UN chief calls for "flexibility" at Vienna talks on SyriaOctober 30, 2015 - 09:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for "flexibility" at talks in Vienna between the countries backing rival sides in the Syrian civil war. He urged the five main participants - the U.S., Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - to abandon "national perspectives" for "global leadership", BBC News reports. These are the first such talks to include Iran, which - with Russia - backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. and its allies insist Assad cannot be part of any solution. The four-year-old war in Syria, which began with an uprising against Assad, has left 250,000 people dead and forced half the country's population - or 11 million people - from their homes. Russia and Iran have recently stepped up their military involvement in the conflict, backing forces loyal to Assad. The U.S., Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab nations have long insisted Assad cannot play any long-term role in Syria's future. On the eve of the talks, Ban urged the five main participants to think beyond their immediate interests. "The longer they take their own national perspectives, the more people will suffer, and the whole world will suffer," he said. "As I always say, there is no military solution." Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that other powers had realised that there was no way reaching "a reasonable solution" to the Syrian conflict without involving Tehran. Foreign ministers held informal talks in Vienna on Thursday, October 29 with the substantive discussions scheduled for Friday. 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 | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |