PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Cultural Association of Norway
Contact: Liana Gyulzadyan
Tel: +47 93 0537 82
Email: [email protected]
ARMENIANS OF NORWAY TO PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE EMBASSY OF HUNGARY IN OSLO
Oslo, Norway - Armenians of Norway will gather on Monday, September 3, at
2pm to hold a protest action in front of the embassy of Hungary in Norway.
Protestors will demand apology for extradition of Azerbaijani murder Ramil
Safarov, who was convicted of murder and was serving life sentence in
Hungary. A protest letter will be handed to the representatives of the
embassy. In protest letter the gathered demand the Hungarian Ambassador and
his government to take up bold and resolute steps to recover justice.
Copies of the letter will be presented to Mr Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Norway, Mr. Janos Herman, Ambassador and Head of
Delegation of the European Union, Mr. Helge Lund, President and CEO of
Statoil. The full text of the protest letter is available on Armenian
Cultural Association of Norway's website at www.Armenia.no
On Friday, 31 August 2012, Ramil Safarov, convicted of murder and serving
life sentence in Hungary, for hacked his Armenian counterpart to death in
sleep, in Budapest, in 2004, was extradited from Hungary to Azerbaijan. As
expected, he was immediately pardoned and set free on the highest official
level - with the decree of the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev. The
Hungarian Ministry of Public Administration and Justice defended its
decision by stating that it corresponds to the 1983 Strasbourg Convention
on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, to which both Azerbaijan and Hungary
are signatories. As the Ministry states in their website, according to the
Convention, a person sentenced in the territory of a Party may be
transferred to the territory of another Party in order to serve the
sentence imposed on him. However, the sentence was not enforced in
Azerbaijan; instead Safarov was released in immediate excitement, and was
accepted as a national hero. Furthermore, he was received with flowers and
festivities and was promoted into the rank of Major. Sadly, Hungarian
leadership approved the extradition regardless of being informed of such
outcomes by not only Armenian government, but also multiple public speeches
of representatives of Azerbaijani leadership.
Armenians and non-Armenians who are for international justice and rule of
law, are outraged on these developments and expect further steps to be
undertaken on the Hungarian side to condemn this breach of law and restore
justice. Safarov's extradition is not only a grave violation of justice,
a
threat to the renewal of regional conflicts in the Caucasus, but also a
signal to Azerbaijan to continue encouraging and justifying anti-Armenian
hatred among its citizens. As fairly pointed out by President Obama,
Hungarian and Azerbaijani governments' actions are harming the ongoing
efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote reconciliation.
This step has not only endangered the peace process mediated between
Azerbaijan and Armenia by OSCE Minks Group co-chairs, but also threatens
with further escalation and possible outbreak of armed confrontation in the
already fragile region.
Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan announced Friday that Armenia is
suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary.
Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt. Shared his concerns
through a message on twitter, `Strange decision in Azerbaijan to pardon man
having murdered an Armenian in Hungary. Rule of law must apply.'
There has not been any reactions from Norwegian government. The Ambassador
of Armenia to Denmark and Norway, H.E. Hrachya Aghajanyan, through ABC
Nyheter daily, expressed hopes for reactions from Norwegian society and
authorities, to such an unacceptable step, which undermines respect for
law, human rights and human dignity.
###
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Armenian Cultural Association of Norway
Contact: Liana Gyulzadyan
Tel: +47 93 0537 82
Email: [email protected]
ARMENIANS OF NORWAY TO PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE EMBASSY OF HUNGARY IN OSLO
Oslo, Norway - Armenians of Norway will gather on Monday, September 3, at
2pm to hold a protest action in front of the embassy of Hungary in Norway.
Protestors will demand apology for extradition of Azerbaijani murder Ramil
Safarov, who was convicted of murder and was serving life sentence in
Hungary. A protest letter will be handed to the representatives of the
embassy. In protest letter the gathered demand the Hungarian Ambassador and
his government to take up bold and resolute steps to recover justice.
Copies of the letter will be presented to Mr Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Norway, Mr. Janos Herman, Ambassador and Head of
Delegation of the European Union, Mr. Helge Lund, President and CEO of
Statoil. The full text of the protest letter is available on Armenian
Cultural Association of Norway's website at www.Armenia.no
On Friday, 31 August 2012, Ramil Safarov, convicted of murder and serving
life sentence in Hungary, for hacked his Armenian counterpart to death in
sleep, in Budapest, in 2004, was extradited from Hungary to Azerbaijan. As
expected, he was immediately pardoned and set free on the highest official
level - with the decree of the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev. The
Hungarian Ministry of Public Administration and Justice defended its
decision by stating that it corresponds to the 1983 Strasbourg Convention
on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, to which both Azerbaijan and Hungary
are signatories. As the Ministry states in their website, according to the
Convention, a person sentenced in the territory of a Party may be
transferred to the territory of another Party in order to serve the
sentence imposed on him. However, the sentence was not enforced in
Azerbaijan; instead Safarov was released in immediate excitement, and was
accepted as a national hero. Furthermore, he was received with flowers and
festivities and was promoted into the rank of Major. Sadly, Hungarian
leadership approved the extradition regardless of being informed of such
outcomes by not only Armenian government, but also multiple public speeches
of representatives of Azerbaijani leadership.
Armenians and non-Armenians who are for international justice and rule of
law, are outraged on these developments and expect further steps to be
undertaken on the Hungarian side to condemn this breach of law and restore
justice. Safarov's extradition is not only a grave violation of justice,
a
threat to the renewal of regional conflicts in the Caucasus, but also a
signal to Azerbaijan to continue encouraging and justifying anti-Armenian
hatred among its citizens. As fairly pointed out by President Obama,
Hungarian and Azerbaijani governments' actions are harming the ongoing
efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote reconciliation.
This step has not only endangered the peace process mediated between
Azerbaijan and Armenia by OSCE Minks Group co-chairs, but also threatens
with further escalation and possible outbreak of armed confrontation in the
already fragile region.
Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan announced Friday that Armenia is
suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary.
Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt. Shared his concerns
through a message on twitter, `Strange decision in Azerbaijan to pardon man
having murdered an Armenian in Hungary. Rule of law must apply.'
There has not been any reactions from Norwegian government. The Ambassador
of Armenia to Denmark and Norway, H.E. Hrachya Aghajanyan, through ABC
Nyheter daily, expressed hopes for reactions from Norwegian society and
authorities, to such an unacceptable step, which undermines respect for
law, human rights and human dignity.
###
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress