Author: Kalantarian Kevo

CANADA DISAPPOINTED BY SAFAROV PARDON

Government of Canada

Sept 13 2012

Canada’s Embassy to Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan
today issued the following statement:

“Canada is concerned about recent developments in the Ramil Safarov
case, in particular his pardon, and the unwelcome controversy it
has generated.

“We encourage all parties to take the necessary measures to increase
trust and constructively contribute to the peace process between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“Canada supports the ongoing peace process, and all initiatives aimed
at promoting regional cooperation and reconciliation.”

On August 31, 2012, Hungary transferred an Azerbaijani military
officer, Ramil Safarov, to Azerbaijan to serve his prison sentence.

Safarov was sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary for the murder
of an Armenian military officer in Budapest in 2004.

MEPS DUB AZERI PRESIDENT AS “MAFIA BOSS” OVER SAFAROV RELEASE

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 13, 2012 – 20:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Members of European Parliament voted on adoption of
a previously debated resolution on Hungary-extradited Azeri criminal
Ramil Safarov convicted for murdering Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan
in Budapest.

The MEPs involved in the debate slammed Azerbaijan and Hungary,
calling Safarov’s pardon and heroization unprecedented, unacceptable
and shocking for the whole civilized world.

As they noted, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev behaved like a “mafia
boss,” his actions proving that killing an Armenian is a sure way
to be hailed a hero in Azerbaijan. The MEPs urged Baku to provide
guarantees that a due punishment will be given to Safarov.

Hungary was admonished for the lack of attention in negotiating
Safarov extradition with Baku.

Parliament members were understanding of Yerevan’s suspending ties
with Budapest. Some, however, noted that Armenia’s harsh response
may harm Karabakh conflict settlement efforts.

The MEPs further suggested deeper involvement of the European
Parliament in Karabakh issue, also stressing the necessity of
intensifying peace talks.

The debates were followed by a resolution on Safarov’s extradition
and pardon.

SUSPECT LIABLE FOR MISCONDUCT IN BALıKCı CASE

HETQ
18:17, September 13, 2012

Bianet reports that in the case involving the death of Turkish-Armenian
soldier Sevag Balıikcıi, the expert report that arrived at the
Diyarbakıir Second Air Force Command Court Martial found suspect
Kıivanc Aggaogglu responsible for wrongful conduct,

Bianet says it was told this by plaintiff lawyer Cem Halavurt.

Aggaogglu had shot Balıikcıi dead on April 24, 2011 while they were
both performing their mandatory military service.

The court martial in the southeastern province of Diyarbakıir also
accepted the Balıikcıi family’s demands for evidence material to
be sent back to the Forensics Institute during the eighth hearing of
the trial on Friday, as well as their request for the court to listen
to eyewitnesses.

“The report prepared by Capt. Murat Yazgan from the Land Forces is
in our favor. The report indicates that Aggaogglu should have never
switched on his rifle’s safety lock and stresses that he had acted
wrongfully,” lawyer Halavurt said.

The court decided to adjourn the next hearing for Nov. 5, 2012.

TURKEY PUTS KURDISH JOURNALISTS ON TRIAL

tert.am
13.09.12

The first hearing of Turkey’s biggest trial against members of the
press has started, involving 44 journalists, The Guardian reported.

Thirty-six of those have been in pre-trial detention since December,
facing terrorism charges and accused of backing the illegal pan-Kurdish
umbrella group, the KCK.

“This trial is clearly political,” said Ertugrul Mavioglu, an
investigative journalist, whose terrorism charges for interviewing
Murat Karayilan, a member of the KCK – which includes the Kurdistan
Workers’ party (PKK) – were dropped in December last year.

Human rights groups repeatedly criticise the Turkish government for the
prosecution of pro-Kurdish politicians and activists and journalists
who exercise the right to freedom of expression.

Andrew Gardner, Turkey researcher at Amnesty International, said:
“This prosecution forms a pattern [in Turkey] where critical writing,
political speeches and participation at peaceful demonstrations are
used as evidence of terrorism offences.”

ARMENIA’S RECOGNITION OF KARABAKH NOT TO INSTIGATE WAR – OPPOSITION MEMBER

news.am
September 13, 2012 | 14:20

YEREVAN.- If Armenia recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence today
it will not instigate war tomorrow, member of opposition Heritage
Party said.

Stepan Safaryan considers the fact that the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh is under Armenian control is much worse than
recognition for Azerbaijan and Turkey.

On the contrary, if Armenia continues discussing the Madrid Principles
obediently it will easier lead to the beginning of hostilities,
he told reporters on Thursday.

“Azerbaijan is seeking to raise the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh on
the international agenda.. Turkey, in its turn, tends to assume more
prominent role in the Minsk Group,” Safaryan said.

