  UN chief calls on Israel to release Palestinian funds November 23, 2011 - 09:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is appealing to Israel's prime minister to immediately resume the transfer of Palestinian tax and customs revenue to the Palestinians. UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said Ban also told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone conversation Tuesday, November 22, that Israel's new settlement building, including in East Jerusalem, undermines efforts to resume direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and violates international law. The UN chief stressed the need to de-escalate the current situation and create an environment conducive to reviving the peace process, he said, The Associated Press reported. Israel announced the new construction and suspended the payments - totaling some $100 million that it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority - after the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization voted to grant Palestine full membership last month.   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 |  Latest news Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday  Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1.Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri.Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament.Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |
