Tunisian Foreign Minister Ahmed Ounaiss steps downFebruary 13, 2011 - 17:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Tunisian Foreign Minister Ahmed Ounaiss has resigned, the state news agency reported on February 13, a week after he became embroiled in a row over compliments he paid to his French opposite number. The resignation is likely to cause new disruption to a coalition government which has already seen several ministers resign or be fired since it stepped in to fill the vacuum left by last month's overthrow of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Many Tunisians were angered when Ounaiss said he had always dreamed of meeting French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who is accused by opponents in France of being too close to Tunisia's ousted administration. Ounaiss had been in his post for less than three weeks. The state-run TAP news agency cited a foreign ministry statement announcing that he had stepped down, but did not say why or who would replace him. Hundreds of workers at the Tunisian foreign ministry began a strike early last week in protest at the minister's praise of Alliot-Marie, which they said showed a lack of respect for the Tunisian revolution, Reuters reported. Weeks of protests in Tunisia, during which dozens of people were killed by police, forced Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia after 23 years of authoritarian rule. 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 | Aliyev: No peace treaty unless Armenia changes constitution Azerbaijan will not sign a peace treaty with Armenia unless the latter changes its constitution, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said. Seven injured in massive gas station explosion in Armenia The Investigative Committee of Armenia has unveiled details about a massive explosion at a gas station on the Yerevan-Sevan highway. Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. |