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ARMENIAN PROTESTERS DECRY CONCESSIONS TO TURKEY
Peninsula On-line
Sept 19 2009
Qatar
YEREVAN: Several thousand opposition supporters rallied in the Armenian
capital yesterday to denounce the government for making too many
concessions in talks over ties with neighbouring Turkey. Protesters
said they were not opposed to establishing ties or opening the border
with Turkey, but said Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian had mishandled
the issue by agreeing to too many Turkish demands.
"We are not against opening the borders and the normalisation of
relations with Turkey, but not at the expense of the dignity and
interests of Armenia," opposition People's Party leader Stepan
Demerchian told the crowd of about 5,000 in central Yerevan.
Protesters said they were especially concerned that the deal calls
for the creation of an intergovernmental commission to examine the
two countries' historical grievances. Critics say the creation of
such a commission calls into question Armenians' claims to have been
victims of genocide under Ottoman Turks. Armenia and Turkey announced
last month they had agreed a framework to establish diplomatic ties.
The two countries said they would hold internal political consultations
for six weeks before submitting to their parliaments two protocols
on establishing diplomatic ties and developing bilateral relations.
Peninsula On-line
Sept 19 2009
Qatar
YEREVAN: Several thousand opposition supporters rallied in the Armenian
capital yesterday to denounce the government for making too many
concessions in talks over ties with neighbouring Turkey. Protesters
said they were not opposed to establishing ties or opening the border
with Turkey, but said Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian had mishandled
the issue by agreeing to too many Turkish demands.
"We are not against opening the borders and the normalisation of
relations with Turkey, but not at the expense of the dignity and
interests of Armenia," opposition People's Party leader Stepan
Demerchian told the crowd of about 5,000 in central Yerevan.
Protesters said they were especially concerned that the deal calls
for the creation of an intergovernmental commission to examine the
two countries' historical grievances. Critics say the creation of
such a commission calls into question Armenians' claims to have been
victims of genocide under Ottoman Turks. Armenia and Turkey announced
last month they had agreed a framework to establish diplomatic ties.
The two countries said they would hold internal political consultations
for six weeks before submitting to their parliaments two protocols
on establishing diplomatic ties and developing bilateral relations.