Moscow has not backed Syrian transition plan, says Lavrov

11:52 | In the world Parliamentarians to vote on auditing Vienna-based OSCE

Belgian MP François-Xavier de Donnea has proposed a package of reforms that would include a first-ever professional external audit of the OSCE.
Source: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
11:45 | Armenia For now, investigation says nothing about whether former Syunik governor’s arms are legal

“An expertise is underway, relevant information is being obtained, an investigation is being carried out,” said Mary Sargsyan, senior officer of the Public Relations Department of the Investigation Service.
Source: 168 Hours
11:31 | Region Drug trafficking through Azerbaijan, or attempts of Baku to ascribe its sins to NKR

Some of Azerbaijani officials involved in narcobusiness come out with slanders addressed to NKR.
11:14 | Armenia Special Investigation Service and Prosecutor General’s Office to have new uniforms

The uniforms will cost the budget about AMD 93 million.
Source: Zhoghovurd
10:54 | In the world Today marks World Refugee Day

2013 Theme: Take 1 minute to support a family forced to flee.
Source: un.org
10:28 | Armenia Yerevan’s Indoor Market to start operating this autumn

The construction work at Yerevan’s Indoor Market ('Pak Shuka'), launched two years ago, will finish this year.
Source: Zhamanak
10:03 | Armenia Ararat governor leaves Armenia

He may have done this deliberately, in view of the fact that major violations were revealed in Ararat province in the program of state assistance to land users for purchase of diesel fuel.
Source: Zhamanak
09:33 | Armenia Armenian FM comments on co-chair leaders’ statement

In his statement, Nalbandian essentially expresses Armenia’s agreements with the points made by the three presidents of the Minsk Group co-chairing countries, saying that Armenia fully agreed to an exclusively peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Source: Asbarez.com
09:11 | In the world U.S. cites Russia, China among worst in human trafficking

The State Department ranks countries according to the efforts they make to fight human trafficking and Russia, China and Uzbekistan all fell to the lowest level, Tier 3, in the new report.
Source: Reuters
09:06 | In the world Actor James Gandolfini dies in Italy at age 51

Gandolfini died while vacationing in Rome, the cable channel and Gandolfini's managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders said in a joint statement.
Source: AP
09:01 | In the world FBI uses drones for surveillance in U.S

FBI Director Robert Mueller acknowledged the law enforcement agency uses drone aircraft in the United States for surveillance in certain difficult cases.
Source: CNN
08:55 | In the world Obama calls for reducing U.S., Russian nukes

Barack Obama followed in the footsteps of past U.S. leaders with a speech on Wednesday at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate, where he said he would ask Russia to join the United States in slashing its supply of strategic nuclear warheads.
Source: CNN
08:50 | In the world China gives first lecture from space

China's second female astronaut, Wang Yaping, has delivered the country's first-ever video lecture from space.
Source: BBC
08:46 | In the world Brazil fails to quell protests

Brazilian authorities have failed to halt nationwide protests, despite reversing the public-transport fare increases that sparked the unrest.
Source: BBC
08:41 | Armenia Cloudy weather forecast for today

It will be mostly cloudy on June 20 almost the whole time, in the whole territory rains and thunderstorm is expected from time to time.
Source: Meteo-TV
21:00 | In the world Britain basks in hottest day of year

By lunchtime on Wednesday, the temperature had reached 26C at Charwood in Surrey, making it the warmest day of 2013 so far.
Source: The Telegraph
20:45 | In the world Analysis: Putin basks in isolation over Syria as Obama's charm falls flat

At the end of a tense two-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama - slumped over and serious - tried to lighten the mood with a joke about their favorite sports.
Source: Reuters
20:33 | In the world Kim Kardashian Baby Name: Does Kimye's Baby Have One Of These 'K' Names?

