Author: Kalantarian Kevo

AXE-MURDERER SAFAROV “DISAPPEARS”, BAKU HIDES ITS “HERO”

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 7, 2012 – 17:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, pardoned by Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev following the assassination of Armenian officer,
has “disappeared.”According to 1 news.az, Safarov’s whereabouts are
kept secret “for safety reasons.”

As the assassin’s father, Sahib Safarov said, “I only met him on the
day of his return and never seen him since. He never shows up at home
or gives a call. I have no idea where his new apartment is.”

As Budapest’s Azeri embassy secretary Rashad Safavor noted earlier,
Hungary’s law enforcement bodies were informed of “threat letters,”
with precautionary measures to boost protection of embassy employees
undertaken.

RUSSIAN BODY POLITIC CONDEMNS OFFICIAL BUDAPEST’S ACTIONS

news.am
September 07, 2012 | 16:39

The Russian society will hold a public rally in Moscow. The event
will take place on September 14 at 1pm.

The gathering will be devoted to Hungary’s extradition of Ramil
Safarov to Azerbaijan and his subsequent pardoning in that country.

MoscowMunicipality has sanctioned the holding of this rally, the
Russian-Armenian Cooperation informs.

This public meeting is the Russian body politic’s protest against
the Azerbaijani-Hungarian arrangement.

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.

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 on August 31 that
Armenia is suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary.

AZERI KILLER RAMIL SAFAROV: NATO CHIEF ‘CONCERNED’

BBC

6 September 2012 Last updated at 12:02

People cheered and welcomed Ramil Safarov

RELATED STORIES

* Concern grows at Azeri killer row * Armenians in anti-Hungary
protest * Armenia breaks ties with Hungary

Nato’s secretary-general has expressed concern over a decision by
Azerbaijan to pardon an army officer convicted of the brutal murder
of an Armenian.

Ramil Safarov hacked a man to death with an axe in Hungary in 2004
and was imprisoned there until last week, when he was extradited
to Azerbaijan.

He was expected to serve out the rest of his life sentence, but was
instead promoted, and given a flat to live in.

The Armenian parliament has now formally suspended ties with Hungary.

Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) and Armenian president
Serzh Sarkisian (R). Armenia’s president Serzh Sarkisian (R) told Mr
Fogh Rasmussen that regional stability was in danger

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a bloody conflict over
the disputed border territory of Nagorno-Karabakh for more than
two decades.

Tens of thousands of people were killed in the early 90s before a
tenuous ceasefire was agreed.

‘Trust damaged’

Speaking during a visit to Armenia, Nato Secretary-General Anders
Fogh Rasmussen said the crime “should not be glorified”.

He said he was “deeply concerned” by Azerbaijan’s decision to release
Safarov.

“The pardon damages trust and doesn’t contribute to the peace process,”
he said.

About 1,000 Armenian protesters demonstrated as Mr Fogh Rasmussen
arrived in the country – they were calling for Nato condemnation of
Azerbaijan’s actions.

Speaking at a joint news conference following talks with the Nato
chief, Armenia’s President Serzh Sarkisian said that “making a hero
out of a criminal is unacceptable”.

“Azerbaijan’s shameful act seriously endangers the security of the
entire south Caucasus,” he said.

Mr Fogh Rasmussen is due to visit Azerbaijan on Friday.

International criticism and concern has been growing following the
release of Safarov, and there are increasing fears of a return to war.

Suspending ties with Hungary in an extraordinary session of parliament,
the Armenian government urged other countries to “condemn the deal
concluded between Azerbaijan and Hungary”.

A week before Safarov’s release, there were reports that the two
countries were in talks over a loan from Azerbaijan to Hungary of
2-3bn euros ($2.5-3.8bn; £1.6-2.4bn).

Hungary’s prime minister has denied any secret deal and insisted that
his country acted within international law.

BBC map

Armenia’s president has said his country would be ready if war were
to break out between the two.

President Serzh Sarkisian said, in quotes carried by the AFP news
agency: “We don’t want a war, but if we have to, we will fight and
win. We are not afraid of killers, even if they enjoy the protection
of the head of state.”

At the weekend hundreds of Armenians protested outside Hungary’s
consulate in the capital Yerevan, burning Hungarian flags and pelting
the mission with eggs.

The Hungarian authorities said they had returned Safarov to his
homeland only after receiving assurances from the Baku government
that his sentence would be enforced.

Insults

Ramil Safarov was given a hero’s welcome on his return to Azerbaijan
last week.

As well as an official pardon from President Ilham Aliyev, he was
promoted to the rank of major, given a flat and all the pay he had
lost since his arrest eight years ago.

Russia, which has been involved in efforts to defuse the so-called
frozen conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, said: “We believe
that these actions of Azerbaijani as well as Hungarian authorities
contradict internationally brokered efforts, of the OSCE’s Minsk
group in particular, to ease tensions in the region.”

The co-chairs of the Minsk group expressed their “deep concern and
regret for the damage the pardon and any attempts to glorify the
crime have done to the peace process and trust between the sides”.

The European Union also called for calm.

Safarov killed Armenian soldier Gurgen Markarian at a military academy
in Budapest in 2004, where both servicemen attended English-language
courses organised by Nato.

During his trial in Hungary, Safarov said that the Nagorno-Karabakh war
and insults from the Armenian officer were at the root of his actions.

BEIRUT HOSTS MASS RALLY TO PROTEST AZERI ASSASSIN SAFAROV EXTRADITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 6, 2012 – 15:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Beirut is hosting a mass rally in front of Hungarian
embassy in Lebanon to protest extradition of Azeri criminal Ramil
Safarov who murdered an Armenian officer in Budapest.

The event was organized by the youth wings of 3 traditional Armenian
parties: ARF Dashnaktsutyun, Social Democrat Hunchak Party and
Ramkavar Azatakan.

The demonstrators met with the Hungarian ambassador to hand him a
protest note against the extradition of the assassin who was later
pardoned by Azeri leadership.

STATEMENT BY THE EUROPEAN UNION-ARMENIA PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMITTEE (PCC) CO-CHAIR MILAN CABRNOCH

06.09.2012

On September 5 the European Union-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee (PCC) Co-Chair Milan Cabrnoch made a statement on the case
of Ramil Safarov, where it says in particular:

“In my capacity as Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation to
the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation
Committees, I express my deep concern about the Azerbaijani President’s
decision to pardon Ramil Safarov, who was supposed to serve a life
sentence for brutally murdering Gurgen Margaryan, an Armenian military
officer, in Hungary in 2004.

For a number of years, the Members of our Delegation have redoubled
their efforts in order to contribute to the improvement of relations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan through the parliamentary dialogue and,
most recently, also through the Euronest PA.

Moreover, we have intensified the bilateral contacts with Armenia
and Azerbaijan, by making use of the instruments of parliamentary
diplomacy, in the hope to reduce regional tensions, promote
reconciliation and contribute to finding a viable solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Our Delegation has made it clear to its Armenian and Azerbaijani
counterparts that respect for human rights, the rule of law and
European values should always be at the heart of their European
integration aspirations. In this context, the decision of Mr Aliyev
might be seen as a dangerous misuse of judicial proceedings.

I urge the authorities of Azerbaijan to show their commitment to the
values I mentioned and strongly encourage Azerbaijan and Armenia to
remain engaged in a reconciliation process.”

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL WELCOMED BY “SHAME”, “JUSTICE” CALLS

ARMENPRESS
6 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’ s ARF youth and student
associations welcomed NATO Secretary General in Yerevan with protest
actions. The initiators gathered in front of the residence of the
President were shouting “shame ,” justice” holding Armenian flag
parallelly singing patriotic songs. NATO Secretary General silence
pertain to Azerbaijani criminal Ramil Safarov extradition by Hungary
Government to Azerbaijani authorities raised a protest in Armenia.

The youth is calling NATO to came forth with clear stance ; reportedly
the crime was perpetrated within the military alliance language
courses. NATO Secretary General is in a regional visit to Armenia where
he is set to have meetings with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan,
Armenpress reports. Over 1000 members of Yerevan State University
“Young Universitarians union” welcomed NATO Secretary General Anders
Fogh Rasmussen with protests on September 6.

The youth called for justifice NATO Secretary General.

CZECH REPUBLIC IS CONCERNED ABOUT AZERBAIJAN’S DECISION

ARMENPRESS
6 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPETEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Czech Republic is concerned about
the latest events related to the extradition and pardoning of Ramil
Safarov, the murderer of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan. Vít
KoláÅ~Y, the head of press department of Czech Ministry of Foreign
Affairs noted in the exclusive comment for Armenpress.

“Czech Republic is concerned by the news that Azerbaijani officer
Ramil Sahib Safarov, who had been condemned in Hungary in 2006 to
life imprisonment for the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan
in 2004 and who was extradited to Azerbaijan to serve the rest of
his sentence, was pardoned by presidential decree and released. The
Czech Republic joints fully to the yesterday’s Statement of High
Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy/Vice President of the Commision and tefan Fule,
European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy”, –
cites Armenpress.

The Czech Republic is certain that this step does not contribute to
the efforts of international community towards strengthening mutual
confidence between parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
weakens the peace process.

Ramil Safarov hacked Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest on
February 19, 2004. The officers were participating in English training
courses in the framework of NATO’s programs in Budapest. Hungarian
court sentenced Ramil Safarov to life imprisonment. On August 31, 2012
Hungarian authorities decided to extradite the assassin to Azerbaijan,
where he was granted pardon by the president Ilham Aliyev. Furthermore
he has been advanced in career, provided with an apartment and a
passport. Armenia suspended relations with Hungary.

L’ECONOMIE DE L’ARMENIE EST DEVENUE PLUS COMPETITIVE
Laetitia

armenews.com
mercredi 5 septembre 2012

L’economie de l’Armenie est devenue un peu plus competitive par
rapport a l’annee dernière grâce a une plus grande transparence du
gouvernement et a la stabilite macroeconomique, selon une enquete
mondiale annuelle publiee mercredi 5 septembre.

L’Armenie est classee 82e sur 144 par rapport a l’indice de
competitivite mondiale (GCI) compile par le Forum economique mondial
base a Genève economique mondial (FEM). En 2011, l’Armenie occupait
la 92e place et en 2010 la 98e. Le pays reste a la traîne tout de
meme par rapport a ses voisins, selon le WEF. L’ Azerbaïdjan et la
Georgie sont respectivement 46e et 77e dans les classements annuels.

Presentant le rapport a Erevan, Sevak Hovannisian de la societe de
conseil EV, l’organisation partenaire du WEF en Armenie, a declare
que le perfectionnement represente par le dernier rapport est le
resultat de l’introduction constante de la gouvernance electronique
par le Premier ministre Tigran Sarkissian. Hovannisian a affirme
que la position tout de meme relativement faible de l’Armenie dans
le classement reflète les problèmes qui subsistent dans differentes
affaires. ” La corruption, l’administration douanière, un manque
d’independance du pouvoir judiciaire demeurent de graves problèmes
“, a-t-il declare aux journalistes.

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: ARMENIA AND NATO CAN BUILD AN EVEN STRONGER PARTNERSHIP

Mediamax
Sept 6 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
said in Yerevan today that NATO and Armenia have good cooperation on
defense reforms.

“NATO and Armenia are valuable partners,” he said.

“We have an opportunity to build an even stronger partnership for
the future,” said Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

NATO Secretary General highlighted Armenia’s contribution to the
Alliance’s peacekeeping missions. He said that Armenia has doubled
contribution to ISAF in Afganistan and rejoined the KFOR in Kosovo.

NATO CALLS FOR BETTER AZERI-ARMENIAN TIES

United Press International UPI
Sept 6 2012

YEREVAN, Armenia, Sept. 6 (UPI) — The NATO secretary-general called
on Azerbaijan and Armenia to take steps to avoid an escalation of
conflict by rebuilding a sense of trust.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen arrived Thursday in
Armenia, his first visit to the country.

In a speech to students at Yerevan State University, Rasmussen
expressed support for Armenia’s partnership with the NATO alliance.

“It’s an opportunity we must seize because we all have to gain and
so does the region as a whole,” he said.

Armenia went to war with Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Tensions rekindled in June when fighting broke out
between Azeri and Armenian forces over the region.

Rasmussen is to visit Azerbaijan Friday. He called on both sides to
break down barriers that interfere with reconciliation.

“There must be no return to conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan,”
he said. “Tensions must be reduced and concrete steps must be taken
to promote regional cooperation and reconciliation.”