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NATO DIVES INTO TENSE CAUCASUS
Hurriyet
Sept 6 2012
Turkey
The NATO chief starts a Caucasus tour amid tension between Baku and
Yerevan over the pardon of Safarov. Meanwhile, the Armenian Parliament
discusses the recognition of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region
An Armenian soldier of the self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabagh
aims his Kalashnikov assault rifle as he stands in a trench
at the frontline on the border with Azerbaijan, near the town of
Martakert. Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a long-running conflict
over the disputed region, where they fought a war in the 1990s. AFP
photo NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has started a
Caucasus regional tour in Yerevan, where he is expected to discuss
regional issues with President Serzh Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan. Rasmussen will then
head to Azerbaijan and Georgia, according to the NATO press service.
His visit comes at a critical time when Armenia and neighboring
Azerbaijan are at odds over Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev~Rs
decision to pardon an Azerbaijani military officer who had been jailed
for life in Hungary for the murder of an Armenian officer in 2004.
Last week Hungary released Ramil Safarov, who had served eight years of
his life sentence for killing an Armenian officer during NATO training
in Hungary. Though the international community showed its concerns
over Safarov~Rs extradition, NATO has remained silent. Most notably,
the U.S., the EU and Russia expressed their concerns.
Rasmussen will also deliver a keynote speech at the University
of Yerevan.
Parliament convenes
Armenian Parliament is also discussing a bill to recognize
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent country, though no date has yet
been scheduled for the vote. Political analysts in Armenia say that
the Safarov situation has created a good occasion for the recognition
of Nagorno-Karabakh~Rs independence, according Armenianow website.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a long-running conflict over
the disputed region, where they fought a war in the 1990s.
The bill has been proposed several times in the past several years,
but it was left out by the parliamentary majority every time with the
explanation that the time was not yet ripe. ~SWe all should understand:
The fact that during so many years Armenia has not recognized the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is due to the fact that Armenia is trying
to reach a result through negotiations. At the same time, we must
understand that any adventure by Azerbaijan, any actions taken outside
the OSCE Minsk Group framework will speed up the recognition of the
NKR on our part,~T the Armenian president said last year. The National
Assembly also called an emergency session yesterday and was expected
to adopt a statement condemning the extradition and pardon of Safarov.
Threat from ASALA Meanwhile, the Armenian Secret Army for the
Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) has threatened diplomatic missions
and citizens of Azerbaijan in foreign countries in retaliation for
the pardoning. ~SAzerbaijani diplomats and students studying abroad,
businessmen, activists of Azeri Diaspora organizations and officials
will be killed,~T read a letter sent to Azerbaijan~Rs embassy in
Hungary.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Hurriyet
Sept 6 2012
Turkey
The NATO chief starts a Caucasus tour amid tension between Baku and
Yerevan over the pardon of Safarov. Meanwhile, the Armenian Parliament
discusses the recognition of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region
An Armenian soldier of the self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabagh
aims his Kalashnikov assault rifle as he stands in a trench
at the frontline on the border with Azerbaijan, near the town of
Martakert. Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a long-running conflict
over the disputed region, where they fought a war in the 1990s. AFP
photo NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has started a
Caucasus regional tour in Yerevan, where he is expected to discuss
regional issues with President Serzh Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan. Rasmussen will then
head to Azerbaijan and Georgia, according to the NATO press service.
His visit comes at a critical time when Armenia and neighboring
Azerbaijan are at odds over Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev~Rs
decision to pardon an Azerbaijani military officer who had been jailed
for life in Hungary for the murder of an Armenian officer in 2004.
Last week Hungary released Ramil Safarov, who had served eight years of
his life sentence for killing an Armenian officer during NATO training
in Hungary. Though the international community showed its concerns
over Safarov~Rs extradition, NATO has remained silent. Most notably,
the U.S., the EU and Russia expressed their concerns.
Rasmussen will also deliver a keynote speech at the University
of Yerevan.
Parliament convenes
Armenian Parliament is also discussing a bill to recognize
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent country, though no date has yet
been scheduled for the vote. Political analysts in Armenia say that
the Safarov situation has created a good occasion for the recognition
of Nagorno-Karabakh~Rs independence, according Armenianow website.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a long-running conflict over
the disputed region, where they fought a war in the 1990s.
The bill has been proposed several times in the past several years,
but it was left out by the parliamentary majority every time with the
explanation that the time was not yet ripe. ~SWe all should understand:
The fact that during so many years Armenia has not recognized the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is due to the fact that Armenia is trying
to reach a result through negotiations. At the same time, we must
understand that any adventure by Azerbaijan, any actions taken outside
the OSCE Minsk Group framework will speed up the recognition of the
NKR on our part,~T the Armenian president said last year. The National
Assembly also called an emergency session yesterday and was expected
to adopt a statement condemning the extradition and pardon of Safarov.
Threat from ASALA Meanwhile, the Armenian Secret Army for the
Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) has threatened diplomatic missions
and citizens of Azerbaijan in foreign countries in retaliation for
the pardoning. ~SAzerbaijani diplomats and students studying abroad,
businessmen, activists of Azeri Diaspora organizations and officials
will be killed,~T read a letter sent to Azerbaijan~Rs embassy in
Hungary.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress