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'Sorry, Armenia!': Thousands of Hungarians Apologize, Condemn Government
for Safarov Extradition
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/09/02/sorry-armenia/
Posted by Khatchig Mouradian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/author/khatchig-mouradian/
on September 2, 2012
Hungarian Activists to hold demonstrations this week
"This mistake has to be rectified by us, Hungarians!" wrote one. "Today, I
am ashamed of being a Hungarian," wrote another. "I apologize to all
Armenians, and particularly to the family of Gurgen Margaryan," said a
third.
[image: Apology Hungary 'Sorry, Armenia!': Thousands of Hungarians
Apologize, Condemn Government for Safarov
Extradition]
Politicians, religious leaders, and activists in Hungary issued statements
apologizing to Armenians and criticizing the extradition.
They echoed the sentiments of tens of thousands of Hungarians outraged by
their government's decision to extradite Margaryan's murderer, Ramil
Safarov, to his home country Azerbaijan, where he received a hero's
welcome, was pardoned, and promoted.
In 2006, Safarov had murdered the Armenian lieutenant in Hungary with an
axe, while the latter was asleep. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Politicians, religious leaders, and activists in Hungary commented on the
issue, apologizing to Armenians and criticizing the extradition.
President of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference Péter Card. Erdő
issued a statement expressing "full solidarity with the Armenian Christians
and with the Armenian people that has so much suffered in the past."
"We ask the Almighty that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin
Mary He might lead and protect the whole Armenian people and bless them
with the gift of justice and peace," read the statement.
[image: In Memoriam Gurgen Margaryan Deák square Budapest centre 300x225
'Sorry, Armenia!': Thousands of Hungarians Apologize, Condemn Government
for Safarov Extradition]
Wreaths were placed in memory of Margaryan at Deák square in Budapest.
Newspapers and blogs published articles denouncing the Hungarian government.
Demonstrations were planned for early this week in front of the Ministry of
Justice and the Parliament of Hungary to express outrage at the decision to
extradite Safarov.
Thousands of Hungarians joined Facebook groups apologizing for their
government's action. One such group, called "Sorry,
Armenia,"
had close to 8,000 likes as of Sept. 2.
Another Facebook group, "Hungarians are sorry,
Armenia"
had 2,000 likes.
Wreaths were placed in memory of Margaryan at Deák square in Budapest. (See
photo).
Fifteen Hungarians lined up on a street each holding a letter of the phrase
"Sorry, Armenia!" (See photo)
'Unacceptable, amoral act'
Benedek Zsigmond, a Hungarian Armenologist, made moving statements in
Yerevan, in fluent Armenian, apologizing for the "unacceptable, amoral
act." He added, "That which the Hungarian government has done flies in the
face of all moral and panhuman values."
[image: sorry armenia 300x187 'Sorry, Armenia!': Thousands of Hungarians
Apologize, Condemn Government for Safarov
Extradition]
Fifteen Hungarians lined up on a street each holding a letter of the phrase
"Sorry, Armenia!"
"Many Hungarians are apologizing for the government's action. They do it
both in Hungarian and in English. Moreover, some people say 'I feel shame
that I am Hungarian,'" Zsigmond told the Armenian Weekly in an interview.
Hungarians we interviewed not only expressed shame and outrage, but
insisted they would continue petitioning, protesting, and demonstrating
until their government did all it could to rectify the situation, and those
involved in the extradition were held accountable.
Ildi Boni Fülep, a Hungarian living in Vienna, told the Weekly, "As someone
who knows Armenia's culture and history, I'm deeply shocked by my
government's decision. I feel like my government put a knife in the back of
Armenians, and it also cheated its own nation."
'Please, do not burn our flag'
Some Hungarians pleaded Armenians to not burn the Hungarian flag during
demonstration against the Hungarian government. "The Hungarian Flag not a
symbol of the government, but the Hungarian people!" said one.
Another Hungarian blogger we interviewed noted, "Remember, that is also the
flag of the tens of thousands of Hungarians who are against the actions of
the government, and will demonstrate and protest against it."
"Burn the photo of [Hungarian Prime Minister] Viktor Orbán instead," she
added.
The Hungarian flag was burned during a demonstration in Yerevan on Sept. 1.
A follow-up to this story will be published later this week. Please send
your letters, comments, and relevant links to the author at
[email protected] or contact him on Twitter by clicking
here
for Safarov Extradition
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/09/02/sorry-armenia/
Posted by Khatchig Mouradian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/author/khatchig-mouradian/
on September 2, 2012
Hungarian Activists to hold demonstrations this week
"This mistake has to be rectified by us, Hungarians!" wrote one. "Today, I
am ashamed of being a Hungarian," wrote another. "I apologize to all
Armenians, and particularly to the family of Gurgen Margaryan," said a
third.
[image: Apology Hungary 'Sorry, Armenia!': Thousands of Hungarians
Apologize, Condemn Government for Safarov
Extradition]
Politicians, religious leaders, and activists in Hungary issued statements
apologizing to Armenians and criticizing the extradition.
They echoed the sentiments of tens of thousands of Hungarians outraged by
their government's decision to extradite Margaryan's murderer, Ramil
Safarov, to his home country Azerbaijan, where he received a hero's
welcome, was pardoned, and promoted.
In 2006, Safarov had murdered the Armenian lieutenant in Hungary with an
axe, while the latter was asleep. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Politicians, religious leaders, and activists in Hungary commented on the
issue, apologizing to Armenians and criticizing the extradition.
President of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference Péter Card. Erdő
issued a statement expressing "full solidarity with the Armenian Christians
and with the Armenian people that has so much suffered in the past."
"We ask the Almighty that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin
Mary He might lead and protect the whole Armenian people and bless them
with the gift of justice and peace," read the statement.
[image: In Memoriam Gurgen Margaryan Deák square Budapest centre 300x225
'Sorry, Armenia!': Thousands of Hungarians Apologize, Condemn Government
for Safarov Extradition]
Wreaths were placed in memory of Margaryan at Deák square in Budapest.
Newspapers and blogs published articles denouncing the Hungarian government.
Demonstrations were planned for early this week in front of the Ministry of
Justice and the Parliament of Hungary to express outrage at the decision to
extradite Safarov.
Thousands of Hungarians joined Facebook groups apologizing for their
government's action. One such group, called "Sorry,
Armenia,"
had close to 8,000 likes as of Sept. 2.
Another Facebook group, "Hungarians are sorry,
Armenia"
had 2,000 likes.
Wreaths were placed in memory of Margaryan at Deák square in Budapest. (See
photo).
Fifteen Hungarians lined up on a street each holding a letter of the phrase
"Sorry, Armenia!" (See photo)
'Unacceptable, amoral act'
Benedek Zsigmond, a Hungarian Armenologist, made moving statements in
Yerevan, in fluent Armenian, apologizing for the "unacceptable, amoral
act." He added, "That which the Hungarian government has done flies in the
face of all moral and panhuman values."
[image: sorry armenia 300x187 'Sorry, Armenia!': Thousands of Hungarians
Apologize, Condemn Government for Safarov
Extradition]
Fifteen Hungarians lined up on a street each holding a letter of the phrase
"Sorry, Armenia!"
"Many Hungarians are apologizing for the government's action. They do it
both in Hungarian and in English. Moreover, some people say 'I feel shame
that I am Hungarian,'" Zsigmond told the Armenian Weekly in an interview.
Hungarians we interviewed not only expressed shame and outrage, but
insisted they would continue petitioning, protesting, and demonstrating
until their government did all it could to rectify the situation, and those
involved in the extradition were held accountable.
Ildi Boni Fülep, a Hungarian living in Vienna, told the Weekly, "As someone
who knows Armenia's culture and history, I'm deeply shocked by my
government's decision. I feel like my government put a knife in the back of
Armenians, and it also cheated its own nation."
'Please, do not burn our flag'
Some Hungarians pleaded Armenians to not burn the Hungarian flag during
demonstration against the Hungarian government. "The Hungarian Flag not a
symbol of the government, but the Hungarian people!" said one.
Another Hungarian blogger we interviewed noted, "Remember, that is also the
flag of the tens of thousands of Hungarians who are against the actions of
the government, and will demonstrate and protest against it."
"Burn the photo of [Hungarian Prime Minister] Viktor Orbán instead," she
added.
The Hungarian flag was burned during a demonstration in Yerevan on Sept. 1.
A follow-up to this story will be published later this week. Please send
your letters, comments, and relevant links to the author at
[email protected] or contact him on Twitter by clicking
here