Ukrainian President meets opposition leaders amid crisisJanuary 25, 2014 - 21:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych met with opposition leaders on Saturday in an effort to resolve an escalating political crisis that has seen violent riots in the capital, RIA Novosti reports. Yanukovych met with UDAR party head Vitali Klitschko, the head of the Batkivshchyna party’s parliamentary faction Arseny Yatenyuk and the leader of the nationalist Svoboda party Oleg Tyagnibok, the president’s press service said in an online statement. Dozens of demonstrators and riot police have been injured in a surge of violence that enveloped the capital last week after Ukraine’s government enacted laws severely restricting protests. Anti-government protesters have brought the heart of Kyiv to a standstill for almost two months by occupying the central Independence Square in response to a government decision to pull back from a deal to forge closer relations with the European Union in favor of enhanced ties with Russia. While initially focused on the EU decision, discontent in Ukraine has steadily taken on a more general anti-government character. Related links: 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. |