Author: Kajoyan Gevork

US and French politicians condemn Ilham Aliyev’s actions

ARMINFO
Saturday, September 1, 19:43

Congressman Frank Pallone, co-chair of the Congressional Armenian
Issues Caucus, said on Saturday that he was outranged by the reckless
actions by the government of Azerbaijan.

“These are not the actions of a government that is dedicated to
justice and peace. Unfortunately, the actions taken by Azerbaijan only
further confirm their desire to facilitate and condone violence
against Armenia and its people,” Pallone said.

In his turn, Chairman of the Armenia-France Inter-Parliament Group
Francois Rochebloine said that it was inadmissible to pardon a
murdered sentenced to life in jail. He criticized the Hungarian
authorities for their actions and supported the Armenian President’s
decision to suspend diplomatic relations with Hungary.

Praise, Rewards, and Promotion for Pardoned Azeri Murderer

by Nanore Barsoumian

September 1, 2012

Armenia’s Justice Minister to Hungarian counterpart: I would have resigned

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev has promoted Ramil Safarov
from the rank of Lieutenant to Major, a day after the latter was
extradited to Azerbaijan from Hungary and received a pardon from
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, reported News.az.

Abiyev congratulated Safarov on his return to the country. The
Ministry also awarded Safarov over eight years’ worth of salary for
the time he spent in a Hungarian prison, and gifted him with an
apartment.

Safarov was found guilty of premeditated murder, and was sentenced to
life in prison in April 2006, with possibility of parole after 30
years, after confessing hacking to death 26-year old Armenian Lt.
Gurgen Markarian while the latter was asleep in his dormitory room.
Safarov and the victim were in Hungary for a NATO-sponsored
Partnership for Peace English language courses in 2004. 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.

Azerbaijan’s Justice Ministry had assured officials in Hungary that
Safarov would continue serving his sentence in Azerbaijan. However,
hours after his arrival on an Azerbaijani Airways special flight,
President Aliyev signed an order to pardon Safarov. The pardon became
effective on the day of signing.

Praise for pardon in Azerbaijan

Commenting on Safarov’s extradition and pardon, Azerbaijani MP Ganira
Pashayeva told an Azeri news outlet that `this is a great event not
only for Azerbaijanis living in Azerbaijan, but for the whole Turkish
people living inside and outside Azerbaijan.’

`Ramil is one of the heroes of our people. I congratulate our people
and his relatives. I believe that Ramil was always beneficial for his
people and will continue to be so,’ said Pashayeva, who added that
this was a message to the youth that the state will support all those
who serve their country.

In an interview with News.az, member of Azerbaijan’s Parliamentary
Committee for Defense and Security Zahid Oruj said that his government
was `twice able to negotiate with the Hungarian side to release
[Safarov,]’ but the efforts were fruitless – once due to the resignation
of Hungarian President Pal Schmitt, and another time due to the
resignation of the Minister of Justice.

Oruj, who – along with MP Azay Guliyev – was directly involved in securing
Safarov’s extradition, also claimed that the purpose of opening an
Azerbaijani embassy in Hungary was to secure Safarov’s release. `The
main purpose of the establishment of the Azerbaijani Embassy in
Hungary was to ensure the legal protection of Ramil Safarov.
Azerbaijan in a short time was able to bring its relations with
Hungary to the highest level,’ he said, and added that President
Aliyev, through securing Safarov’s release, `has made a contribution
to the liberation of Karabakh.’

Oruj also said that the Azerbaijani people experienced `anxiety’ when
Safarov was imprisoned, and that his release will help `raise the
moral and psychological mood of the society.’

Armenian Justice Minister sends letter to Hungarian counterpart

Armenian Justice Minister Hrays Tovmasyan, in a letter addressed to
his counterpart, Hungarian Administration and Justice Minister Tibor
Navracsics, expressed his `indignation and concern’ at Ramil Safarov’s
extradition.

`I am certain that you should have known what will happen with Safarov
in Azerbaijan. You should have known that you [were] transfer[ing] a
person, having committed a murder based on motive of racial hostility,
to a country where he is considered a hero. You must have known that
[this] is a slap first of all to the justice of Hungary and generally
to the whole European value system,’ wrote Tovmasyan.

