Tweet
HUNGARY SENDS CONVICTED MURDERER HOME, AZERBAIJAN FREES AND PROMOTES KILLER SOLDIER, ARMENIA ENRAGED
portfolio.hu
Sept 3 2012
Hungary
Armenia severed all diplomatic ties with Hungary on Friday after
Azeri soldier Ramil Sahib Safarov, who was serving a life sentence
in Hungary for killing an Armenian soldier in Budapest in 2004, was
extradited to his home country where he was pardoned by the President.
Safarov's release outraged Armenians who blamed Budapest for "selling"
the killer to Azerbaijan, knowing he would not be imprisoned there.
Hungary flatly refuses allegations that it had made any such deal,
claiming it had done everything according to international law.
Who was sent home and freed?
Armenia broke off diplomatic ties with Hungary after Lt. Ramil Safarov
sentenced to life in prison here for killing Armenian officer Lt.
Gurgen Markarian was sent home on Friday and, despite assurances,
immediately pardoned and freed.
Safarov was given a life sentence in 2006 by the Budapest City Court
after he confessed to killing Markarian with an axe in his sleep
in his dormitory room while both were in Hungary for a 2004 NATO
language course.
Safarov claimed he killed Markarian because he had provoked and
ridiculed him and because he wanted revenge for Azeris killed during
the 1988-1994 war between the ex-Soviet states over the disputed
mountanaious territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
"My conscience was clouded as a result of the insults and humiliating
and provoking behavior, and I lost all control," Safarov told the
court in April 2006.
Armenian government forces helped Nagorno-Karabakh's separatist rebels
drive the Azeri army out of the region and several other adjacent
Azeri districts. Baku and Yerevan are still technically at war over
the region.
The sentenced murderer was welcomed home as a hero on Friday and
pardoned by Azeri president Ilham Aliyev. On Saturday he was reinstated
in the army and promoted to the rank of major.
Diplomatic ties cut off, Obama "deeply concerned"
In response to Safarov's release, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian
said his country was cutting diplomatic ties with Hungary. Protesters
in the Armenian capital of Yerevan threw tomatoes at the building
housing Hungary's honorary consulate and the tore down the Hungarian
flag, Hungarian state news agency MTI reported.
Sarkisian said Armenia was "halting diplomatic relations and all
official ties with Hungary."
The White House also criticized the decision to free Safarov.
"President Obama is deeply concerned by today's announcement that
the President of Azerbaijan has pardoned Ramil Safarov following his
return from Hungary," said a statement from National Security Council
Spokesman Tommy Vietor.
"We are communicating to Azerbaijani authorities our disappointment
about the decision to pardon Safarov. This action is contrary
to ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote
reconciliation. The United States is also requesting an explanation
from Hungary regarding its decision to transfer Safarov to Azerbaijan."
Hungary protests
Zsolt Németh, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, asked Vilayat Guliyev, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Hungary,
into his office on 2 September to inform Ambassador Guliyev about
the position of the Government of Hungary.
"Hungary considers it unacceptable and expresses utter disapproval at
the fact that Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced for manslaughter by
Hungarian court, received pardon from the President of Azerbaijan,"
the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Németh pointed out that the measures made by Azerbaijan are "contrary
to the relevant rules of international law and blatantly contradict
the promise officially confirmed by Azerbaijan earlier that Safarov
would continue to serve his sentence in Azerbaijan."
"The steps taken by the Azeri party are not appropriate with respect to
the relation of mutual trust that has developed between our countries
over the past years, and which could serve to further improve our
bilateral cooperation," he added.
The Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
handed over the following diplomatic note to the Ambassador of
Azerbaijan:
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary presents its compliments
to the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Budapest and has the
honour to communicate the following.
"The Government of Hungary was astonished to receive the news about
the decision of the Azerbaijani side granting pardon to Ramil Sahib
Safarov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter
in 2006.
