Turkish foreign minister to speak in Germany despite venue closureMarch 7, 2017 - 13:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's foreign minister said he would go ahead with a planned rally with Turkish voters in Germany on Tuesday, March 7 despite local authorities' closure of the venue, escalating a row between two NATO allies over campaigning for a Turkish referendum, Reuters reports. "I will go. Nobody can stop me," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Hurriyet daily after a municipal spokeswoman in Hamburg said the center the minister planned to speak at had been closed down because it lacked a fire detection system. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused Berlin on Sunday of "fascist actions" after local authorities in Germany withdrew permission for three other rallies supporting his plans to overhaul Turkey's constitution and win greater powers. The proposals go to a referendum in April. Erdogan seeks strong support from Germany's Turkish community of 1.5 million voters to ensure passage of powers he says are vital for the security of a country facing threats from Islamist and Kurdish militants and still recovering from a failed July coup. Turkish diplomatic sources said a new venue was being sought for Cavusoglu's meeting. "They are trying to cancel all of our programs by exercising a pressure that is unprecedented in history...They are pressuring private properties and wedding halls to get contracts canceled," Cavusoglu said. 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. |