Yerevan, 8 January 1997 (RFE/RL) - Armenia's Justice Ministry today refused to re-register the Dashnakzutune opposition party, which was banned more than two years ago.
The party had applied to be registered again last August after making some changes in the party charter. But the Justice Ministry today said that it is not satisfied with the charter changes, and said the major obstacle for registering the party remained unchanged.
The party was banned on grounds that there are many foreigners in the party's leadership, which violates Armenian law. This month, the new Prime Minister, Armen Sarkissian, met leaders of the Dashnak party (as it is commonly known) and promised that their case will be resolved soon. Our Yerevan correspondent reports the party's leadership had been optimistic that Government would lift the ban.