Tovmasyan said that he did not believe that Azerbaijan’s assurances to
Navracsics were satisfactory. `You should not have transferred Safarov
to a country where he was made a hero by the Azerbaijani authorities
for years,’ he said.

`I would have resigned in your place as a minister,’ wrote Tovmasyan.
`However, even in case of resignation, the family of Gurgen Margaryan,
the Armenian people, and the whole progressive humanity will remember
you as the one having `justified’ the murderer,’ he added.

Tovmasyan concluded by saying that his ministry will break all
bilateral relations with the Ministry of Administration and Justice of
Hungary.

A day earlier, Armenia’s President Serge Sarkisian announced the
suspension of diplomatic relations with Hungary, following a National
Security Council meeting.

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin condemns Hungary

news.am
September 01, 2012 | 16:20

ETCHMIADZIN. – The Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II chaired a
special meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council, on Saturday at the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The Council reflected on the Hungarian authorities’ extradition of
Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan and his being pardoned by the country’s
president, and issued a respective statement, Information System of
the Mother See reported.

`The Armenian Apostolic Church strongly condemns this fact. What
transpired is yet another manifestation of the Armenian-hating policy
adopted by Azerbaijan’s authorities. Regrettably, EU-memberHungary
supported the plan of releasing the murderer who was declared a hero
in Azerbaijan. Human life is God-given, and the crime of premeditated
murder is a crime against humanity and God.

We call upon all servants of the Armenian Church, [and] the faithful
children of our people worldwide to sound their united voice of
protest before the local authorities, [and] in the name of protecting
our national rights. We also call upon our sister churches and all
religious organizations to denounce this reality and to raise their
voices in the name of justice and truth,’ the Supreme Spiritual
Council’s statement reads in particular.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier that Ramil Safarov, a
lieutenant in the Azerbaijani military, was extradited on Friday 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.

As expected, Ramil Safarov’s return to Baku was welcomed, as was his
act of murder, by the officials of president Ilham Aliyev’s government
and much of Azerbaijani society, and the Azerbaijani president
immediately granted him a pardon.

And Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan announced Friday that Armenia
is suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary.

Armenia’s Hands Freed

HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:01:55 – 01/09/2012

A geopolitical framework is outlining around Ramil Safarov’s
extradition. This story could not be without such a shade because no
matter how willing Hungary was to agree with Azerbaijan out of
economic interests or cash, they must know the geopolitical importance
of this issue in the context of Karabakh and geopolitical interests in
the South Caucasus.

The Hungarian authorities would hardly extradite Safarov without
silent support of one of the OSCE Minsk Group countries and a
guarantee that Hungary would not be targeted by the great powers.
Interestingly, the Azerbaijani media reported the great contribution
of Putin’s classmate, Russia-based Azerbaijani millionaire Ilham
Raghimov.

It is not a secret that Raghimov is Putin’s business partner, like all
the other millionaires and billionaires who have not been exiled or
arrested. So, he is related to Putin not only in the past but also in
the present.

Another interesting fact was observed on the official website of the
Russian Vesti news channel. The information on Armenia’s decision to
suspend diplomatic relations with Hungary was posted on the website
with outrageous misinformation. It stated that Armenia suspends
diplomatic relations because Hungary refused to extradite Safarov to
Armenia.

Vesti kept this news for several hours running. Was it the mistake of
the reporter or editor or translator or was it a implicit provocation?
Is it possible that Raghimov’s name was not a retrospective necessity
for Azerbaijan in this story to evoke the name of the Russian
president, certainly not without his awareness?

Perhaps, it was not accidental that Safarov’s extradition was followed
by opinions that it may spoil the relations between the West and
Armenia which have been especially close recently.

In this context, some statements from the remarks of Serzh Sargsyan
during his meeting with the envoys of UN member states and
international organizations were remarkable: `This has happened
because the Government of Hungary, a member State of the European
Union and NATO, has made a deal with the authorities of Azerbaijan.’
And then: `Immediately after this crime had been perpetrated the
Hungarian authorities as well as our partners – EU and NATO member
States, were continually urging us to refrain from politicizing that
process. We were continually urged to trust the judiciary of Hungary,
a member State to those important alliances.’

Serzh Sargsyan’s transparent remarks and statements show that Armenia
is aware of the motive or context of the developments and is trying to
open the cards and ask the questions directly: `We expect a precise
and unambiguous response by all our partners with regard to this
incident. Anyone who tolerates this will tomorrow be held responsible
to history. Half-measures and circumlocution are not acceptable. We
will judge the attitude of our partners towards the security of the
Armenian nation by their response to this incident.’

Apparently, Serzh Sargsyan anticipates support of the West, practical
support, specific support, otherwise he will review the expediency of
his policy of rapprochement with the West because this policy boosts
Sargsyan’s internal and external political risks.

First echoed the United States. Their NSS spokesman used tough wording
to express the disappointment and indignation with the decision on
Safarov.

The EU and NATO are silent, so are the Minsk Group co-chairs France
and Russia. In early September Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary
General, arrives in Armenia as part of his regional visit. No doubt he
will respond to Safarov’s issue and Serzh Sargsyan’s message during
his regional visit if silence continues till his visit.

NATO’s circumstance is important because the Azerbaijani criminal
killed the Armenian officer during a NATO event. At least NATO’s moral
responsibility comes forth. NATO should think about the fulfillment of
its responsibility. Otherwise, it will be perceived as irresponsible
in building relations with Armenia, in public consciousness.

It does not mean that the West must take Safarov back to Hungary. What
matters is statements of what level, nature and content will be heard
from the West. As to actions, whatever is to be done will be done by
Armenia.

Armenia is given freedom to act on the international political arena.
For example, the response of the United States unties Armenia’s hands
not limiting its actions with cautiousness or whatever.

How Armenia will handle its freedom and build on it depends on some
objective and subjective factors.

However, the president of Armenia has made serious statements and
announced that half-measures and circumlocutions are unacceptable.
There seems to be no space to retreat not only due to his words but
also the situation and the atmosphere it created.

There was a clear offensive on the Republic of Armenia, both political
and moral. `Half-measures and circumlocutions’ may quickly transform
this offensive to a physical offensive. This is the issue.

The Armenian authorities were careless, unviable, inadequate to
prevent Safarov’s extradition. Now Armenia should not be retroactively
adequate, careful and viable. It needs to be proactive to prevent the
transformation of the political and moral offensive marked by Safarov
into a physical offensive or to prepare to face it.

NKR is established state – political analyst

news.am
September 01, 2012 | 15:33

YEREVAN. – Unlike the ex-USSR’s other unrecognized states, the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) has won a war, it has a Constitution,
the authorities work in rotation, and there is a political opposition
which shows an inclination toward expanding, Caucasus Institute
Director, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan said during a
press conference on Saturday, speaking about NKR’s 21st Independence
Day anniversary to be celebrated on Sunday.

In his words, NKR already has held three presidential elections, which
are extremely important for the country’s establishment.

`We should not forget [also] the importance of maintaining the
politico-military balance between Armenia and Azerbaijan,’ said
Alexander Iskandaryan.

As per the political analyst, however, NKR still has three primary
challenges to meet: a) Building cities, villages and roads, and
developing the infrastructures, b) resolving the demographic issues,
and, c) forming a political system.

`It’s impossible to develop the political system without developing
the economy,’ Iskandaryan added.

Hackers make fruitless efforts to disturb the operation of `Armenpress’

15:07, 1 September, 2012

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: “Armenpress” news agency during two
days already for the second time is subjected to DDos mass attack. The
reason is the comprehensive coverage of `Armenpress’ which has
international response about the extradition of Ramil Safarov and
events following it. It obviously makes nervous our neighbor country.

These attacks did not have any influence on the natural operation of
the website and agency. Our IT specialties oppose with success to the
violations of the hackers and secure the transfer of our information
to partner agencies and readers of “Armenpress” which are spread all
over the world.

St. Grigor Monastery: Architectural Jewel of Bardzrakash Village in Lori
(Photo) Sona Avagyan

12:35, September 1, 2012

The road sign pointing the way to the St. Grigor Monastery leads visitors
along the edge of a deep canyon.

We are in the forested mountains of Armenia’s Lori Marz, near the village
of Bardzrakash.

Walking down the path, we come across broken stone crosses covered in moss
and the occasional undamaged ones.

According to the sign posted on the tree, this small structure is the St.
Haroutyun Chapel. However, Armenian architect specialist Samvel Karapetyan
believes it’s more likely that the crumbling edifice is a burial vault.

Another interesting site along the way is the spring colloquially named
Gikor’s Spring. In his novel Gikor, the writer Hovhannes Toumanyan refers
to this spring as where Hambo stops for as drink.

A few minutes later we approach the monastery. The church to the north was
built in the 10th century. Next to it Martzpan, the son of Prince
Mamigonian Sargis, built the St. Astvatsatzin Church in 1221. Karapetyan
says that the entire complex is rich in historical inscriptions and that
the architect really poured his heart and soul into the job.

The name of the architect isn’t known, but there is the possibility that
it is inscribed somewhere on one of the stones.

The accompanying photos reveal the decrepit state of the monastery today.
What remains of the standing structures leans this way and that. Karapetyan
assumes that the monastery was in such a sad state as far back as the 18th
century.

Here we see the dynastic emblem of the Mamigonian family – a two headed
eagle clutching a lamb in its talons.

This sign, on the wall of the church, cautions visitors not to light
candles on the stone crosses. Elsewhere there are signs requesting that
people do not deface the holy site with graffiti. It seems that the message
hasn’t gotten across to many.

Within the confines of the monastery is the cemetery of the Mamigonian
dynasty. Perhaps these grave stones mark the resting place of some of them.

Back in 2009, the RA Ministry of Culture included the site in its list of
26 severely endangered regional monuments to be monitored.

Deputy Minister of Culture Arev Samuelyan told Hetq that plans to research
and restore the monastery have been included in the 2013-2015 budget.
Samvel Karapetyan said that such a project, given the nearly inaccessible
conditions, would take at least 10 years and cost $80 to $100 million. The
architectural specialist says that what remains standing would have to be
pulled down and the project started from scratch.

Narineh Toukhikyan, director of the Hovhannes Toumanyan House-Museum, says
that the monastery appears in ten glass negatives taken by the writer.
Toumanyan took the photos in the early 1900s. What follows are the photos
he took.

In the last one we see Toumanyan and his friends.

‘Release of Safarov will improve psychological mood of society’

Sat 01 September 2012 06:22 GMT | 7:22 Local Time

Zahid Oruj

News.Az interviews Zahid Oruj, a member of the Parliamentary Committee
for Defence and Security.
How do you assess the release of Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov by
the Hungarian authorities and his extradition to Azerbaijan?

This was the result of the purposeful work pursued by Azerbaijan. As a
person who directly engaged in the affairs of Safarov from the first
days of his arrest, I can say that all the work implemented for his
release has been realized by the decision of President Ilham Aliyev.
I, along with his colleague, MP Azay Guliyev, were engaged in the
process of protecting the rights of Ramil Safarov namely by the will
of the Azerbaijani President.

And now I can report that Azerbaijan during Safarov’s stay in prison
was twice able to negotiate with the Hungarian side to release him.
However, the first time this arrangement was disrupted by the
resignation of the President of Hungary, and the second time by the
resignation of the minister of justice of this country.

In addition, I recall that at that time, i.e. when the incident
happened with Ramil Safarov, in Hungary there was no embassy of
Azerbaijan. Now I can report that the main purpose of establishment of
the Azerbaijani Embassy in Hungary was to ensure the legal protection
of Ramil Safarov. Azerbaijan in a short time was able to bring its
relations with Hungary to the highest level. Along with this, the
release of Ramil Safarov on the one hand was thanks to the efforts of
Azerbaijan, on the other hand thanks to his personal behavior.

How do you assess the presidential decree on pardoning Safarov?

This is precisely the case where the Supreme Commander defended his
officer. With this, the President of Azerbaijan has made a
contribution to the liberation of Karabakh. The president has proved
that he will protect his soldiers, his officers under any
circumstances. We can say that the President of Azerbaijan with his
decision only showed inconsistency of legal standards in the Hungarian
court’s sentence.

Safarov became a kind of symbol. His release will raise the moral and
psychological mood of the society. This is because the people of
Azerbaijan, due to the imprisonment of the Azerbaijani officer in
Hungary, experienced a certain complex and anxiety. Azerbaijan,
achieving the release of Safarov, thus demonstrated its strength as a
nation.

How do the asses the actions of Ramil Safarov who murdered an Armenian officer?

Safarov’s action is not an ordinary criminal case. There was an
adequate action against an Armenian who trampled the Azerbaijani flag
before the eyes of a man who has lost his land, and whose relatives
and friends were killed in front of his eyes. That is, figuratively
speaking, the verdict was passed not against Ramil Safarov, but
against the Karabakh war. The Armenian side, seeking severe punishment
of Ramil Safarov, wanted to demonstrate that Azerbaijan will not be
able to liberate its homeland.

After all, Ramil Safarov committed this action not out of the desire
to become a hero. The action of Safarov originated from impatience to
insult, humiliation, trampling the names and symbols of Azerbaijan,
regardless of where it occurs. It is regrettable and surprising that
the Armenians themselves who for years killed Azerbaijanis regardless
of their place of residence, remembered about humanity after the
incident which occurred with Ramil Safarov.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov,
estimating the order of President Ilham Aliyev to pardon Safarov said
that this proves the politics of hatred towards Armenians and fascism
of Azerbaijan. How do you assess Sharmazanov’s approach to this issue?

Fascism is the fact of creation of party Dashnaktsutyun. Fascism is
the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, genocide in Khojaly, massacre of
millions of Turks, an act of terrorism in the Baku Metro. Fascism is
also the policy pursued by the president of Armenia against his own
people. Fascism is the rewarding of those Armenians who killed
peaceful Azerbaijani population. Therefore, such statements come from
the fact that the ruling circles of Armenia, including Sharmazanov,
realize that they have lost the moral defeat. In addition, the deputy
speaker of the Armenian parliament, first, should see the vandalism
and aggressive policy of the state, and then blame the Azerbaijani
side.

S.Huseynli
News.Az

Ramil Safarov: I have always felt Turkey’s support

ARMINFO
Saturday, September 1, 13:28

Azerbaijani mass media report that Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov,
who was sentenced to life in jail for murdering Armenian officer
Gurgen Margaryan in Hungary and extradited on August 31, expressed his
gratitude to Turkey and the Turkish people for high attention to him.

“I have always felt Turkey’s support. I am grateful to Turkey and the
Turkish people. I’m happy to be in the motherland and with the
Azerbaijani people again:I have never lost my hope. I have always
believed that the Supreme Commander will settle that issue,” Safarov
told Turkish journalists. He said that he might continue his military
service.

In this light, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan convened emergency
sitting of the National Security Council following the decision by
the Hungarian authorities to extradite Azerbaijan Officer Ramil
Safarov. The Azerbaijani president pardoned the later as soon as he
was extradited.

“The Hungarian authorities should realize that they have made a rough
mistake by entering into collusion with Azerbaijan, and Armenia will
give a relevant response to this incident: Moreover, we must send
relevant letters to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and must give
instructions to all Armenian embassies. The Armenian Diaspora must
also express its opinion on the matter. This is not just a murder but
an ethnic murder justified by an EU member state,” the president said.
Later on the same day the Armenian authorities adopted a
decision to suspend diplomatic relations and official contacts wit Hungary.

Armenian serviceman rescued from Safarov’s axe to file lawsuit against Hungary

news.am
August 31, 2012 | 23:02

YEREVAN. – Another Armenian serviceman having rescued from the actions
of the Azerbaijani murderer Ramil Safarov, Hayk Mukuchyan is going to
file a lawsuit against Hungary, he told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

`I consider the step taken by Hungary, as EU member-state,
unforgivable. Hungary was warned for many times that Safarov is
considered not a murder but a hero in his homeland,’ Mukuchyan said
adding he is going to file a lawsuit against Hungary as a plaintiff
for the irresponsible step.

To note, the murder had taken place in Budapest on Feb. 19, 2004,
where two Armenian military servicemen were taking part in an
English-language courses organized by NATO’s Partnership for Peace
program.

In 2006, the Budapest court sentenced the Azerbaijani killer to life
imprisonment without a chance for pardon for thirty years. The reason
for the brutal murder was simply that Margaryan was Armenian.

Mukuchyan was recognized as a plaintiff, which may be served as a
legal base to file a lawsuit against the one, which is Hungary, which
has violated his rights by releasing Safarov.

As the agency informed earlier, the Azerbaijani President has
immediately released Ramil Safarov, who had axed the Armenian
serviceman Gurgen Margaryan in 2004 in Budapest, Hungary. The Armenian
President has declared on Friday about ceasing diplomatic relations
with Hungary.