Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

AZERBAIDJAN : LE TUEUR A LA HACHE

Publie le : 06-09-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – ” Les Armeniens du monde
entier sont scandalises par la grâce du president Aliyev accordee a
Ramil Safarov, suite a sa liberation par le gouvernement hongrois –
le lieutenant azeri a la hache qui a frappe a mort un officier Gurgen
Margarian dans son sommeil, alors qu’il suivait un cours de l’OTAN
a Budapest. Il est assez difficile de decider lequel des deux pays
est le plus a blâmer dans cette affaire scandaleuse et honteuse, la
Hongrie ou l’Azerbaïdjan ? ” Le Collectif VAN vous livre la traduction
de l’editorial du journaliste armeno-americain Harut Sassounian,
paru dans The California Courier le 6 septembre 2012.

Le scandale hongrois/azeri justifie la volonte d’independance de
l’Artsakh

De : Harut Sassounian Editeur de : The California Courier Editorial
de Sassounian du 6 septembre 2012

Les Armeniens du monde entier sont scandalises par la grâce du
president Aliyev accordee a Ramil Safarov, suite a sa liberation
par le gouvernement hongrois – le lieutenant azeri a la hache qui a
frappe a mort l’officier armenien Gurgen Margarian dans son sommeil,
alors qu’il suivait un cours de l’OTAN a Budapest.

Il est assez difficile de decider lequel des deux pays est le plus
a blâmer dans cette affaire scandaleuse et honteuse, la Hongrie ou
l’Azerbaïdjan ? La communaute internationale devrait aussi avoir une
part de responsabilite, car elle a ignore les protestations repetees
des Armeniens du Karabagh (Artsakh), indiquant qu’ils ne pourront
plus jamais vivre sous la loi repressive de l’Azerbaïdjan.

Lorsque Safarov a commis son acte barbare en 2004, les Azeris ont
glorifie son crime lâche et chante ses louanges. Depuis, l’Azerbaïdjan
a fait tout ce qui etait en son pouvoir pour inciter le gouvernement
hongrois a liberer l’homme a la hache, tandis que les responsables
armeniens ont cherche a s’assurer que Safarov effectuerait bien sa
peine de prison a perpetuite.

Les responsables hongrois ont constamment affirme a l’Armenie que
le prisonnier azeri ne serait pas libere, en depit des pressions
incessantes de l’Azerbaïdjan. Et pourtant, le 30 août 2012, sans
aucune notification prealable, les autorites hongroises ont brise
leur promesse solennelle en envoyant Safarov a Bakou.

Pourquoi ce soudain retournement de situation ? L’explication la plus
plausible reside sans doute dans un petit article publie par Bloomberg
il y a une semaine : ” L’Azerbaïdjan est en pourparlers avec la Hongrie
pour acheter des obligations hongroises pour une valeur de jusqu’a
trois milliards d’euros, de la dette gouvernementale. La dette,
qui pourrait etre vendue en Turquie a la demande de l’Azerbaïdjan,
a la valeur de la lire turque, pourrait l’etre avant que la
Hongrie ne conclue un accord sur une aide avec le Fonds monetaire
international… L’Azerbaïdjan est pret a accepter des rendements
au-dessous des taux du marche pour la dette de la Hongrie.

”

Manifestement, la Hongrie a trahi l’Armenie pour ” Trente pièces
d’argent “*, en l’occurrence ici pour trois milliards d’euros (3,77
milliards de dollars) ! Une somme aussi enorme va certainement sauver
la Hongrie de la banqueroute financière, mais elle ne sauvera pas les
responsables hongrois de la banqueroute morale ! Pour la Hongrie,
l’argent du petrole de l’Azerbaïdjan est plus precieux que le sang
armenien.

Afin de justifier sa transaction sinistre, la Hongrie a fait paraître
une lettre datee du 15 août 2012, emanant de Vilayat Zahirov, le
vice-ministre de la justice de l’Azerbaïdjan, confirmant que son pays
ne commuerait pas la peine de Safarov après son transfert a Bakou.

Zahirov a cite l’article 57.3 du Code criminel azeri, assurant qu’un
coupable purgeant une peine a perpetuite ne pouvait etre libere qu’au
bout de 25 ans de prison.

Il n’est pas surprenant de constater que l’Azerbaïdjan a viole non
seulement son engagement envers la Hongrie, mais egalement ses propres
lois, lorsque le president Aliyev a libere Safarov en lui accordant
une grâce immediate dès son arrivee a Bakou, par un vol specialement
affrete par Azerbaijan Airlines. Le lieutenant azeri a ete promu au
rang de major, on lui a octroye un appartement gratuit, un paiement
retroactif de huit ans de salaire, et il a ete accueilli comme un
heros pour le meurtre de sang froid d’un Armenien endormi !

Etant donne l’indignation armenienne mondiale suscitee par ce
developpement honteux, le president Serzh Sargsyan a appele le Conseil
national de securite a se reunir en session d’urgence le 31 août,
et a annonce que l’Armenie suspendait ses relations diplomatiques et
tous ses contacts officiels avec la Hongrie. En outre, il a convoque
le responsable du Service de la securite nationale de l’Armenie et lui
a assigne une ” mission speciale ” ! Le president Sargsyan a ensuite
delivre un message laconique aux ambassadeurs etrangers a Erevan qu’il
avait reunis, les avertissant que les futures relations de l’Armenie
avec leurs gouvernements respectifs dependraient de leur reaction a
cet incident ! La Russie et les Etats-Unis ont repondu en exprimant
leur preoccupation quant a la liberation et a la grâce de Safarov,
et ont exige des explications de la Hongrie et de l’Azerbaïdjan.

Sachant que l’Azerbaïdjan rejettera sûrement toute suggestion
d’incarcerer son ” heros national ” ou de le renvoyer en Hongrie
pour qu’il y purge sa condamnation a perpetuite, les Armeniens
devraient lancer une serie d’initiatives pour convaincre la communaute
internationale que l’Artsakh n’acceptera jamais la loi des tueurs a
la hache et de leurs sponsors d’Etat. Les Armeniens devraient tirer
parti de la sympathie generee par cette erreur judiciaire, afin de
renforcer leur cause de l’independance de l’Artsakh.

Dans les jours et les semaines a venir, les Armeniens devraient
intensifier les pressions sur la Hongrie et l’Azerbaïdjan, en
manifestant devant leurs ambassades et consulats, demander a tous les
pays ainsi qu’a l’OTAN, l’Union Europeenne et l’OSCE de condamner la
manipulation honteuse des normes internationales de la justice par
Budapest et Bakou.

L’Armenie devrait immediatement suspendre les negociations avec
l’Azerbaïdjan et reconnaître l’independance de l’Artsakh, et exhorter
tous les autres pays a en faire de meme. En signant la grâce de
Safarov, le president Aliyev a involontairement confirme la volonte
d’independance de l’Artsakh.

Les Armeniens du monde entier devraient s’unir pour renforcer
l’Armenie politiquement, economiquement et militairement, afin
d’empecher l’Azerbaïdjan, la Turquie et tout autre pays de recourir
a de futures actions hostiles.

*NdT : reference au prix que Judas aurait paye pour trahir Jesus,
d’après l’Evangile selon Mathieu.

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 06 septembre
– 07:00 –

Retour a la rubrique

From: Baghdasarian

L’AZERBAIDJAN SE DEFEND DES CRITIQUES AMERICAINES SUR LE MEURTRIER GRACIE
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 5 septembre 2012

L’Azerbaïdjan s’est defendu mardi des critiques americaines sur la
grâce accordee a un de ses soldats rapatrie de Hongrie où il avait
decapite un militaire armenien, soulignant qu’il fallait retenir “avant
tout” que cet homme avait ete victime du conflit du Nagorny Karabakh.

Le soldat “Ramil Safarov et sa famille, comme un million d’autres
Azerbaïdjanais, sont des refugies et, en raison du nettoyage ethnique,
ils ont ete expulses de chez eux. Cela doit etre pris en compte avant
tout”, a declare le ministre azerbaïdjanais des Affaires etrangères
Elmar Mammadiarov, faisant reference a la guerre pour le contrôle du
Nagorny Karabakh.

Il a ajoute que l’affaire etait “directement liee” a cette guerre.

