BAKU: Opposition Leader Accuses Sarkisian Of "Defeatist Policy"

OPPOSITION LEADER ACCUSES SARKISIAN OF "DEFEATIST POLICY"

AzerNews Weekly
May 20 2009
Azerbaijan

The Armenian opposition leader, former president Levon Ter-Petrosian,
has accused President Serzh Sarkisian`s administration of pursuing
"a defeatist policy" in the ongoing talks with Azerbaijan on the Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.

Ter-Petrosian thereby called on the incumbent Armenian authorities to
immediately resign. The opposition has reportedly launched protests
in the capital Yerevan, seeking a resignation.

The opposition claims that authorities have agreed to the pull out
Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories around
Upper Garabagh, while the future of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh
republic remains questionable.

According to Ter-Petrosian, President Sarkisian realizes all too
well that Armenia`s military, which is in a deplorable condition,
cannot even be compared to the disciplined Azerbaijani army that has
been provided with up-to-date arms. He was therefore intimidated
by Baku`s statements that do not rule out a military solution to
the long-standing conflict and is having to take a step backward in
Garabagh talks.

Some experts believe that the political and economic woes in Armenia
are increasing public support for the opposition`s views and causing
the number of opposition supporters to surge. Soaring food prices,
a rapidly rising unemployment rate and continuing turmoil in the
military are fueling public resentment with the authorities in the
South Caucasus republic, they say.