European Games will cost Azerbaijan over $1 billionJune 29, 2015 - 13:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The closing ceremony of the European Games on June 28 will cost the state budget 140 million manats, the Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov said, according to Contact.az. In an interview with TASS he noted that, together with unplanned expenditures, the budget for the entire Games totalled 1,174 million manats ($ 1.12 billion). With regard to the opening and closing ceremonies, the overall cost will be 240 million manats - 100 million for opening and 140 million for closing. According to unofficial information, the government spent a couple of dozen millions on the visits of international pop stars to the closing ceremony. Madonna and a number of other world stars were mentioned. The Games opened with a performance by Lady Gaga, whom the government paid 2 million dollars for one song. 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 | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |