Armenian-Turkish reconciliation was initiated by the former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian – they were conducting secret negotiations, being actually the authors of the policy, Levon Zurabyan, Central Office Coordinator, Armenian National Movement (ANM), told reporters. He pointed out his surprise at Vartan Oskanian’s criticism against President Serzh Sargsyan.

Serzh Sargsyan has made “a great many” mistakes, and, under the circumstances, hardly anything could be advised him, Zurabyan said. “But we are not going to give him any advice,” he said, pointing out that Serzh Sargsyan got involved in the disastrous Armenian-Turkish process after he had considered all his steps beforehand. “The President considered he would enlist strong international support. At present the international community is of high opinion of him, as Armenia has never made concessions like these,” Zurabyan said.

According to him, Serzh Sargsyan is ruling the country due to the following factors: violence and the international community’s support. “National unity is the best way of opposing any external challenges. So the authorities must stop warring against their own people. The release of political prisoners would be the first step, which would possibly be followed by negotiations between the authorities and the Opposition,” Zurabyan said.

NEWS.am reminds readers that in addressing the recent developments in the Armenian-Turkish process yesterday, the former Armenian FM Vartan Okanian was highly critical of President Serzh Sargsyan. He pointed out that the Armenian authorities preferred the worst way of suspending the Armenian-Turkish process.

T.P.