Kim gave birth on June 15, but the reality star still hasn't revealed her daughter's name.
Source: The Huffington Post
20:24 | In the world Somalia UN office attack by al-Shabab 'kills 15'

The gun-battle inside the office lasted for more than an hour, witnesses said.
Source: BBC
20:17 | In the world Syria’s civil war is playing out not just on the battlefield but also online

Web watchers say the government recently cut off Internet access to apply stronger filters for future use.
Video: The Wall Street Journal
20:10 | In the world Children born to a surrogate mother have more emotional difficulties than those carried by their biological mother

But children have less problems coping with the idea that they were conceived using a donor egg and sperm and are not related to their parents.
Source: The Daily Mail
20:03 | In the world Russian prosecutors have charged opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev

He has charged with plotting mass riots during a demonstration in Moscow last May, his lawyer Dmitry Agranovsky told RAPSI on Wednesday.
Source: Ria.ru
19:55 | In the world Extreme dog grooming contests

Photos: ABC News
19:50 | In the world Duchess of Cambridge opts for natural childbirth

The future king or queen will be born in the private Lindo wing of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, where the Duke of Cambridge, who was also born there, will be with his wife throughout the delivery.
Source: The Telegraph
19:42 | In the world Egypt top cleric: Protests against Morsi permitted

Peaceful protests against the president are permitted, dismissing declarations by Islamist hard-liners that those behind protests planned for June 30 are heretics.
Source: Associated Press
19:36 | In the world Brazil sends national force to control protest trouble

The national force will be sent to Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Fortaleza and the capital, Brasilia.
Source: BBC
19:30 | In the world "I intend to seek negotiated cuts with Russia to move beyond Cold War nuclear postures"

Barack Obama said, speaking in front of the Brandenburg Gate.
Source: Reuters
19:25 | Region Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia congratulates Iran’s new President

“We pray for God to grant you more wisdom, health and vigor in the mission entrusted to you by the honest Iranian people.”
Source: IRIB
18:43 | In the world Syrian port city of Latakia hit by blast

State television said the blast was caused by a technical fault at a weapons store at a military engineering base, and said six people were hurt.
Source: Reuters
18:38 | Region NKR President visits south-east of republic

Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the south-east of the republic, where he held an extended consultation attended by members of the National Assembly, Cabinet of Ministers and heads of several leading companies.
Source: presidential press service
17:28 | Armenia Levon Aronian to play in Sinquefield Cup

On September 9-15, in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, Aronian will be joined by Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and Gata Kamsky.
Source: armchess.am
17:12 | Region Iranian-Armenian community’s demands and expectations from Iran’s new President

Robert Beglaryan, an Armenian member of the Iranian parliament, has congratulated Iran’s new President Hassan Rohani and presented a number of proposals.
Source: Alik
15:18 | Armenia Police Chief: If there is a need to use arms, let me be the first victim

“We rule out the use of arms against our people under any circumstances,” Armenian Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan told reporters in Arzni.
Source: Panorama.am
14:47 | Armenia Armenian police hold command and headquarters exercise

Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan voiced his satisfaction with the exercise.
Source: Panorama.am
13:57 | In the world Meeting of CIS Council for Cultural Cooperation to take place in Minsk, chaired by Armenian Culture Minister

The meeting will discuss cultural events that have been held and are scheduled in CIS states as well as expansion of cultural cooperation.
Source: Armenian Ministry of Culture
13:21 | Region Turkey unrest: Young protester loses eye from rubber bullet, mother wants justice

One young man, who was shot with a rubber bullet during the police intervention in the demonstrations in Taksim Gezi Park last week, lost his sight in one eye but counts himself lucky for being alive.
Source: Hurriyet Daily News
13:19 | Region Key suspect of Hrant Dink murder case arrested

Ersin Yolcu is now again being held in Trabzon's Bahçeçik prison, pending the second trial.
Source: Hurriyet Daily News
13:00 | Armenia Ashot Vardevanyan: Armenia is not poor in water resources, but it spends too much water

“25 percent of Armenian territory faces the danger of desertification, while 81 percent is subject to desertification,” said the coordinator of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
Source: Panorama.am
11:56 | In the world Resolution urges countries to join Convention on Cybercrime

Cyber attacks should be viewed as equal to conventional acts of aggression according to a resolution now pending at the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE.
Source: OSCE PA
11:48 | Armenia Fire in Martiros Saryan House-Museum

The Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations received a call at midnight that Martiros Saryan House-Museum was on fire.
Source: MES
11:21 | Armenia Heritage again considered most prospective and authoritative opposition party

The Americans have understood that they should no longer have expectations from Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and the idea of turning Prosperous Armenia into opposition is an absolute failure.
Source: Iravunk
10:48 | Armenia Lomonosov Moscow State University to open branch in Armenia

The issue was once discussed by the leaders of the two countries, and was lobbied by Armenian Education Minister Armen Ashotyan.
Source: Aravot
10:29 | In the world Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s move not yet certain

The information that Armenian international midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is moving to Liverpool is not confirmed.
Source: Haykakan Zhamanak
09:43 | In the world US, France, Russia issue statement on Karabakh

Presidents of the US, France and Russia, Barack Obama, Francois Hollande and Vladimir Putin, as heads of states of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries, issued a joint statement Tuesday regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution process.
Source: Asbarez.com
09:16 | In the world Heavy blasts hit munitions depot in Russia’s Samara

More than 1,500 firefighters are combating the blaze, while thousands of locals have been evacuated and dozens hospitalized.
Source: RT
09:07 | In the world Pentagon unveils plans for moving women into combat roles

The plans, which call for gender-neutral job requirements like scaling walls and lifting 55-pound (25-kg) tank ammunition, will require more years of study, education and training before some services open combat jobs to women.
Source: Reuters
09:03 | In the world U.N. recommends bringing Iraq closer to ending 1990s sanctions

Iraq is still subject to a U.N. arms embargo and asset freeze on individuals and entities linked to Saddam.
Source: Reuters
08:57 | In the world Mom, child held in 'subhuman' captivity in Ohio

A mentally disabled woman and her daughter were held in an Ohio apartment crowded with people and animals for more than a year, forced to perform manual labor and threatened with dogs and snakes to keep them compliant.
Source: CNN
08:49 | In the world Obama in Berlin to give Brandenburg Gate speech

He last addressed Berliners as a presidential candidate in 2008 - drawing a crowd estimated at 200,000 in the once-divided city.
Source: BBC
08:44 | In the world Afghan attack kills US soldiers hours after news of talks

The soldiers were killed by "indirect fire" from insurgents at Bagram air base, US officials said.
Source: BBC
08:40 | Armenia Transitory rain expected in Armenia

The air temperature will not change.
Source: Meteo-TV
23:30 | In the world Angelina Jolie stunt double launches News Corp phone-hacking lawsuit

News Corporation is facing its first phone-hacking lawsuit in the US after a former stunt double for Angelina Jolie launched a lawsuit alleging her mobile phone messages were intercepted by the now defunct News of the World and the Sun.
Source: The Guardian
23:20 | In the world German 'should be a working language of EU', says Merkel's party

The inferior status of German is a long-standing grievance for Berlin, which points out that it has over 100 million speakers, including German-speaking minorities in Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Poland.
Source: The Telegraph
23:12 | Armenia Mali and Tuareg rebels sign accord

The nation of Mali signed an accord with Tuareg separatists who still control the country's northernmost province, paving the way for the Malian military to return to the areas that remain under rebel control.
Source: Associated Press
23:05 | In the world Obama opens 24-Hour trip to Germany

US President is opening a 24-hour visit to Germany, the culmination of which will be a speech Wednesday at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate.
Source: ABC News

16:46 28/06/2012 » In the world

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has denied reports that Moscow endorsed a Syrian transition plan that includes a call for President Bashar al-Assad to give up power in favor of a national unity government, Radio Liberty reported.

The clarification comes with tensions high over continued fighting between government and rebel forces in Syria and growing fears of a conflict between Syria and neighbor Turkey.

An unnamed U.S. official reportedly suggested on June 27 that international envoy Kofi Annan had assured Washington that Russia backed the plan, and that world powers gathering in Geneva on June 30 for talks on Syria also had endorsed it.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed hope in Helsinki that a new plan by Annan would increase pressure on Assad.

But at a televised press conference on June 28, Lavrov said that Moscow is "not supporting and will not support any external meddling" in Syria.

Source: Panorama.am