OSCE hopes for progress in Karabakh process in 2009December 24, 2008 - 18:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) hopes for progress in settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict next year. "We hope we will see progress in 2009," new OSCE chairman, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said. The OSCE chairman-in-office and Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb officially handed over office of the chairman to his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis at the meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Helsinki on Dec. 4. Greece's chairmanship in the Organization will start on January 1, 2009. Bakoyannis said Greece believes that frequent meetings between representatives of Azerbaijan and Armenia will lead to the establishment of mutual confidence which is essential to resolve the conflict. "Greece fully supports these efforts and encourages constructive engagement from both parties, in line with the Statement delivered at the Helsinki Summit earlier this month by the French Foreign Minister on behalf of the European Union," Bakoyannis said, Trend Azeri news agency reports. 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 | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |