Rome talks to focus on Libyan rebel aidMay 5, 2011 - 11:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - May 5 international talks on Libya in Rome promise to be all about the money as global powers seek ways of channeling credit to Libya's rebels, who are asking for up to three billion dollars. The plan is to set up a type of "trust fund... under international control" that would aid Libya's opposition, said Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, who will be co-chairing the talks with Qatar starting at 0830 GMT, according to AFP. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Foreign Secretary William Hague and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe are all expected to attend the meeting, with 22 countries and six international organizations represented. An Italian foreign ministry spokesman said the fund plan would be "an important breakthrough" that would boost the Transitional National Council (TNC), the governing body in eastern Libya fighting Moamer Kadhafi's regime. The TNC will be represented in Rome by its prime minister, Mahmud Jibril. The International Contact Group meeting, which includes all the countries participating in a NATO-led campaign in Libya, is taking place amid a stalemate in a conflict that has already killed 10,000 people according to rebels. 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 | Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Great success”: Pashinyan pleased with new border protocol Pashinyan has described the signing by Armenia and Azerbaijan of a protocol on delimitation in Tavush as “a great success”. Armenia, Azerbaijan sign protocol on demarcation coordinates Armenia’s government took on May 15 another step towards handing over four border areas to Azerbaijan. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children |