"GUAM - Integrating Europe's East" summit opening in BatumiJune 30, 2008 - 17:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Officials from Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova have begun converging in the Georgian city of Batumi for a two-day GUAM summit starting July 1.The regional grouping, whose full name is the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development GUAM, was founded in 1997. This year's summit takes place under the motto: "GUAM - Integrating Europe's East." For the first time, joint sessions will be held on three issues - economic development, humanitarian aid, and security cooperation. Participating countries are likely to sign the Batumi declaration, a document that focuses on developing transportation in the region. Representatives from 25 countries, including Czechia, Poland, Japan and the U.S. are expected to attend the summit. "Russia dislikes existence of an organization competing with the CIS. Much depends on the decisions to be taken during the summit. GUAM will hardly compete with CIS but the Commonwealth has no future," Georgian expert Josef Tsintsadze said, RFE/RL reports. 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. |