PARTY LEAVES ARMENIAN GOVERNING COALITION

Taiwan News
April 28 2009
Taiwan

A party in Armenia’s governing coalition says it is leaving in a
dispute over the recent statement by Armenia and Turkey on improving
relations.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun, which holds
three Cabinet positions and 16 parliament seats, is leaving the
coalition to protest at not being consulted on last week’s statement,
Armen Rustamian, a member of the party directorate, said Monday.

The departure does not appear to significantly change the political
landscape. The dominant Republican Party is two seats shy of an
absolute majority in parliament.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993. The countries do not
have diplomatic relations. (AP)