"Hungary refuses to accept and condemns the action of Azerbaijan,
which contradicts the relevant rules of international law and sharply
contrasts the undertaking of the Azerbaijani side in this matter,
confirmed by the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of
Azerbaijan in his letter XX-NBSKFO/3743/4/2012 of 15 August 2012
addressed to the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice
of Hungary.
"In this letter the Republic of Azerbaijan quoting the relevant
international Convention undertook that the sentenced person will
serve the remaining part of his prison sentence in the Republic of
Azerbaijan and may be released on conditional parole only after he
has served at least 25 years of his sentence.
"Hungary regards the decision of Azerbaijan inconsistent with the
spirit of cooperation based on mutual trust that has been achieved
during the past years between our respective countries.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary avails itself of this
opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in
Budapest the assurances of its highest considerations."
A regular extradition case
State secretary for foreign policy and economy at the Prime Minister's
Office Péter Szijjártó told public television MTV late on Sunday
that there is no connection between the case and a possible purchase
of Hungarian debt by Azerbaijan. He also revealed that Safarov's case
had been raised during Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's visit to Baku
in June.
Szijjártó said Safarov's extradition had been raised by Azerbaijan
during the PM's June visit to Baku, but Budapest insisted that this
was "an issue of international law with clear regulations."
"That is why we asked the Azeri party to follow the rules in
everything. We promised that Hungary will naturally also conduce a
procedure in line with international legislation if it receives an
Azeri initiative," he added.
Szijjártó emphasised that every detail of Hungary's actions were
in line with the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons by
the Council of Europe (1983).
Safarov's legal representative had requested that his client spends
his sentence in Azerbaijan. Then the Justice Minister - in line with
the regulations of the extradition treaty - requested information
at Azeri authorities and learned that Safarov would have received a
life sentence for his crime also in his homeland and that Azerbaijan
would keep him in prison.
Szijjártó noted that there are 8-12 such extradition cases every year
in Hungary, adding that this is a "usual procedure of international
law; there's nothing extraordinary in it and everything was done
accordingly in this case too."
Oil billions and extradition: no connection
When asked about a possible connection between Safarov's extradition
and Azerbaijan's possible purchase of Hungarian bonds, Szijjártó
responded that there is no connection whatsoever.
On 23 August, Hungarian Weekly FigyelÅ' claimed a foreign currency bond
issue was taking shape and might happen with Azerbaijan as a lender
before Hungary has an agreement with the EU and the IMF in place.
Azerbaijan is looking to buy Hungarian government bonds of 2 to 3
year maturity, on a scale of EUR 2 to 3 billion, the paper learned
from an Economy Ministry source.
László Borbély, deputy CEO of the Government Debt Management Agency
(Ã~AKK), argued the reason why no FX bond issue is expected before
the IMF deal is that Hungary will be in a better position to secure
finance at a lower interest rate afterwards.
Borbély told daily newspaper Magyar Nemzet last week that talks
between the two countries about a possible purchase by Azerbaijan of
up to EUR 3 billion in Hungarian bonds were only at an "exploratory
phase" for now.
"[...] a lot of people have a wild imagination, but the fact is that
a cut and dry international legal case and the economic co-operation
of two countries have no influence whatsoever on one another,"
Szijjártó said.
Secret talks?
Novruz Mammadov, head of the foreign relations department of the
Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, told Newtimes.az in an
interview on 1 September that "steps to extradite Ramil Safarov to
Azerbaijan were taken in a completely closed environment. Secret talks
have been held under the serious control of President of Azerbaijan
for about a year."
He noted that President Ilham Aliyev "supervised the negotiations
between the law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan and Hungary for
a long time."
