Armenian protesters condemn Turkish thaw

By Hasmik Mkrtchyan

YEREVAN, April 23 (Reuters) - Protesters in Armenia burned a Turkish flag and condemned moves to normalise relations with Ankara on Thursday during a traditional march to recall the 1915 mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.

Several thousand protesters, mainly supporters of a nationalist junior partner in the government, held their annual protest march through the capital holding flaming torches on the eve of the national commemoration of the World War One killings, which Armenia says was genocide.

Turkey and Armenia announced they had agreed on a road map to normalise ties -- believed to include the opening of their border -- in a step that would boost Turkey's relations with the EU and United States but could upset its oil-producing ally Azerbaijan.

In a small sign of backlash, the protesters' party -- the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) -- said it would reconsider its participation in government if the deal goes ahead without Turkey recognising the killings as genocide.

"I am categorically against establishing relations with Turkey, because Turkey hasn't even asked forgiveness for the genocide," said 64-year-old Armenian-American Bella Grigorian.

Analysts say the protesters represent a minority in Armenia, where they say most people support the opening of the border in the hope it will improve trade and help isolated and landlocked Armenia fight the effects of the global economic crisis.

GENOCIDE MEMORIAL