Rattache a l’Azerbaïdjan pendant la periode sovietique, le Nagorny
Karabakh a proclame son independance, non reconnue par la communaute
internationale, après cette guerre, qui a fait 30.000 morts et des
centaines de milliers de refugies entre 1988 et 1994.

Un cessez-le-feu a ete signe en 1994, mais Bakou et Erevan n’arrivent
pas a se mettre d’accord sur le statut de la region et des echanges
de tirs surviennent regulièrement.

Le ministre Mammadiarov a fait ces declarations lors d’une conversation
telephonique avec le secretaire d’Etat adjoint americain William Burns,
selon son service de presse.

Peu après la grâce de Ramil Safarov vendredi, le departement d’Etat
s’etait declare “extremement trouble” par cette decision, disant
“condamner toute action qui attise les tensions regionales”.

Condamne a la perpetuite pour le meurtre d’un officier armenien
a Budapest en 2004, Ramil Safarov a ete extrade vers son pays
par les autorites hongroises et grâcie aussitôt par le president
azerbaïdjanais, Ilham Aliev.

En 2004, Safarov avait decapite l’officier armenien Gourgen Margarian
dans son sommeil, lors d’une formation organisee a Budapest par l’Otan
pour des militaires originaires des pays de l’ex-URSS.

Outre les Etats-Unis, l’Union europeenne et la Russie se sont egalement
dites preoccupees par la decision de Bakou.

From: Baghdasarian

PAPER: RPA MEMBER THINKS ARTSAKH RECOGNITION PREMATURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 5, 2012 – 16:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Deputy chairman of the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA), Galust Sahakyan believes that the moment for recognizing
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has not come yet, Aravot paper reports.

“We know that Nagorno Karabakh is ours anyway, however the current
political situation is not advantageous to solve such problems,”
Sahakyan said.

According to him, such issues suppose consultations with the political
majority and opposition.

“We act in the framework of OSCE Minsk Group, and this format, which
has been developed for years, is acceptable for us. We would not like
to change any of the existing concepts,” the paper quoted Sahakyan
as saying.

From: Baghdasarian

HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CALL RUMOURS OF POSSIBLE SUSPENSION OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN ABSURD

Trend News Agency
Baku, Azerbaijan
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
September 5, 2012 Wednesday

by S.Agayeva, Trend News Agency, Baku, Azerbaijan

Sept. 05–The Hungarian Foreign Ministry has called absurd, the
information about the suspension of diplomatic relations with
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani ambassador to Hungary Vilayat Guliyev told
Trend, commenting on the statement of Armenian media.

He noted that he has met with Hungary’s director of the Department of
Foreign Affairs on Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia,
Erne Keshneni, who called the reports absurd. A Hungarian Foreign
Ministry spokesman said that Budapest intends to develop further
relations with all countries, including Azerbaijan and Armenia,
if Yerevan restores the diplomatic relations.

Hungary is considering the suspension of relations with Azerbaijan,
Armenian media reported today, citing a source in the OSCE Secretariat
in Vienna. According to the source the issue was , supposedly discussed
yesterday at a formal dinner with a member of the Hungarian Mission to
the OSCE and an American diplomat and is regarded as one of the ways
out of a difficult foreign policy situation in which the Hungary
is after the extradition of Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov to
Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov, who was convicted in Hungary,
returned to Azerbaijan last Friday. On the same day he was pardoned
by the Head of State.

Ramil Safarov was born on August 25, 1977 in the Jabrail region of
Azerbaijan. Safarov, 34, who participated in NATO exercises in 2004 in
Hungary, was charged with the murder of the Armenian officer Gurgen
Margaryan, who insulted the Azerbaijani flag. By the verdict of the
Budapest court, Safarov was sentenced to life imprisonment without
the right of pardon during 30 years.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced that Armenia had suspended
diplomatic relations and official contacts with Hungary immediately
after the liberation of the Azerbaijani officer.

Guliyev noted that two days ago, he met with Secretary of State of the
Office of Prime Minister of Hungary on International Relations Peter
Szijjarto, who said that the matter is now closed for Budapest and
yesterday Prime Minister Viktor Orban also said that the question of
Safarov’s extradition was carried out in accordance with international
standards and with transparency.

“There are various rumours and reports on the Safarov issue and
Hungary’s consideration of suspension of diplomatic relations with
Azerbaijan is one of them,” the Ambassador said.

