U.S. President to visit Russia July 6-8June 6, 2009 - 14:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. President Barack Obama will pay his first visit to Russia as president on invitation of Dmitry Medvedev on July 6-8, the Kremlin said on Monday.U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Washington last week to lay the groundwork for the July summit between Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. Lavrov said at the time the two nations had obvious differences over Georgia but progress in key areas such as arms control would not be held hostage by such disagreements. U.S.-Russia relations deteriorated under the administration of George W. Bush, sinking to post-Cold War lows after Moscow crushed Georgia in a brief war last August and over differences on a missile defense system planned by Washington in Europe, Reuters reported. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to pay a visit to Moscow during the same period. Besides, Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan are reported to meet in July . 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. |