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NATO CHIEF CONCERNED OVER PARDONING OF AZERI OFFICER
Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 7 2012
Turkey
YEREVAN - Agence France-Presse
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday he was
"deeply concerned" about the pardoning of an Azerbaijani soldier who
axed an Armenian officer to death during a NATO training course.
"The act he committed in 2004 was a terrible crime and should not be
glorified," Rasmussen said in a speech at Yerevan State University
during a visit to Armenia.
Azerbaijani lieutenant Ramil Safarov was extradited to Baku last week
from Hungary, where he had been serving a life sentence for hacking
the Armenian officer to death. Safarov was immediately pardoned and
promoted to the rank of major after returning home to a hero's welcome,
in defiance of assurances from Baku to Budapest that he would serve
out his term in Azerbaijan.
Praise to Georgia The issue has inflamed tensions between ex-Soviet
foes Armenia and Azerbaijan which are locked in an unresolved conflict
over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh where they fought a
war in the 1990s.
"The pardon damages trust and doesn't contribute to the peace process,"
Rasmussen said. "Tensions must be reduced and concrete steps must be
taken to promote regional cooperation and reconciliation," Rasmussen
said he would convey the same message to Azerbaijan when he visits Baku
today. Before visiting Baku, NATO chief went to Georgia and praised
the country for its strong commitment to NATO and to democratic
reforms. More than a thousand young Armenians demonstrated outside
the university where Rasmussen was speaking, chanting "Shame!
and "We demand justice!"
At a press conference with Rasmussen, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
said that "making a hero out of a criminal is unacceptable."
"Azerbaijan's shameful act seriously endangers the security of the
entire south Caucasus," he said.
September/07/2012
Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 7 2012
Turkey
YEREVAN - Agence France-Presse
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday he was
"deeply concerned" about the pardoning of an Azerbaijani soldier who
axed an Armenian officer to death during a NATO training course.
"The act he committed in 2004 was a terrible crime and should not be
glorified," Rasmussen said in a speech at Yerevan State University
during a visit to Armenia.
Azerbaijani lieutenant Ramil Safarov was extradited to Baku last week
from Hungary, where he had been serving a life sentence for hacking
the Armenian officer to death. Safarov was immediately pardoned and
promoted to the rank of major after returning home to a hero's welcome,
in defiance of assurances from Baku to Budapest that he would serve
out his term in Azerbaijan.
Praise to Georgia The issue has inflamed tensions between ex-Soviet
foes Armenia and Azerbaijan which are locked in an unresolved conflict
over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh where they fought a
war in the 1990s.
"The pardon damages trust and doesn't contribute to the peace process,"
Rasmussen said. "Tensions must be reduced and concrete steps must be
taken to promote regional cooperation and reconciliation," Rasmussen
said he would convey the same message to Azerbaijan when he visits Baku
today. Before visiting Baku, NATO chief went to Georgia and praised
the country for its strong commitment to NATO and to democratic
reforms. More than a thousand young Armenians demonstrated outside
the university where Rasmussen was speaking, chanting "Shame!
and "We demand justice!"
At a press conference with Rasmussen, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
said that "making a hero out of a criminal is unacceptable."
"Azerbaijan's shameful act seriously endangers the security of the
entire south Caucasus," he said.
September/07/2012