GEORGIA PREPARING HIGH LEVEL MEETING ON ISSUES OF SOUTH CAUCASIAN COUNTRIES AND NATO CLOSING INNovember 1, 2003 - 18:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An international conference on the issues of the closing in of the South Caucasian countries and the NATO is planned in Tbilisi in April 2004. As a source in the Georgian MFA reported to Vremya Novostey Russian newspaper, the Armenian, Georgian and Azerbaijani leadership as well as high rank representatives of the North Atlantic Alliance are expected to take part in the forum. In the words of founder of the US Committee of the NATO, president of the Transitional Democracies project Bruce Jackson, the prospects of the South Caucasian countries' entry to the North Atlantic Alliance may be determined during the next NATO summit to be held in Istanbul in 2004. In the opinion of the US politician the "logical term" for Georgia's entry to the Alliance can be the year of 2009. According to NV, the major problem on this path is the presence of Russian military bases in Georgia. A source in the Georgian MFA reported that the other day a recurrent note for holding talks on the withdrawal of the Russian military bases from Akhalkalaki and Batumi was issued to the Russian foreign policy department. The Russian party states that the present operation will take 11 years while Georgia supposes three years will be enough time. 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. |