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OSCE SAYS AZERI SOLDIER PARDON SETS BACK PEACE PROCESS
Reuters
Sept 3 2012
* Clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia raise fears of conflict
* Released solder given hero's welcome
* Pardon prompts concern from United States and Russia
By Gleb Bryanski
MOSCOW, Sept 3 (Reuters) - International mediators from the
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said on Monday
that Azerbaijan's decision to pardon an Azeri soldier who killed an
Armenian officer had damaged the peace process in the region.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at odds since the war between ethnic
Azeris and Armenians that erupted in 1991 over the mainly Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. A ceasefire was signed in 1994 but new
cross-border clashes this year have prompted worries of a resumption
of fighting.
Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, last week pardoned Ramil Safarov,
who had been sentenced to life in prison in Hungary for the 2004
killing of Armenian officer Gurgen Markaryan during NATO training
but was sent back to Azerbaijan.
Armenia suspended diplomatic relations with Hungary, calling Hungary's
decision to send back Safarov "a grave mistake".
Safarov was given a hero's welcome in Azerbaijan, where thousands of
people took to the streets to greet him in his native city of Sumgait.
The government promoted Safarov to the rank of major and paid his
salary for eight years.
The OSCE Minsk group, which includes representatives of the United
States, Russia and France and is mediating between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, met the two countries' foreign ministers after the pardon
threatened to inflame tensions.
"They (Minsk Group representatives) 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 group said in a statement.
Azerbaijan said its president acted in line with the law and dismissed
criticism from the Europe, Russia and United States - as well as
Armenia's reaction.
"The hysterical approach of the Armenian leadership was targeted at
the local population and was meant to be a populist political show,"
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said.
The White House said on Friday President Barack Omama was "deeply
concerned" by the pardon, saying in a statement: "This action is
contrary to ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote
reconciliation."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during a visit to Armenia
in June that violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan could lead to
a broader regional conflict.
Armenia's regional ally Russia expressed concern on Monday over
"possible negative consequences" of the decisions made by Azeri and
Hungarian authorities, as well as impact they may have on stability
in the region.
"When it comes to the U.S. position, we still do not understand the
third countries' interference ... I do not think that the U.S.
position is understandable," Abdullayev said, reiterating that the
handover and pardon were within the law.
Hungary, as well as other Western countries, has been developing
economic ties with energy-rich Azerbaijan, which is host to oil majors
including BP, Chevron and ExxonMobil.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/03/azerbaijan-armenia-soldier-idINL6E8K3L2Q20120903
Reuters
Sept 3 2012
* Clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia raise fears of conflict
* Released solder given hero's welcome
* Pardon prompts concern from United States and Russia
By Gleb Bryanski
MOSCOW, Sept 3 (Reuters) - International mediators from the
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said on Monday
that Azerbaijan's decision to pardon an Azeri soldier who killed an
Armenian officer had damaged the peace process in the region.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at odds since the war between ethnic
Azeris and Armenians that erupted in 1991 over the mainly Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. A ceasefire was signed in 1994 but new
cross-border clashes this year have prompted worries of a resumption
of fighting.
Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, last week pardoned Ramil Safarov,
who had been sentenced to life in prison in Hungary for the 2004
killing of Armenian officer Gurgen Markaryan during NATO training
but was sent back to Azerbaijan.
Armenia suspended diplomatic relations with Hungary, calling Hungary's
decision to send back Safarov "a grave mistake".
Safarov was given a hero's welcome in Azerbaijan, where thousands of
people took to the streets to greet him in his native city of Sumgait.
The government promoted Safarov to the rank of major and paid his
salary for eight years.
The OSCE Minsk group, which includes representatives of the United
States, Russia and France and is mediating between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, met the two countries' foreign ministers after the pardon
threatened to inflame tensions.
"They (Minsk Group representatives) 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 group said in a statement.
Azerbaijan said its president acted in line with the law and dismissed
criticism from the Europe, Russia and United States - as well as
Armenia's reaction.
"The hysterical approach of the Armenian leadership was targeted at
the local population and was meant to be a populist political show,"
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said.
The White House said on Friday President Barack Omama was "deeply
concerned" by the pardon, saying in a statement: "This action is
contrary to ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote
reconciliation."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during a visit to Armenia
in June that violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan could lead to
a broader regional conflict.
Armenia's regional ally Russia expressed concern on Monday over
"possible negative consequences" of the decisions made by Azeri and
Hungarian authorities, as well as impact they may have on stability
in the region.
"When it comes to the U.S. position, we still do not understand the
third countries' interference ... I do not think that the U.S.
position is understandable," Abdullayev said, reiterating that the
handover and pardon were within the law.
Hungary, as well as other Western countries, has been developing
economic ties with energy-rich Azerbaijan, which is host to oil majors
including BP, Chevron and ExxonMobil.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/03/azerbaijan-armenia-soldier-idINL6E8K3L2Q20120903