All Syrian sides confirm their attendance at peace talks: UNMarch 21, 2017 - 17:55 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian government and rebel delegations have confirmed their attendance at peace talks set to resume in Geneva this week, the United Nations said Tuesday, March 21 despite renewed fighting around Damascus, The Daily Star reports. "All invitees who had already attended the previous round of talks in February 2017 have confirmed their participation", UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci told reporters. She said UN mediator Staffan de Mistura was currently visiting key powers shaping the conflict -- including Saudi Arabia, Russia and Turkey -- before returning to Geneva to lead the talks. As de Mistura "completes these consultations, Deputy Special Envoy Ramzy (Ezzeldin Ramzy) will engage the parties bilaterally on 23 March in Geneva to prepare the round ahead," Vellucci said. The participation of all rebel groups could bolster the UN peace process, after some opposition camps refused to attend separate negotiations in Kazakhstan last week to protest violations of a shaky ceasefire by the Syrian government. The parallel series of talks in Astana is aimed at bolstering the truce, in view of supporting the UN negotiations. Damascus has been the scene of heavy fighting in recent days, with rebels and extremists making large incursions into the east of the Syrian capital. Syrian President Bashar Assad's government has responded with air strikes on rebel positions. 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. |