If the negotiation process comes to a deadlock, it can actually
lead to a change in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group. Therefore,
he added, careful steps are necessary to rule out possible accusations
against Armenia.

“This does not mean that we should refrain from any steps. On the
contrary, specific moves should be taken, but they have to be weighted
and calculated,” he concluded.

ARTSAKH PRESIDENT RECEIVES YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY DELEGATION

Panorama.am
13/09/2012

Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received a delegation of
managers for Europe and CIS countries of Yerevan Brandy Company
(“Ararat” brand) led by company’s executive director Ara Grigoryan.

During the meeting, the parties discussed a range of issues related to
the company’s activities in Artsakh as well as projects to be
realized.

President Sahakyan described as important the role Yerevan Brandy
Company plays in boosting the development of Artsakh’s agricultural
sector, adding that Artsakh is interested in further deepening and
expanding cooperation with the company, presidential press service
reported.

EP RESOLUTION ON SAFAROV

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:48:35 – 13/09/2012

The European Parliament has discussed the resolution on Safarov’s
case. It will be voted on. Below is the text of the resolution:

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in
Azerbaijan on 5 May 2012, in particular those concerning human rights,

– having regard to the established practice of the international
law regarding transfer, the European Convention on the Transfer of
Sentenced Persons, which co-operation was agreed in order to further
the ends of justice and the social rehabilitation of sentenced persons,
by giving them the opportunity to serve their sentences within their
own society,

– having regard to the statement (of 3 September 2012) by the
spokespersons of the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and
Commissioner tefan Fule on the release of Ramil Safarov,

– having regard to various statements and communications of
the Hungarian Government Authorities in which they gave explicit
assurances that Hungary acted in accordance with the international law,
obligations and good practices,

– having regard to Rules 122(5) and 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Azerbaijan is an elected non-permanent member of the UN
Security Council in 2012 for two years, as well as the member of
the Council of Europe in which it will assume the Presidency of the
Committee of the Ministers in 2014;

B. whereas the Azerbaijani citizen Ramil Safarov have been given to
a life sentence for the brutal murder of an Armenian soldier, Gurgen
Markarian, which he committed during his stay at the military academy
in Budapest in 2004, where both attended the English-language courses
organised by NATO,

C. whereas Ramil Safarov has requested – pursuant to the 1983
Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons – his transfer to
Azerbaijan in order to serve his sentence in Azerbaijan,

D. whereas the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons,
to which Hungary and Azerbaijan are both signatory parties, states
in article 9. that a person sentenced in the territory of one state
may be transferred to the territory of another in order to serve
the sentence imposed on him, provided that conditions laid by the
Convention are met,

E. whereas the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, Vilayat Zahirov, sent an official letter to the Ministry
of Public Administration and Justice of Hungary on 15 August 2012,
in which he stated that the execution of the court’s decisions of
the foreign states regarding the transfer of sentenced persons to
serve the remaining part of their prison sentences in the Republic of
Azerbaijan are carried out in accordance with Article 9 paragraph 1
point a) of the Convention and without any conversion of the court’s
sentence. He further gave an assurance that according to the Criminal
Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan the punishment of a convict who
is serving a life sentence could only be replaced by a court with an
imprisonment for defined period or could be released on conditional
parole, only after at least 25 years of the prison have been served,

F. whereas immediately upon the transfer of Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan
the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned Ramil Safarov in line
with the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and article 12
of the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, to which no
reference was made in the letter noted in paragraph E,

G. whereas the presidential pardon given in such a short time questions
the original motives of the demand for the transfer of Ramil Safarov,
is not in line of the letter of the Azerbaijani Deputy Minister
of Justice, Vilayat Zahirov, of 15 August 2012, and undermines the
objective of the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons which
provides for the conditions to serve the remaining of the sentence
in different state;

H. whereas Ramil Safarov, after his release from prison, was promoted
to the rank of major, was given an apartment and all the pay he had
lost since his arrest, and was accorded popular recognition throughout
the country,

I. whereas the Republic of Armenia has suspended its diplomatic ties
with Hungary on 31 August 2012,

1. Deplores the decision by the President of Azerbaijan to grant
pardon to Ramil Safarov, regarded by some as a gesture that could
contribute to further escalation of the tensions and widens the
feelings of injustice that have arisen from the unresolved conflict
over the Nagorno-Karabakh, and expresses its hope that the President
of Azerbaijan and the President of Armenia will refrain from acts
that do not contribute to the reconciliation between the states of
the Southern Caucasus;

2. Is concerned about the publicity given to Ramil Safarov, sentenced
murderer, upon his arrival in Azerbaijan, its impact of this as an
example for future generations and the promotion and recognition he
received from the Azerbaijani state; and is further concerned that
this act threatens all peaceful reconciliation processes within the
societies affected, undermines future possibilities of the evolvement
of a peaceful people-to-people contact in the region,

3. Notes that in 2001 Armenia gave a free pardon to Varoujan
Garabedian, sentenced to life imprisonment by France in 1985 for
terrorism, on his transfer to Armenia,

4. Recalls that overemotional responses, emotional acts from the
Armenian side are not contributing to a peaceful solution in the long
term, therefore calls for calm,

5. Encourages the authorities of Azerbaijan and Armenia to strengthen
their efforts for the reconciliation between the two nations and
the region;

6. Recalls its position that the Association Agreement between the
EU and Azerbaijan, currently being negotiated, should include clauses
and benchmarks on the protection and promotion of human rights,

7. Urges the Azerbaijani authorities to step up its efforts to reform
all aspects of the judicial system on the basis of the rule of law:
prosecution, trial, sentencing, detention and appeals;

8. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to comply with all rulings of
the European Court on Human Rights concerning Azerbaijan;9. Instructs
its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the
Commission, the EEAS, the Governments and Parliaments of the Republic
of Azerbaijan and the EU Member States.

POLITICAL ANALYST: EUROPEAN REACTION TO SAFAROV ISSUE REMINDS “CROCODILE TEARS”

ARMENPRESS
13 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenia has the necessity to
mobilize its resources to resist the challenges developing in the
region. This opinion was stated by the political analyst Levon
Shirinyan at the press conference on September 13. He is certain
that despite the regional developments, the Turkish factor will work
against Armenia and the latter should have a system of preventive
measures. “We are obliged to implement nation-wide mobilization in
order to avoid war”, – said Shirinyan, as reported by Armenpress.

The political analyst mentioned that in the Ramil Safarov’s case the
Europe’s reaction reminds “crocodile tears”, which would not be of
some benefit for Armenia. “If the West and the European structures
do not implement any sanctions towards Azerbaijan, their condolatory
announcements do not mean anything for us”, – emphasized the analyst.

According to Shirinyan, the European diplomacy knows the Armenian
issue quite well and is responsible for the ignoble action of the
European Union member country Hungary.

On February 19 2004 in Budapest Azerbaijani assassin Ramil Safarov,
who axe-murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan while sleeping,
when they were participating in NATO English Language Courses in the
capital of Hungary, was sentenced to life imprisonment without right
to be pardoned for 30 years. On August 31 2012 Safarov was extradited
from Hungary to Azerbaijan and was pardoned by the President Ilham
Aliyev. The murderer was advanced to mayor, provided with an apartment
and granted “national hero”. Armenia suspended diplomatic relations
and all official ties with Hungary.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN EITHER INTENTIONALLY DISTORTS FACTS OR IS NOT INFORMED OF RECENT PAST EVENTS

arminfo
Thursday, September 13, 14:50

Second president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan has refuted the statement
by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev saying that in 2001 he allegedly
pardoned terrorist Varuzhan Karapetyan, who was sentenced for life
in prison in France and extradited to Armenia.

The statement by Robert Kocharyan’s office reads that Varuzhyan
Karapetyan was not extradited to Armenia. He was pardoned in France
and only after that he moved to Armenia for permanent residence. “One
can easily find relevant information in the Internet. Consequently,
President of Azerbaijan trying to justify the pardon granted to
murderer Ramil Safarov either intentional distorts facts or is just
not informed of the recent past events.”

It is noteworthy that Varuzhan Karapetyan was sentenced to life in
prison for organizing a terrorist act in Orly in 1983. After the
terrorist act at the local airport the French Police detained V.

Karapetyan, who pled guilty and said that the bomb blasted ahead of
time. The blast was planned in the plane during the Paris- Istanbul
flight. In 2001 Karapetyan was set free and deported to Armenia after
17 years in prison.

HRANT DINK AWARD TO BE PRESENTED ON HIS BIRTHDAY

ARMENPRESS
13 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: The International Hrant Dink Award
will be presented for the fourth time on Hrant Dink~Rs birthday,
September 15. As Armenpress reports citing Hrank Dink Foundation the
Jury staff of the International Hrant Dink Award 2012 consists of
Ahmet Altan, Tim Garton Ash, Emma Bonino, Lydia Cacho, Rakel Dink,
Costa Gavras, Nilufer Gole, Alexander Iskendaryan and Etyen Mahc.

An oratorio dedicated to Hrant Dink to meet with the audience for the
first time will declare the launch of the opening .Every year, the
award is presented to two people, groups or institutions from inside
and outside Turkey, who work for a world free of discrimination,
racism, and violence, take personal risks for their ideals, use the
language of peace, and by doing so, inspire and encourage others. With
this award, the Foundation aims to remind to all those who struggle
for these ideals that their voices are heard, their work is visible
and that they are not alone, and also to encourage everyone to fight
for their ideals.