Merkel, Hollande talk Ukraine peace process with Putin, PoroshenkoOctober 3, 2015 - 11:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The leaders of France and Germany complained to Russian President Vladimir Putin about Moscow’s airstrikes in Syria—and then held hours of negotiations with the Russian leader to keep the peace process in eastern Ukraine on track, the Washington Post reports. The talks at a summit here Friday, October 2, displayed Europe’s conflicted relations with Putin. Russia’s airstrikes have challenged Europe and the U.S. by targeting Western-backed groups fighting in Syria. Yet in Ukraine, Europe is counting on Putin to help secure a lasting peace, a move that could lead Europe to lift its economic sanctions against Moscow for backing pro-Russia rebels. French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko for five hours into the early evening to the discuss the situation in Ukraine. A ceasefire in the country’s east has held for more than a month, lifting hopes that a permanent truce is in sight between the rebels and the government in Kiev. “It will take time to organize elections in Ukraine that respect international standards and as a result, the so-called Minsk peace process will run into next year,” French President Francois Hollande said. "On the election issue ... it will take longer. We don't want elections to get held in eastern Ukrainian territories under conditions that would not respect Minsk," said Hollande, speaking after hosting talks with the Russian, Ukrainian and German leaders. "It's therefore likely, even certain now, that -- since we need three months to organize elections -- we would go beyond the date that was set for the end of Minsk, that is to say Dec.31, 2015," he told a news conference. 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. |