Germany votes to extend troops deployment at Turkey’s Incirlik baseNovember 11, 2016 - 12:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - German lawmakers voted Thursday, November 10 to extend the country’s military support for the global coalition fighting the Islamic State group until late 2017, the Middle East Monitor reports. An overwhelming majority of German lawmakers, 455 — mostly from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative-left coalition government — voted in favor of the mandate while 139 voted against. The Bundestag’s decision extended the deployment of nearly 240 German troops, six Tornado surveillance jets and a tanker aircraft to Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base until December 31, 2017. The mandate has also expanded Germany’s role in the anti-IScoalition, with the country pledging military personnel for NATO’s AWACS surveillance aircraft which will fly over Turkey and international airspace to gather data on IStargets in Syria and Iraq. Under the mandate, the ceiling on troops will be 1,200. As part of the mission, Germany will maintain a warship in the Mediterranean to ensure the security of France’s aircraft carrier supporting coalition strikes against IStargets. 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. |