U.S. ambassador to Syria delays his returnNovember 22, 2011 - 09:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. ambassador to Syria Robert Ford has delayed his return to Damascus until later in the year, the State Department said Monday, November 21. "We are now consulting with our allies and partners on an appropriate timing for his return," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. "We do still intend for him to go back." Ford was abruptly withdrawn in October due to security threats. Several European nations have pulled their ambassadors out of Syria. "Our issue here is to ensure that when he goes back, not only is he safe, not only is Syria willing to live up to its Vienna convention obligations, but also that he can be effective in getting out and meeting with people," said Nuland. The State Department said in late October that Ford aimed to return to Syria by the Thanksgiving holiday, which falls on November 24. Ford "will be now eating that turkey in the United States," said Nuland, a reference to the main Thanksgiving meal dish. Nuland said however that Ford is expected back before the end of the year. "Our current plan is for him to go relatively soon," said a senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity. 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 | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |