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ARMENIA LEADER: BURNING HUNGARIAN FLAGS IN PROTESTING KILLER'S REPATRIATION WRONG
Interfax
Sept 4 2012
Russia
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has urged fellow citizens and
ethnic Armenians abroad not to burn Hungarian flags in protesting
last week's pardon by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev of an Azeri army
officer who had been imprisoned in Hungary for savagely murdering an
Armenian officer but was sent back to Azerbaijan.
"I appeal to our public, especially youth, and ask them not to burn
the flag of Hungary because it is not the flag of the ruling party of
Hungary or a symbol of the prime minister of that country. An inhuman
act on the part of one person or one party must not make us an enemy
of the Hungarian people," Sargsyan told reporters during a visit to
Armenia's Shirak region.
Sargsyan said the Armenians had maintained friendly relations with
the Hungarians for centuries.
"Of course, one may protest, but we must remain true to ourselves
and our values," he said.
He also said Armenia is working on the aftermath of the scandal.
"This work will be consistent, sober-minded and circumspect. Every
move will be appropriate, both as regards our relations with our
partners and as regards international structures," he said.
Sr. Lt. Ramil Safarov, an Azeri army officer, murdered Armenian army
lieutenant Gurgen Margarian in 2004 in Budapest, where both had been
attending an English language course as part of NATO's Partnership
for Peace program.
Safarov hacked Margarian to death with an axe in his sleep.
Safarov was 26 and Margarian 25 at that time.
In 2006, a Budapest court gave Safarov a life sentence without the
right to appeal for release for the first 30 years of his term.
On Friday, Hungary returned Safarov to Azerbaijan. The same day,
President Aliyev pardoned him and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev had
a meeting with him, promoting him to major, giving him keys to a new
apartment and giving him back pay for eight and a half years.
Armenia announced on August 31 that it was severing its diplomatic
relations with Hungary.
From: A. Papazian
Interfax
Sept 4 2012
Russia
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has urged fellow citizens and
ethnic Armenians abroad not to burn Hungarian flags in protesting
last week's pardon by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev of an Azeri army
officer who had been imprisoned in Hungary for savagely murdering an
Armenian officer but was sent back to Azerbaijan.
"I appeal to our public, especially youth, and ask them not to burn
the flag of Hungary because it is not the flag of the ruling party of
Hungary or a symbol of the prime minister of that country. An inhuman
act on the part of one person or one party must not make us an enemy
of the Hungarian people," Sargsyan told reporters during a visit to
Armenia's Shirak region.
Sargsyan said the Armenians had maintained friendly relations with
the Hungarians for centuries.
"Of course, one may protest, but we must remain true to ourselves
and our values," he said.
He also said Armenia is working on the aftermath of the scandal.
"This work will be consistent, sober-minded and circumspect. Every
move will be appropriate, both as regards our relations with our
partners and as regards international structures," he said.
Sr. Lt. Ramil Safarov, an Azeri army officer, murdered Armenian army
lieutenant Gurgen Margarian in 2004 in Budapest, where both had been
attending an English language course as part of NATO's Partnership
for Peace program.
Safarov hacked Margarian to death with an axe in his sleep.
Safarov was 26 and Margarian 25 at that time.
In 2006, a Budapest court gave Safarov a life sentence without the
right to appeal for release for the first 30 years of his term.
On Friday, Hungary returned Safarov to Azerbaijan. The same day,
President Aliyev pardoned him and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev had
a meeting with him, promoting him to major, giving him keys to a new
apartment and giving him back pay for eight and a half years.
Armenia announced on August 31 that it was severing its diplomatic
relations with Hungary.
From: A. Papazian