EU to open new negotiating chapter with Turkey June 30June 14, 2010 - 13:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Amidst concerns that Spain's six-month EU presidency could end without any new chapters being opened in Turkey's accession negotiations with the Union, Turkey's chief EU negotiator, State Minister Egemen Bagis has announced that a new chapter will be opened on June 30, the day Spain's six-month-long rotating presidency ends, Today’s Zaman reported. President Abdullah Gul has approved the Food Safety Law that was adopted last week after long debates in Parliament and sent it to the Official Gazette for publication and implementation, Bagis, said, speaking at an award ceremony of the Association of European Journalists held in Istanbul. “The EU has required the adoption of the Food Safety Law to open the negotiation chapter on food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy. The aforementioned chapter will be opened on June 30,” Bagis, said, adding that "we are catching up to meeting EU standards on agriculture and food safety." In January, at the beginning of its rotating presidency, Spain had said it hoped to open accession talks on four chapters during its six-month presidency. Turkey, which formally began accession negotiations with the EU in 2005, has so far opened talks on only 12 chapters. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Great success”: Pashinyan pleased with new border protocol Pashinyan has described the signing by Armenia and Azerbaijan of a protocol on delimitation in Tavush as “a great success”. Armenia, Azerbaijan sign protocol on demarcation coordinates Armenia’s government took on May 15 another step towards handing over four border areas to Azerbaijan. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children |