Belgium looks to fresh talks to end EU-Canada trade deadlockOctober 27, 2016 - 10:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Belgium's political leaders looked Thursday, October 27 to a new round of talks aimed at resolving differences that have blocked a landmark EU-Canada free trade deal, AFP reports. The stakes are high amid warnings that the EU's international standing, already battered by Britain's shock June Brexit vote, will suffer further if seven years of trade negotiations go to waste because of internal Belgian politics. Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said representatives from the federal government and the country's linguistic communities would resume their talks at 0800 GMT on Thursday after adjourning before midnight Wednesday without an agreement. He had earlier reported the sides were near a consensus that would allow Belgium to overcome objections from its French-speaking communities and support a trade deal which must be endorsed by all 28 EU member states. But he added technical issues still needed ironing out. "We are awaiting a definitive response from" the various communities, Reynders said as the talks wrapped up for the day. EU leaders had voiced optimism that Belgium's federal government could win over the holdouts by late Wednesday. But Rudy Demotte, president of the southern French-speaking Wallonia's parliament, cautioned "we have technical discussions which are complicated." With no agreement in sight, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau postponed plans to travel to Brussels on Thursday to sign the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) with EU leaders. "The Canadian delegation will not be traveling to Europe tonight," said Trudeau's office. 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. |