UN’s Syria envoy disrupts humanitarian task force amid fightingAugust 18, 2016 - 15:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The UN envoy for Syria has cut short a meeting of its humanitarian aid task force amid continued fighting that has prevented aid deliveries to besieged areas for at least a month, the Associated Press reports. Staffan de Mistura said he halted the weekly meeting after only eight minutes Thursday, August 18 saying there was "no sense" in having one because of the delay in aid deliveries. De Mistura reiterated his call for a 48-hour pause in the fighting, notably in the northern city of Aleppo, to help allow for deliveries and asked for a "gesture of humanity from both sides." The envoy said he plans to reconvene the humanitarian task force next week and believes the task force's co-chairs — Russia and the United States — still want a nonmilitary solution to Syria's conflict. 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. |