The ARF Dashnaktsutyun is concerned that the Armenian-Turkish normalization might become a subject of political gambling between the authorities and the Armenian National Congress (ANC).

“It won’t be a great problem if the ANC gets seats in the parliament but we are deeply concerned that talks will include other issues, specifically, the Armenian-Turkish relations,” ARFD parliamentary group secretary Artyusha Shahbazyan told a briefing in the National Assembly.

Shahbazyan did not rule out that the dialogue between the authorities and opposition was initiated by third forces.

Asked whether the ARFD would support return of Armenia’s second President, he said that the party used to support Robert Kocharian’s program. “Whether to return to bog politics or not is up to Kocharian himself,” Shahbazyan said.