Pentagon head discusses defense guidelines in JapanApril 8, 2015 - 09:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The first revision of the U.S.-Japan Defense Guidelines in 17 years will "transform" the bilateral alliance, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Wednesday, April 8, according to the Associated Press. The guidelines, expected to be formally approved in about three weeks, "will help us respond flexibly to the full scope to the challenges we face, both in the Asia-Pacific and around the globe," he said at a news conference after meeting his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo. Carter, who travels to South Korea later this week, is on his first trip to Asia since becoming defense secretary in February. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said that he and Carter also agreed that relocating a U.S. Marines base in Okinawa to another part of the island is the "only solution" to closing the existing base, which lies in a heavily populated area. Many in Okinawa, and their current governor, oppose the construction of the replacement base in a less populated area, arguing that the facility should be moved off Okinawa entirely. The defense guidelines are expected to lay out the framework for Japan to play a bigger role in regional security, as the government loosens constitutional restrictions on the use of its military. Photo: AP 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 | Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |