Turkey accuses Syria of rocket attacks

1 Syria — Turkey

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense reported that the Syrian troops fired rockets on a residential area in Kah, in the Idlib DMZ, and at some trucks and trailers near the city of Sarmada. On Sunday, Syria, reportedly, attacked a hospital in al-Atarib. «Russia has been immediately informed about the attacks in order to stop them» — the statement concluded. It was noted that the Turkish troops were informed about the event, and now they are monitoring the situation in the region.

2 Armenia

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, announced that Lieutenant-General Artak Davtyan became the Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Forces. «Given that the Armenian president didn’t sign the proposal on the appointment of Artak Davtyan to the post of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and since he didn’t challenge it in the Constitutional Court — the decree from 22nd of March on the appointment of Artak Davtyan becomes a law» — the press service quoted Nikol Pashinyan. He added that «the principle of the de-politicization of the armed forces should be kept intact». Aktak Davtyan stated that the Armenian troops will remain neutral in the political issues. They will be guided only by their obligations to ensure the defense, security, territorial and border integrity.

3 Afghanistan — The USA

The Pentagon press office reported that the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, stated during his visit to Afghanistan on Sunday that the level of violence in the country is still high. Lloyd Austin met in Kabul with the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, the Commander of the US and NATO Forces in Afghanistan, Lieutenant-General Scott Miller, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the USA in Afghanistan, Ross Wilson. The CNN reported that Lloyd Austin didn’t provide the reporters with any specifics regarding the retreat of the American forces from Afghanistan. During a conversation with the reporters, Lloyd Austin declined to answer the question of whether, according to the USA, the Taliban fulfilled their obligations under the agreement, concluded with the USA a year ago.

4 Russia — The USA

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the USA didn’t accept the proposal of Vladimir Putin to hold a videoconference with Joe Biden on 19th or 22nd of March, in an open mode, in order to discuss the accumulated problems and issues of the strategic stability. The ministry noted that Washington missed yet another opportunity to «find a way out of the dead end in the Russian-American relations that was caused by Washington». Earlier, Joe Biden stated that the contacts between the leaders of the two countries will take place at some stage in the future. The White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Friday that the US president will meet with the Russian president when the time is right.

5 The UK

The vice-speaker of the Russian Federal Council, a member of the international affairs committee, Konstantin Kosachev, stated on Facebook that the decision of London to increase the British nuclear potential is in violation of the «Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty», as well as the other agreements, which stipulate only the reduction of the number of the nuclear warheads. On Sunday, the UK Defense Minister, Ben Wallace, stated live on the ’’Andrew Marr Show» on the BBC that London’s decision to increase the British nuclear capabilities is linked to the improved missile defenses in Russia.

6 The EU — Russia

The TASS news agency reported while quoting their sources that the foreign ministers of 27 EU states approved the new sanctions against 11 individuals, including those from Russia, China, and Libya. The sanctions list included persons who, according to the EU, are involved in human rights violations. The names of those people were published in the Official Journal of the EU. They will be banned from entering the EU, and their bank accounts in the EU countries will be frozen. Constantine Reztsov, specially for the ANNA NEWS.