“The two countries continue to cooperate and we intend to continue to
develop our relationship. There are plans to hold the next meeting
of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation and
the governments of both countries are preparing for this meeting,
Guliyev said.

From: Baghdasarian

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: “ARMENIA IS AN IMPORTANT PARTNER TO NATO”

Mediamax
Sept 6 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
said in Yerevan today that “Armenia is an important partner to NATO
and Armenian partnership has a great potential for the Alliance’s
programs.”

Anders Vogh Rasmussen said this at the meeting with the students of
Yerevan State University today, Mediamax reports

He highlighted Armenia’s contributions to NATO’s operations in
Afghanistan and Kosovo, expressing the hope that when NATO peacekeeping
mission ends in 2014, the Armenian peacekeepers will stay there to
help the Alliance train the Afghan governmental troops.

NATO Secretary General also highlighted Armenia-NATO productive
cooperation experience in the spheres of emergency situations,
science and military education.

From: Baghdasarian

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL COMMENDS STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH ARMENIA

Defence Professionals

Sept 6 2012

13:54 GMT, September 6, 2012 NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh
Rasmussen said the Alliance wants to forge an even closer partnership
with Armenia during his first visit to the country on Thursday.

After talks with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan,
the Secretary General thanked Armenia for its strong contribution
to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo, which strengthen
the country’s own peace-keeping capabilities. He also highlighted
NATO’s support for Armenia’s defence reforms, civil defence and
disaster relief efforts, stressing that NATO and Armenia have already
achieved a lot: ~SArmenia is a valuable partner for NATO and NATO is
a valuable partner for Armenia. We now have an opportunity to build an
even stronger partnership for the future. It~Rs an opportunity we must
seize because we all have to gain and so does the region as a whole.~T

Mr. Fogh Rasmussen said his visit reflected NATO~Rs commitment to
security and stability in the South Caucasus region. In a speech
delivered to students at Yerevan State University, the Secretary
General said old barriers of mistrust in the region should be broken
down and new bridges of reconciliation buit: ~SThere must be no return
to conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Tensions must be reduced
and concrete steps must be taken to promote regional cooperation
and reconciliation.”

From: Baghdasarian

CSTO ANALYZING PARDONING OF AZERI KILLER OF ARMENIAN MILITARY OFFICER

Interfax
Sept 5 2012
Russia

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Standing Committee
has listened to information on the pardoning of Ramil Safarov, an
Azeri military officer who killed Armenian officer Gurgen Markarian
in Budapest, CSTO press secretary Vladimir Zainetdinov said.

“Armenia’s information on the situation surrounding the pardoning
by the Azeri authorities of Azeri army serviceman Ramil Safarov,
who was sentenced to life by a Hungarian court for brutally killing
Armenian Armed Forces officer Gurgen Markarian, was listened to and
taken into consideration,” Zainetdinov said following an OSCE Standing
Committee session.

Participants in the session agreed that “these actions go against
efforts agreed upon at the international level, primarily at the level
of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, and aimed at relieving tensions
in the area of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” he said.

The participants discussed documents concerning the development of
a system of the CSTO members’ collective response to extraordinary
situations and the training of personnel, he said.

CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha informed the Standing
Committee members of a draft agenda of a working meeting of the CSTO
foreign ministers, which is planned during the 67th session of the
UN General Assembly in New York.

Ramil Safarov, a senior lieutenant of the Azeri army, murdered Armenian
army lieutenant Gurgen Margarian for allegedly defiling the Azeri
flag in 2004 in Budapest, where both had been attending an English
language course as part of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program. In
2006, a Budapest court gave Safarov a life sentence without the right
to parole for the first 30 years.

However, Hungary extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan on August 31,
and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev pardoned him the same day. Azeri
Defense Minister Safar Abiyev met with Safarov, promoted him to major,
presented him with a key for a new apartment, and ordered that he be
paid his allowance for the past 8.5 years.

Armenia announced on Friday that it was severing diplomatic ties with
Hungary over Safarov’s extradition to Azerbaijan.

From: Baghdasarian

HOW MUCH DOES THE HONOR OF THE EU COST?

DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 5, 2012 Wednesday

BYLINE: Elena Gamayun, Peter Shofmai
Source: Moskovsky Komsomolets, September 03, 2012, p. 2
[Translated from Russian]

BUDAPEST HAS ESTIMATED ITS HONOR AT 3 MILLION EUROS, THE US PRESIDENT
DEMANDS EXPLANATION WHY HUNGARY HAS EXTRADITED THE AZERBAIJANI
OFFICER-KILLER; Armenia suspended diplomatic relations with Hungary.

The diplomatic scandal was caused by the decision on extradition of
Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov from Budapest to Baku. Safarov
cruelly killed his fellow-serviceman from Armenia. Lieutenant of
Armenian army Gurgen Margaryan, 26, sent to Budapest to the English
language courses in the framework of NATO program Partnership for
Peace was killed by an axe while sleeping.

Armenia suspended diplomatic relations with Hungary. Hungarian flag
was burnt in Yerevan and consulate of this country was bombarded with
tomatoes and covered with posters saying “Hungary, farewell.” The
diplomatic scandal was caused by the decision on extradition of
Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov from Budapest to Baku. Safarov
cruelly killed his fellow-serviceman from Armenia. Lieutenant of
Armenian army Gurgen Margaryan, 26, sent to Budapest to the English
language courses in the framework of NATO program Partnership for
Peace was killed by an axe while sleeping.

The killer was sentenced to lifelong sentence but last Thursday he was
extradited to Baku. In his native country he was met as a hero. He was
given the Azerbaijani passport and a document about pardon signed by
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijani officials celebrate
a diplomatic victory.

This terrible story happened in February of 2004. Safarov explained
his act to investigators, “Armenians occupied the place of my birth on
August 25 of 1993. I am sorry that I have not killed a single Armenian
still. The army sent me to these courses and there I learned that
there were two Armenians at the courses with us. Hatred to Armenians
appeared in me. At first, we greeted ourselves, I mean, they greed
me with “hi” but I did not answer me. It was interesting that when
they passed by they mumbled something in Armenian and smiled me
in the face. At that moment I decided to chop their heads off.” In
the night of February 19, Safarov came to the room of the Armenian
fellow-students and found sleeping Gurgen. He stabbed the young man
with a knife 16 times and afterwards almost separated the head from
the body by the axe. After that Safarov tried to kill another Armenian
officer but failed. Hungarian police that investigated into this crime
was shocked by cruelty and vileness of the crime. However, during the
investigation Safarov’s lawyers forced him to correct his evidences
and to say that he killed Gurgen because he spoke about Azerbaijan
and Azerbaijani army badly. They meant that he killed Margaryan not
just because he was Armenian but because he received certain offence.

During investigation this evidence was not confirmed. Safarov received
the maximal punishment in the form of lifelong sentence with a right
to ask for forgiveness 30 years later.

Of course, during all these years Azerbaijan did not abandon attempts
to save its “hero.” However, until recently the Azerbaijani party stuck
to an opinion that according to Hungarian laws the crime of Safarov
and similar cases had very serious limitations including impossibility
of extradition. However, in August of 2012 Azerbaijani preparing
for presidential elections lobbied the decision on extradition of
Safarov. There appeared reports that Azerbaijan was getting ready to
buy Hungarian governmental bonds worth from 2 billion to 3 billion
euros. This matter was connected with the return of Safarov to Baku.

At an extraordinary meeting with participation of diplomatic
representative offices in the country President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsian announced, “I officially say that today we suspend diplomatic
relations and all official relations with Hungary.”

Hungarian government said that releasing Safarov Hungary acted in
accordance with the norms of the international law. Meanwhile, in its
communique the White House emphasizes that Barack Obama is concerned
because Safarov has been forgiven by the President of Azerbaijan
and the US President requests Budapest to explain why Hungary has
extradited the Azerbaijani officer. The statement of the American
party stresses, “This action contradicts the regional tension and
reconciliation efforts.”

Hungarian opposition parties disagree with this decision too. The
Democratic Coalition (the party of Ferenc Gyurcsany, former prime
minister) hinted that Safarov was released in exchange for Azerbaijani
investments. Quite recently, it was reported that Azerbaijan wished
to buy Hungarian state bonds worth 2-3 billion euros. On Saturday,
the opposition party announced that Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor
Orban traded in honor of Hungarian people, “By extradition of Safarov
the government of Orban has shown that human life is not valued in
Hungary because the bloody killer who has executed a person by an
axe is released.”

