ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CRITICIZES COALITION FOR CREATING ‘DEADLOCK’ WITH TURKEY

Hurriyet
April 23 2010
Turkey

Armenia’s leading opposition group on Friday slammed President
Serge Sarkisian’s government for reaching a "deadlock" in efforts to
normalize ties with Turkey after decades of hostility.

Sarkisian announced Thursday that Armenia was halting ratification of
two protocols signed in October to establish diplomatic relations and
re-open the two countries’ border. He insisted however that Armenia
was not withdrawing from the process and hoped for further progress.

The opposition Armenian National Congress led by former president
Levon Ter-Petrossian said in a statement that Sarkisian had damaged
Armenia’s international image and called for his government to resign.

"By on the one hand suspending the ratification process and on the
other hand expressing their readiness to continue it, the authorities
have effectively recognized that they have reached a deadlock and
have no further plan of action," the statement said.

"The authorities have damaged the image of Armenia as a reliable
partner and created the basis for presenting Armenia as a destructive
country on the international scene. The only way out of this process
is the resignation of the regime and the formation of a legitimate
government," it said.

Armenian officials blamed Turkey for stalling ratification of the deal
and accused Ankara of setting a new condition by linking reconciliation
efforts with Armenia’s conflict with Turkish ally Azerbaijan over
the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Armenia’s opposition has accused Sarkisian of fixing the February 2008
election that saw him defeat Ter-Petrossian. Mass protests followed the
election and 11 people were killed when riot police dispersed thousands
of opposition supporters who had gathered to protest the result.