Armenian opposition stages major protest rally

YEREVAN, March 18 (Itar-Tass) -- Armenian opposition National Congress
staged a major protest rally in downtown Yerevan on Thursday urging
authorities to launch a dialogue and threatening an ultimatum otherwise.
Police estimated nine thousand people participated in the protest held
in the Freedom Square for the first time in three years since
demonstrations were banned there following 2008 riots when ten people were
killed.
Opposition leader and former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan blamed
authorities for "failure to develop economy, decrease unemployment, raise
wages and pensions, curb inflation, and maintain national currency
stability."
"Time is ripe for radical changes in Armenia," he said.
However he stressed the opposition had advanced no ultimatum to
authorities so far, but may do it if it sees no response.
"It is a program of democratic transformations and a call to launch a
civilized dialogue between authorities and society," Ter-Petrosyan said.
"We will be forced to issue an ultimatum if we believe the possibility
of a dialogue is exhausted," he warned. "So far we do not plan to push
authorities into the corner."
To launch the dialogue Ter-Petrosyan urged to free opposition
activists who he called "political prisoners" and to investigate the
deaths during riots in 2008 in Yerevan.
"That may serve as the basis for a dialogue with authorities," he said.
The opposition leader said the next rally will take place on April 8
and expressed hope "the opposition will not have to speak the language of
ultimatum although it is not ruled out."