Azernews.Az

YEREVAN - An Armenian opposition leader said any resolution of the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict that stipulates a withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories would eventually lead to President Serzh Sarkisian's resignation, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported.

Ruben Hakobian, the deputy chairman of the Zharangutyun (Heritage) Party said that "even the slightest change in the status quo [in the conflict zone] would seriously escalate the situation in Armenia, which I think would result in regime change."

He said "it is very possible that preterm elections will take place in Armenia and that would mainly be conditioned by the [Nagorno-Garabagh] conflict. The return of any [Azerbaijani] region, any liberated territory, would be met with serious opposition in Armenia and Garabagh".

Hakobian, who left the nationalist Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) to join Zharangutyun earlier this year, said leadership change in Armenia is essential for a "radical change" of the country's current policies.

"Even if these authorities want to get out of the negotiating process, they can't do that. They can't radically change their position and reject the [international mediators'] Madrid principles," he said. "Only a new government can do that."