"A crucial role in the resolution of this issue belonged to an
agreement reached during the visit of the Hungarian Prime Minister
Viktor Orban," Mammadov was cited as saying.
http://www.portfolio.hu/en/economy/hungary_sends_convicted_murderer_home_azerbaijan_f rees_and_promotes_killer_soldier_armenia_enraged.2 4778.html
portfolio.hu
Sept 3 2012
Hungary
Armenia severed all diplomatic ties with Hungary on Friday after
Azeri soldier Ramil Sahib Safarov, who was serving a life sentence
in Hungary for killing an Armenian soldier in Budapest in 2004, was
extradited to his home country where he was pardoned by the President.
Safarov's release outraged Armenians who blamed Budapest for "selling"
the killer to Azerbaijan, knowing he would not be imprisoned there.
Hungary flatly refuses allegations that it had made any such deal,
claiming it had done everything according to international law.
Who was sent home and freed?
Armenia broke off diplomatic ties with Hungary after Lt. Ramil Safarov
sentenced to life in prison here for killing Armenian officer Lt.
Gurgen Markarian was sent home on Friday and, despite assurances,
immediately pardoned and freed.
Safarov was given a life sentence in 2006 by the Budapest City Court
after he confessed to killing Markarian with an axe in his sleep
in his dormitory room while both were in Hungary for a 2004 NATO
language course.
Safarov claimed he killed Markarian because he had provoked and
ridiculed him and because he wanted revenge for Azeris killed during
the 1988-1994 war between the ex-Soviet states over the disputed
mountanaious territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
"My conscience was clouded as a result of the insults and humiliating
and provoking behavior, and I lost all control," Safarov told the
court in April 2006.
Armenian government forces helped Nagorno-Karabakh's separatist rebels
drive the Azeri army out of the region and several other adjacent
Azeri districts. Baku and Yerevan are still technically at war over
the region.
The sentenced murderer was welcomed home as a hero on Friday and
pardoned by Azeri president Ilham Aliyev. On Saturday he was reinstated
in the army and promoted to the rank of major.
Diplomatic ties cut off, Obama "deeply concerned"
In response to Safarov's release, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian
said his country was cutting diplomatic ties with Hungary. Protesters
in the Armenian capital of Yerevan threw tomatoes at the building
housing Hungary's honorary consulate and the tore down the Hungarian
flag, Hungarian state news agency MTI reported.
Sarkisian said Armenia was "halting diplomatic relations and all
official ties with Hungary."
The White House also criticized the decision to free Safarov.
"President Obama is deeply concerned by today's announcement that
the President of Azerbaijan has pardoned Ramil Safarov following his
return from Hungary," said a statement from National Security Council
Spokesman Tommy Vietor.
"We are communicating to Azerbaijani authorities our disappointment
about the decision to pardon Safarov. This action is contrary
to ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote
reconciliation. The United States is also requesting an explanation
from Hungary regarding its decision to transfer Safarov to Azerbaijan."
Hungary protests
Zsolt Németh, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, asked Vilayat Guliyev, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Hungary,
into his office on 2 September to inform Ambassador Guliyev about
the position of the Government of Hungary.
"Hungary considers it unacceptable and expresses utter disapproval at
the fact that Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced for manslaughter by
Hungarian court, received pardon from the President of Azerbaijan,"
the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Németh pointed out that the measures made by Azerbaijan are "contrary
to the relevant rules of international law and blatantly contradict
the promise officially confirmed by Azerbaijan earlier that Safarov
would continue to serve his sentence in Azerbaijan."
"The steps taken by the Azeri party are not appropriate with respect to
the relation of mutual trust that has developed between our countries
over the past years, and which could serve to further improve our
bilateral cooperation," he added.
The Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
handed over the following diplomatic note to the Ambassador of
Azerbaijan:
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary presents its compliments
to the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Budapest and has the
honour to communicate the following.
"The Government of Hungary was astonished to receive the news about
the decision of the Azerbaijani side granting pardon to Ramil Sahib
Safarov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter
in 2006.
"Hungary refuses to accept and condemns the action of Azerbaijan,
which contradicts the relevant rules of international law and sharply
contrasts the undertaking of the Azerbaijani side in this matter,
confirmed by the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of
Azerbaijan in his letter XX-NBSKFO/3743/4/2012 of 15 August 2012
addressed to the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice
of Hungary.
"In this letter the Republic of Azerbaijan quoting the relevant
international Convention undertook that the sentenced person will
serve the remaining part of his prison sentence in the Republic of
Azerbaijan and may be released on conditional parole only after he
has served at least 25 years of his sentence.
"Hungary regards the decision of Azerbaijan inconsistent with the
spirit of cooperation based on mutual trust that has been achieved
during the past years between our respective countries.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary avails itself of this
opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in
Budapest the assurances of its highest considerations."
A regular extradition case
State secretary for foreign policy and economy at the Prime Minister's
Office Péter Szijjártó told public television MTV late on Sunday
that there is no connection between the case and a possible purchase
of Hungarian debt by Azerbaijan. He also revealed that Safarov's case
had been raised during Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's visit to Baku
in June.
Szijjártó said Safarov's extradition had been raised by Azerbaijan
during the PM's June visit to Baku, but Budapest insisted that this
was "an issue of international law with clear regulations."
"That is why we asked the Azeri party to follow the rules in
everything. We promised that Hungary will naturally also conduce a
procedure in line with international legislation if it receives an
Azeri initiative," he added.
Szijjártó emphasised that every detail of Hungary's actions were
in line with the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons by
the Council of Europe (1983).
Safarov's legal representative had requested that his client spends
his sentence in Azerbaijan. Then the Justice Minister - in line with
the regulations of the extradition treaty - requested information
at Azeri authorities and learned that Safarov would have received a
life sentence for his crime also in his homeland and that Azerbaijan
would keep him in prison.
Szijjártó noted that there are 8-12 such extradition cases every year
in Hungary, adding that this is a "usual procedure of international
law; there's nothing extraordinary in it and everything was done
accordingly in this case too."
Oil billions and extradition: no connection
When asked about a possible connection between Safarov's extradition
and Azerbaijan's possible purchase of Hungarian bonds, Szijjártó
responded that there is no connection whatsoever.
On 23 August, Hungarian Weekly FigyelÅ' claimed a foreign currency bond
issue was taking shape and might happen with Azerbaijan as a lender
before Hungary has an agreement with the EU and the IMF in place.
Azerbaijan is looking to buy Hungarian government bonds of 2 to 3
year maturity, on a scale of EUR 2 to 3 billion, the paper learned
from an Economy Ministry source.
László Borbély, deputy CEO of the Government Debt Management Agency
(Ã~AKK), argued the reason why no FX bond issue is expected before
the IMF deal is that Hungary will be in a better position to secure
finance at a lower interest rate afterwards.
Borbély told daily newspaper Magyar Nemzet last week that talks
between the two countries about a possible purchase by Azerbaijan of
up to EUR 3 billion in Hungarian bonds were only at an "exploratory
phase" for now.
"[...] a lot of people have a wild imagination, but the fact is that
a cut and dry international legal case and the economic co-operation
of two countries have no influence whatsoever on one another,"
Szijjártó said.
Secret talks?
Novruz Mammadov, head of the foreign relations department of the
Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, told Newtimes.az in an
interview on 1 September that "steps to extradite Ramil Safarov to
Azerbaijan were taken in a completely closed environment. Secret talks
have been held under the serious control of President of Azerbaijan
for about a year."
He noted that President Ilham Aliyev "supervised the negotiations
between the law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan and Hungary for
a long time."
"A crucial role in the resolution of this issue belonged to an
agreement reached during the visit of the Hungarian Prime Minister
Viktor Orban," Mammadov was cited as saying.
http://www.portfolio.hu/en/economy/hungary_sends_convicted_murderer_home_azerbaijan_f rees_and_promotes_killer_soldier_armenia_enraged.2 4778.html