Tweet
ARMENIA STEPS UP PROTESTS OVER AXE-KILLER PARDON
Agence France Presse
September 5, 2012 Wednesday 3:58 PM GMT
Armenia on Wednesday stepped up criticism of Hungary and Azerbaijan
for the extradition from Budapest to Baku and subsequent pardoning
of a Azerbaijani soldier who axed an Armenian to death.
"We condemn the behaviour of the Hungarian authorities and suspend
official relations at the parliamentary level," said a statement
endorsed by the Armenian parliament at an extraordinary session.
The statement said that Hungary's move, which has inflamed tensions
between ex-Soviet foes Yerevan and Baku, could "create a precedent
encouraging crimes against Armenians on ethnic grounds".
Yerevan has already cut diplomatic ties with Budapest after Azerbaijani
serviceman Ramil Safarov was extradited last week from Hungary,
where he had been serving a life sentence for hacking an Armenian
officer to death in 2004.
Safarov was immediately pardoned and promoted to the rank of major
after returning home Friday to a hero's welcome, in defiance of
assurances from Baku to Budapest that he would serve out his term
in Azerbaijan.
Parliament in Yerevan said Baku had threatened regional security amid
the ongoing conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorny Karabakh,
which Armenia-backed separatists seized from Azerbaijan in a war in
the 1990s that killed some 30,000 people.
"The atmosphere of hatred towards Armenians, rooted at a state level
in Azerbaijan, again proves that Nagorny Karabakh cannot be part of
Azerbaijan in any form," the parliament statement said.
The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
Jean-Claude Mignon, added his voice to concerns raised by the United
States, the European Union and Russia over the case, saying it risked
destabilising the region.
"I join the international condemnation of the 'glorification' of the
terrible crime which Mr Safarov has committed," he said in a statement.
Armenia meanwhile appeared to reject an offer from Switzerland to
assist in relations with Hungary.
"I do not think that mediation is needed. What are needed here are
precise steps from the Hungarian authorities," Armenian foreign
ministry spokesman Tigran Balaian told AFP.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have not signed a peace deal since the 1994
Karabakh ceasefire and there are still frequent gun-battles along
the frontline.
Agence France Presse
September 5, 2012 Wednesday 3:58 PM GMT
Armenia on Wednesday stepped up criticism of Hungary and Azerbaijan
for the extradition from Budapest to Baku and subsequent pardoning
of a Azerbaijani soldier who axed an Armenian to death.
"We condemn the behaviour of the Hungarian authorities and suspend
official relations at the parliamentary level," said a statement
endorsed by the Armenian parliament at an extraordinary session.
The statement said that Hungary's move, which has inflamed tensions
between ex-Soviet foes Yerevan and Baku, could "create a precedent
encouraging crimes against Armenians on ethnic grounds".
Yerevan has already cut diplomatic ties with Budapest after Azerbaijani
serviceman Ramil Safarov was extradited last week from Hungary,
where he had been serving a life sentence for hacking an Armenian
officer to death in 2004.
Safarov was immediately pardoned and promoted to the rank of major
after returning home Friday to a hero's welcome, in defiance of
assurances from Baku to Budapest that he would serve out his term
in Azerbaijan.
Parliament in Yerevan said Baku had threatened regional security amid
the ongoing conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorny Karabakh,
which Armenia-backed separatists seized from Azerbaijan in a war in
the 1990s that killed some 30,000 people.
"The atmosphere of hatred towards Armenians, rooted at a state level
in Azerbaijan, again proves that Nagorny Karabakh cannot be part of
Azerbaijan in any form," the parliament statement said.
The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
Jean-Claude Mignon, added his voice to concerns raised by the United
States, the European Union and Russia over the case, saying it risked
destabilising the region.
"I join the international condemnation of the 'glorification' of the
terrible crime which Mr Safarov has committed," he said in a statement.
Armenia meanwhile appeared to reject an offer from Switzerland to
assist in relations with Hungary.
"I do not think that mediation is needed. What are needed here are
precise steps from the Hungarian authorities," Armenian foreign
ministry spokesman Tigran Balaian told AFP.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have not signed a peace deal since the 1994
Karabakh ceasefire and there are still frequent gun-battles along
the frontline.