Tweet
NATO CHIEF 'DEEPLY CONCERNED' OVER AZERI AX MURDERER'S PARDON
Bloomberg
Sept 6 2012
By Helena Bedwell and Zulfugar Agayev - Sep 6, 2012 6:38 AM ET
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he was "deeply
concerned" by Azerbaijan's pardon and promotion of a convicted murderer
who killed an Armenian army officer with an ax.
Ramil Safarov, who was serving a life sentence for slaying Gurgen
Margaryan in his sleep in Budapest eight years ago, was pardoned by
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and promoted after Hungary transferred
him home Aug. 31.
"The act he committed in 2004 was a terrible crime and should not be
glorified," Rasmussen said today in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
"The pardon damages trust and doesn't contribute to the peace process."
Energy-exporter Azerbaijan fought Armenia over the Nagorno- Karabakh
enclave after the 1991 Soviet breakup, leaving tens of thousands
dead and more than 1 million displaced. While hostilities ended with
a Russia-brokered cease-fire accord in 1994, the sides have yet to
sign a peace agreement.
Rasmussen said there must be no return to armed conflict.
"Tensions must be reduced and concrete steps must be taken to promote
regional cooperation and reconciliation," he said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-06/nato-chief-deeply-concerned-over-azeri-ax-murderer-s-pardon.html
Bloomberg
Sept 6 2012
By Helena Bedwell and Zulfugar Agayev - Sep 6, 2012 6:38 AM ET
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he was "deeply
concerned" by Azerbaijan's pardon and promotion of a convicted murderer
who killed an Armenian army officer with an ax.
Ramil Safarov, who was serving a life sentence for slaying Gurgen
Margaryan in his sleep in Budapest eight years ago, was pardoned by
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and promoted after Hungary transferred
him home Aug. 31.
"The act he committed in 2004 was a terrible crime and should not be
glorified," Rasmussen said today in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
"The pardon damages trust and doesn't contribute to the peace process."
Energy-exporter Azerbaijan fought Armenia over the Nagorno- Karabakh
enclave after the 1991 Soviet breakup, leaving tens of thousands
dead and more than 1 million displaced. While hostilities ended with
a Russia-brokered cease-fire accord in 1994, the sides have yet to
sign a peace agreement.
Rasmussen said there must be no return to armed conflict.
"Tensions must be reduced and concrete steps must be taken to promote
regional cooperation and reconciliation," he said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-06/nato-chief-deeply-concerned-over-azeri-ax-murderer-s-pardon.html