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HUNGARY EMBROILED IN AZERI-ARMENIAN TENSIONS AFTER MURDERER IS PARDONED
by Lilit Gevorgyan
Global Insight
September 3, 2012
Hungary saw its first major diplomatic crisis in recent years as
Armenia severed all ties with it and the United States demanded an
explanation over the puzzling transfer of a convicted Azeri murderer
to Azerbaijan, where he was immediately freed and promoted in the
military ranks instead of serving a further 22 years in prison.
Azeri Bonds for Hungarian Justice?
Armenia cut all its diplomatic ties with Hungary on 31 August as
scores of protesters demonstrated in front of Hungarian embassies in
Armenia, Russia, Georgia, the UK and other countries. The step came
after Hungary extradited Ramil Safarov, an Azeri soldier serving a
30-year term for murder in a Hungarian prison, to Azerbaijan. Safarov
nearly decapitated Armenian student Gurgen Margarian in 2004 after
attacking him with an axe. Both were attending a NATO-sponsored
Partnership for Peace English language courses in Hungary. Safarov
first attacked the Armenian soldier while he was asleep, and his
attempt to kill a second Armenian solider was thwarted by a Lithuanian
military officer who was sharing the dormitory room. A Hungarian court
sentenced Safarov to 30 years' imprisonment despite his defence that
he had become psychologically unstable after Margarian had allegedly
insulted the Azeri flag. The backdrop of the animosity is, of course,
the conflict over the status of the ethnic-Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh
region, which split from Azerbaijan in 1988.
The Azerbaijani government has been keen to see Safarov extradited
to Baku but these efforts have been futile, not least because
shortly after Safarov's conviction he was declared a National Hero
of Azerbaijan. The legal team of the Armenian victim stated on 31
August that they had learned a month ago that Hungary was planning
Safarov's extradition. The legal team had warned that the transfer
would not happen. It is not clear what made the Hungarian government
change its position. Former Armenian human rights ombudsman Lyudmila
Harutyunyan told the press that the deal could be linked to Turkey
and Azerbaijan buying Hungarian bonds for EUR3 billion. Earlier,
Reuters and Hungarian business and news weeklyFigyel reported that
Azerbaijan's USD33 billion state oil fund planned to cut its exposure
to European bond markets and was considering high-yield Hungarian
bonds. Before the diplomatic fiasco, Hungarian officials did not deny
that they were considering raising the bond but also said that there
would be no substitute for loans from the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the EU. Hungary has had strained relations with international
donors for its alleged failure to adhere to preconditions attached to
these loans. Following the 31 August events, the Hungarian government
dismissed any links between its commercial relations with Azerbaijan
and the controversial transfer of the convicted criminal.
Reaction and Damage Control by Hungary
In a televised speech, Armenian president Sergh Sarkisian expressed his
anger over the extradition deal, he said: "This has happened because
the Government of Hungary, a member State of the European Union and
NATO, has made a deal with the authorities of Azerbaijan. As the trial
had demonstrated, the horrendous manslaughter took place only because
Gurgen Margarian was an Armenian." The Armenian government summoned
an extra-term meeting of the National Security Council, particularly
after reports that Azerbaijan has also violated the ceasefire along
the Line of Contact with Nagorno-Karabakh.
The US State Department issued a statement on 31 August saying that the
United States was "extremely troubled by the news that the President
of Azerbaijan pardoned [the] Azerbaijani army officer". It said that
it was seeking explanations from both Azerbaijan and Hungary, adding
that the US condemns "any action that fuels regional tensions".
Somewhat belatedly, on 1 September Hungary presented a diplomatic
protest to Azerbaijan and justified its actions by saying that it
had received assurances from the Azeri side. Meanwhile they sent
their reassurances of friendship to Armenia, a call unlikely to
be reciprocated for now. The diplomatic scandal has also meant the
government of Viktor Orban now faces criticism from the Hungarian
opposition. Attila Mesterhazy of the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP)
was quoted as saying that "the decision has brought shame to Hungary".
Yesterday (2 September) the Hungarian Socialist Party called for an
emergency parliamentary meeting to launch a probe into the case. No
statement was made by the EU.
Outlook and Implications
While Safarov's case is a nationalistic propaganda coup for Azerbaijan,
it has far-reaching implications. Anti-Armenian sentiment is often used
by the Azeri authorities to distract public attention from widespread
corruption and wealth polarisation, as well as a lack of democratic
freedom in the country. But most of all, it damages Azerbaijan's
chances of finding a compromise on Nagorno-Karabakh's status. If the
such a killing goes unpunished in Azerbaijan, it effectively closes
the door on the current peace talks.
Azerbaijan is heavily dependent on its energy sector and any new
conflict will only jeopardise the economy. As a result of the latest
developments, Armenia has declared that it is ready for war. It is also
staging large-scale military exercises later this month. The escalation
of the tension continues and with the heightened nationalistic rhetoric
the risk of war is rising, which will hurt Azerbaijan's attempts to
attract foreign investment.
by Lilit Gevorgyan
Global Insight
September 3, 2012
Hungary saw its first major diplomatic crisis in recent years as
Armenia severed all ties with it and the United States demanded an
explanation over the puzzling transfer of a convicted Azeri murderer
to Azerbaijan, where he was immediately freed and promoted in the
military ranks instead of serving a further 22 years in prison.
Azeri Bonds for Hungarian Justice?
Armenia cut all its diplomatic ties with Hungary on 31 August as
scores of protesters demonstrated in front of Hungarian embassies in
Armenia, Russia, Georgia, the UK and other countries. The step came
after Hungary extradited Ramil Safarov, an Azeri soldier serving a
30-year term for murder in a Hungarian prison, to Azerbaijan. Safarov
nearly decapitated Armenian student Gurgen Margarian in 2004 after
attacking him with an axe. Both were attending a NATO-sponsored
Partnership for Peace English language courses in Hungary. Safarov
first attacked the Armenian soldier while he was asleep, and his
attempt to kill a second Armenian solider was thwarted by a Lithuanian
military officer who was sharing the dormitory room. A Hungarian court
sentenced Safarov to 30 years' imprisonment despite his defence that
he had become psychologically unstable after Margarian had allegedly
insulted the Azeri flag. The backdrop of the animosity is, of course,
the conflict over the status of the ethnic-Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh
region, which split from Azerbaijan in 1988.
The Azerbaijani government has been keen to see Safarov extradited
to Baku but these efforts have been futile, not least because
shortly after Safarov's conviction he was declared a National Hero
of Azerbaijan. The legal team of the Armenian victim stated on 31
August that they had learned a month ago that Hungary was planning
Safarov's extradition. The legal team had warned that the transfer
would not happen. It is not clear what made the Hungarian government
change its position. Former Armenian human rights ombudsman Lyudmila
Harutyunyan told the press that the deal could be linked to Turkey
and Azerbaijan buying Hungarian bonds for EUR3 billion. Earlier,
Reuters and Hungarian business and news weeklyFigyel reported that
Azerbaijan's USD33 billion state oil fund planned to cut its exposure
to European bond markets and was considering high-yield Hungarian
bonds. Before the diplomatic fiasco, Hungarian officials did not deny
that they were considering raising the bond but also said that there
would be no substitute for loans from the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the EU. Hungary has had strained relations with international
donors for its alleged failure to adhere to preconditions attached to
these loans. Following the 31 August events, the Hungarian government
dismissed any links between its commercial relations with Azerbaijan
and the controversial transfer of the convicted criminal.
Reaction and Damage Control by Hungary
In a televised speech, Armenian president Sergh Sarkisian expressed his
anger over the extradition deal, he said: "This has happened because
the Government of Hungary, a member State of the European Union and
NATO, has made a deal with the authorities of Azerbaijan. As the trial
had demonstrated, the horrendous manslaughter took place only because
Gurgen Margarian was an Armenian." The Armenian government summoned
an extra-term meeting of the National Security Council, particularly
after reports that Azerbaijan has also violated the ceasefire along
the Line of Contact with Nagorno-Karabakh.
The US State Department issued a statement on 31 August saying that the
United States was "extremely troubled by the news that the President
of Azerbaijan pardoned [the] Azerbaijani army officer". It said that
it was seeking explanations from both Azerbaijan and Hungary, adding
that the US condemns "any action that fuels regional tensions".
Somewhat belatedly, on 1 September Hungary presented a diplomatic
protest to Azerbaijan and justified its actions by saying that it
had received assurances from the Azeri side. Meanwhile they sent
their reassurances of friendship to Armenia, a call unlikely to
be reciprocated for now. The diplomatic scandal has also meant the
government of Viktor Orban now faces criticism from the Hungarian
opposition. Attila Mesterhazy of the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP)
was quoted as saying that "the decision has brought shame to Hungary".
Yesterday (2 September) the Hungarian Socialist Party called for an
emergency parliamentary meeting to launch a probe into the case. No
statement was made by the EU.
Outlook and Implications
While Safarov's case is a nationalistic propaganda coup for Azerbaijan,
it has far-reaching implications. Anti-Armenian sentiment is often used
by the Azeri authorities to distract public attention from widespread
corruption and wealth polarisation, as well as a lack of democratic
freedom in the country. But most of all, it damages Azerbaijan's
chances of finding a compromise on Nagorno-Karabakh's status. If the
such a killing goes unpunished in Azerbaijan, it effectively closes
the door on the current peace talks.
Azerbaijan is heavily dependent on its energy sector and any new
conflict will only jeopardise the economy. As a result of the latest
developments, Armenia has declared that it is ready for war. It is also
staging large-scale military exercises later this month. The escalation
of the tension continues and with the heightened nationalistic rhetoric
the risk of war is rising, which will hurt Azerbaijan's attempts to
attract foreign investment.