Opposition Blocks Roads in Venezuelan Capital

վենեսուելա, ցույցեր

 

Traffic came to a halt Monday in parts of the Venezuelan capital as opposition protesters erected barricades across major thoroughfares in a continuation of the unrest that has roiled the country for nearly two weeks.

The barricades of trash and other debris prompted the cancellation of some bus routes and made the morning commute a nightmare for many, but there were no reports of major violence as police began dismantling the roadblocks. There were similar reports of blockades in the provincial cities of Maracaibo and Valencia.

Maduro has called for a national peace conference this week to address the unrest. Opposition Gov. Henrique Capriles says he has not decided whether he will participate.

 

 Անկախ

Tigran Sargsyan, Dmitry Medvedev Discuss Broad Range Of Bilateral Economic Cooperation-Related Issues

սարգսյան-մեդվեդև

As part of his working visit to Sochi (the Russian Federation), Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan met today with Russian Premier Dmitry Medvedev.

On behalf of his government and the people of Armenia, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan complimented his Russian counterpart for high-level organization of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, as well as for Russian athletes’ good performance and the historic record set. “It was a great holiday and we were all delighted with that brilliant sporting event as the atmosphere was wonderful there,” Tigran Sargsyan said.

“Dear Tigran Sureni, I welcome you to Sochi. I would like to thank you for attending the closing ceremony. This is also the emblem of our friendship and partnership. We now have the opportunity to refer to all the aspects of Russian-Armenian cooperation at a working meeting like this, talk about what has been done to prepare for Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and how things stand as regards bilateral trade turnover,” Dmitry Medvedev noted.

The two heads of government went on to discuss a number of issues high on the agenda of the Armenian-Russian strategic partnership, including joint projects in the spheres of energy, industry and infrastructure.

Prime Minister Sargsyan said Russian companies are playing a key role in Armenia’s economy. “There are over a thousand Russian companies operating in Armenia. Russia is the largest investor in our country’s economy, and we hope that investments will keep on coming into different sectors of economy,” Tigran Sargsyan pointed out.

Pleased with the growing pace of trade turnover, the prime ministers expressed confidence that it would go expanding after Armenia’s joining the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space.

Tigran Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev hailed the pace of the accession roadmap activities. The Russian Premier said Armenia’s involvement in the Eurasian integration process would impart a new impetus to bilateral economic cooperation.

In this context, Tigran Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev talked about the extension of the Armenian NPP modernization and operating timelines, nuclear safety enhancement measures, as well as a broad range of issues relating to industrial and humanitarian cooperation.

Dmitry Medvedev invited Tigran Sargsyan to attend the Winter Olympics’ closing ceremony later on February 23, during which the Prime Minister had a brief talk with RF President Vladimir Putin.
 

Անկախ

Spain: Migrants Make Violent Border Crossing Bid

իսպանիայի սահման

Hundreds of sub-Saharan migrants armed with sticks and stones stormed the six-meter (20-foot) high double barbed wire border fence on Monday in a bid to enter Spain’s northwest African enclave of Melilla from Morocco, with about 100 of them making it across, Spanish and Moroccan officials said.

The spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry’s office in Melilla said Moroccan guards trying to halt the migrants were attacked during the melee and had to take shelter.

Moroccan forces arrested 96 of the migrants, 14 of whom were hospitalized in the nearby city of Nador, according to a Moroccan Interior Ministry statement. It said 13 security force members were injured by the stone-throwing migrants.

Spain said 500 migrants were involved in the assault while Morocco put the figure at 300.

 Անկախ

Report: Egypt’s army-backed government resigns

Egypt’s army-backed government resigned Monday, state-run Nile TV said.

The government headed by Prime Minister Hazem El Beblawi turned in its resignation to President Adly Mansour, the station said.

Analysts expect Army Chief Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi, who served as defense minister, to run for president.

In order to run, he will have needed to resign his military post.