. Patriota is to become Brazil's new UN ambassador, officials said. 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 sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. Armenia, India hold first defense consultations The meeting was attended by Indian Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha and Defense Attaché Brigadier General Naveen Nijhawan. |