[Translated from Russian]

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA, CHINA, RUSSIA, AND U.S. IN THE LEAD AT CHESS OLYMPIAD

Armenian Weekly
September 6, 2012

ISTANBUL, Turkey (A.W.)-With two rounds to go, Armenia shares the
lead with China, Russia, and the U.S. at the Chess Olympiad currently
underway in Istanbul.

The Armenian team during Round 6 (Photo by Arman Karakhanyan) Armenia
defeated Germany 2.5-1.5 in the ninth round to climb to the top of
the standings with 15 points. The U.S. in turn defeated number one
seeds Russia 2.5-1.5, while China demolished the Philippines 3.5-0.5.

In Round 10, which will take place tomorrow, Sept. 6, Armenia will
play The Netherlands, Russia will take on Argentina, while China and
the U.S. will face off in the toughest match of the day.

Armenia has emerged victorious from seven out of nine matches so far.

It has only lost to China and drew its match against Russia.

Organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Olympiad
is the most prestigious team competition in the chess world.

The top-seeds are Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Hungary, Azerbaijan,
China, and the U.S. respectively.

The Armenian national team is represented by Levon Aronian, Sergei
Movsesian, Vladimir Akopian, Gabriel Sargissian, and Tigran Petrosian.

Armenia won the 2006 and 2008 Olympiads, and came in 7th in 2010.

A number of Armenian chess players are representing other countries.

Most notable among them is Varuzhan Akobian, who is part of the U.S.
team, and Krikor Sevag Mekhitarian, on the Brazilian team.

Lilit Lazarian from the Armenian women’s team at the Olympiad (Photo
by Arman Karakhanyan) Women’s section

The Armenian women’s team is sixth after nine rounds. China leads
with 16 points, Russia is second with 15. The Ukraine, Kazakhstan,
Poland, and Armenia are 3-6 respectively, all with 14 points.

The women’s team representing Armenia is comprised of Elina Danielian,
Lilit Mkrtchian, Lilit Galoian, Maria Kursova, and Anna Hairapetian.

Several other Armenians in the women’s section are representing
other countries. Natalia Khoudgarian, for example, heads the Canadian
women’s team.

The Olympiad has 11 rounds, and will conclude on Sept. 10.

The Armenian Weekly has been providing up-to-the-minute results on
its Facebook page, and detailed coverage on its website.

From: Baghdasarian

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL’S STATEMENT ON GRANTING PARDON TO SAFAROV NOT CLEAR ENOUGH – EXPERT

news.am
September 06, 2012 | 23:10

YEREVAN. – The NATO Secretary General’s statement on granting a
pardon to murderer Ramil Safarov was not quite clear, expert Richard
Giragossian told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Accoriding to him, the NATO Secretary General expressed his concerns
about the Safarov case, as this step does impact on the stability in
the region.

“However, I believe that the NATO Secretary General’s statement was
not clear enough. I do hope that he will give rougher estimations in
Azerbaijan on Saturday, in particular during the meeting with the
Azerbaijani President. In addition, Azerbaijan currently is not an
adequate partner for peace talks,” he added.

As the agency informed earlier, during his upcoming meeting in
Baku with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, NATO Secretary General
Anders Fogh Rasmussen will express his concerns, which are very clear,
Rasmussen himself stated this Thursday during his joint briefing with
Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan.

“During my meeting in Azerbaijan I will convey to Azerbaijan’s
president my message, which is very simple and apparent. I’m truly
concerned by the granting pardon to Ramil Safarov. What occurred
eight years ago was a crime, and it must not be glorified. I will
convey this message tomorrow to Azerbaijan’s president,” Anders Fogh
Rasmussen stated.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier that Ramil Safarov, a lieutenant
in the Azerbaijani military, was extradited on August 31 from Hungary,
where he was serving a life sentence – and with no expression of
either regret or remorse – for the premeditated axe murder of Armenian
lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, in his sleep, during a NATO Partnership
for Peace program in Budapest back in 2004.

From: Baghdasarian