The majority coalition in the Armenian parliament said that the ex-Soviet nation should freeze its ratification of an agreement to normalize ties with neighboring Turkey, AP reported. The coalition accused Turkey of dragging its feet in ratifying the October deal by demanding the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh be settled first. The deal also envisions reopening the border between Turkey and Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave in Azerbaijan that has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces since 1994. Turkey shares ethnic and cultural bonds with Azerbaijan. -- SPA
