“WE SHOULD NOT BLAME HUNGARY”
01:33 pm | Today | Politics
Armenia’s National Assembly is convening a special session to discuss
the extradition of Azerbaijani soldier Ramil Safarov by Hungary and
his subsequent pardoning by Azerbaijan.
Artak Zakaryan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations, lawmaker from the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), read
out the NA statement condemning Hungary’s decision to extradite the
Azerbaijani murderer and reminding that Armenia had severed diplomatic
relations with Hungary.
“With its step, Azerbaijan again threatens the regional security,
deepens hostility towards Armenians and violates human rights
guaranteed by international documents,” he read.
Mr. Zakaryan said that during the elaboration of the document,
the authors considered the proposals of all parliamentary factions,
as well as the alternative versions proposed by them.
Vahan Hovhannisyan, head of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun faction, suggested
making changes in the statement. In particular, he stressed that
Hungary cannot be blamed for not ensuring safety of the Armenian
officer during the murder.
“We have not blamed Hungary for eight years and today it is somewhat
artificial to raise such a question,” he said.
Artsvik Minasyan, MP of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun, urged his fellow
colleagues to turn to the NATO since the While attending English
courses during the NATO-sponsored Partnership for PEACE program in
Hungary (2004), the Azeri army officer Ramil Safarov (35) snuck into
the bedroom of his Armenian colleague lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan
(26) and murdered him during sleep with several axe blows to the head
and neck. Safarov had struck Markaryan 16 times with an axe, almost
decapitating him. Following the murder he had walked over to another
Armenian officer’s room, hoping to commit a second murder, but had
found his door locked. Safarov was found guilty of premeditated murder,
and was sentenced to life in prison in April 2006, with possibility
of parole after 30 years.
Ruben Hakobyan, Head of the Heritage faction, said during the
working consultation he had suggested including the issue of Karabakh
independence in the text as well.
“We are not here to discuss that issue,” said Artak Zakaryan.
During the discussions, Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice-Speaker of the
Armenian Parliament, said on July 4 HHK MP Ruben Hayrapetyan submitted
a letter of resignation to the National Assembly and if he does not
withdraw his resignation within 15 days, it will be accepted.
The special session was attended by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian,
Deputy FM Shavarsh Kocharyan and Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan.
While attending English courses during the NATO-sponsored Partnership
for PEACE program in Hungary in 2004, Azeri army officer Ramil Safarov,
35, snuck into the bedroom of his Armenian colleague lieutenant Gurgen
Margaryan , 26, and murdered him during sleep with several axe blows
to the head and neck. Safarov had struck Markaryan 16 times with an
axe, almost decapitating him. Following the murder he had walked over
to another Armenian officer’s room, hoping to commit a second murder,
but had found his door locked. Safarov was found guilty of premeditated
murder, and was sentenced to life in prison by a Hungarian court in
April 2006, with possibility of parole after 30 years. On august 31,
2012, Hungary extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan where he was pardoned
on the same day by [President] Ilham Aliyev.