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SEN. KERRY 'SHOCKED AND APPALLED' BY SAFAROV PARDON
Armenian Weekly
September 5, 2012
WASHINGTON-On Sept. 5, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman
John Kerry (D-Mass.) condemned President Ilham Aliyev's release of
Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani army lieutenant who was convicted of
brutally axing to death Armenian soldier Gurgen Margaryan in his sleep,
during a 2004 NATO English-language training course.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.)
"I am shocked and appalled that Azerbaijan not only welcomed Safarov
home, but pardoned, promoted, and treated him as a hero," noted
Chairman Kerry, in a statement issued earlier today. "This needlessly
provocative act endangers the fragile peace between these countries
and damages the government of Azerbaijan's credibility."
ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Michelle Hagopian welcomed
Chairman Kerry's statement, noting "We join with Armenian Americans
from throughout the Commonwealth in welcoming Senator Kerry's
condemnation of Azerbaijan's pardon of convicted axe-murderer Ramil
Safarov. We thank the Senator for his principled stand against
this injustice, and urge him and his legislative colleagues, in the
interest of peace, to act now to cut off all U.S. military aid, sales,
or transfers to Azerbaijan."
Sen. Kerry echoes statements issued by a number of U.S. Representative
this week decrying Azerbaijan's release and subsequent glorification
of Safarov.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Democrat Henry Waxman
(D-Calif.) noted that he is "deeply disturbed by the President of
Azerbaijan's decision to pardon Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani military
lieutenant who gruesomely murdered Armenian lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan
while the two soldiers were participating in the 2004 NATO Partnership
for Peace program in Hungary. It is an appalling demonstration of the
Azerbaijani government's continued refusal to reconcile with Armenia
and its unwillingness to uphold the rule of law."
House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Democrat Howard Berman
(D-Calif.) called Safarov's release "contemptible," noting,
"that Safarov in a premeditated fashion killed Margaryan at a NATO
Partnership for Peace event underscores the cynical brutality of his
act. For the Hungarian Government to have demonstrated leniency in
this matter is of grave concern. . . . The Azerbaijani government's
decision to free Safarov is contemptible and a serious blow to hopes
for Armenian-Azerbaijani peace."
Central California Congressman Jim Costa (D-Calif.) told The Fresno
Bee on Sept. 5 that "This injustice of international law committed
by the government of Azerbaijan is an outrage, plain and simple." In
a longer statement issued to his constituents, he noted that "We
in the United States stand firm with our friends in Armenia during
these trying times because of our steadfast commitment to justice,
peace and mutual respect. The actions of the Azeri government stand
in stark contrast to these values and underline the need for the U.S.
government to strongly support Armenia and its people."
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), one of two Members of Congress of Armenian
origin, called for the immediate reincarceration of the Safarov.
"Safarov's release dangerously undermines the rule of law and peace
throughout the region. The Azerbajani government should immediately
reverse its decision to pardon Safarov."
Earlier, Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution architect Adam
Schiff (D-Calif.) commented that "Hungary, where Safarov was supposed
to be serving a life sentence, and Azerbaijan owe the international
community an explanation for this terrible subversion of justice. This
is an appalling result in the case of a confessed killer."
The ANCA reported last week on statements issued by Congressional
Armenian Caucus co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and senior House
Foreign Affairs Committee Member Brad Sherman's condemnation of
the Safarov release. White House and State Department condemnation
was swift last week, following thousands of calls and emails from
Armenian Americans across the U.S. expressing outrage. The White House
statement, issued in the name of National Security Council Spokesman
Tommy Vietor, underscores the President's view that, "This action is
contrary to ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote
reconciliation." Vietor goes on to note that "The United States is
also requesting an explanation from Hungary regarding its decision
to transfer Safarov to Azerbaijan."
Armenian Weekly
September 5, 2012
WASHINGTON-On Sept. 5, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman
John Kerry (D-Mass.) condemned President Ilham Aliyev's release of
Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani army lieutenant who was convicted of
brutally axing to death Armenian soldier Gurgen Margaryan in his sleep,
during a 2004 NATO English-language training course.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.)
"I am shocked and appalled that Azerbaijan not only welcomed Safarov
home, but pardoned, promoted, and treated him as a hero," noted
Chairman Kerry, in a statement issued earlier today. "This needlessly
provocative act endangers the fragile peace between these countries
and damages the government of Azerbaijan's credibility."
ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Michelle Hagopian welcomed
Chairman Kerry's statement, noting "We join with Armenian Americans
from throughout the Commonwealth in welcoming Senator Kerry's
condemnation of Azerbaijan's pardon of convicted axe-murderer Ramil
Safarov. We thank the Senator for his principled stand against
this injustice, and urge him and his legislative colleagues, in the
interest of peace, to act now to cut off all U.S. military aid, sales,
or transfers to Azerbaijan."
Sen. Kerry echoes statements issued by a number of U.S. Representative
this week decrying Azerbaijan's release and subsequent glorification
of Safarov.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Democrat Henry Waxman
(D-Calif.) noted that he is "deeply disturbed by the President of
Azerbaijan's decision to pardon Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani military
lieutenant who gruesomely murdered Armenian lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan
while the two soldiers were participating in the 2004 NATO Partnership
for Peace program in Hungary. It is an appalling demonstration of the
Azerbaijani government's continued refusal to reconcile with Armenia
and its unwillingness to uphold the rule of law."
House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Democrat Howard Berman
(D-Calif.) called Safarov's release "contemptible," noting,
"that Safarov in a premeditated fashion killed Margaryan at a NATO
Partnership for Peace event underscores the cynical brutality of his
act. For the Hungarian Government to have demonstrated leniency in
this matter is of grave concern. . . . The Azerbaijani government's
decision to free Safarov is contemptible and a serious blow to hopes
for Armenian-Azerbaijani peace."
Central California Congressman Jim Costa (D-Calif.) told The Fresno
Bee on Sept. 5 that "This injustice of international law committed
by the government of Azerbaijan is an outrage, plain and simple." In
a longer statement issued to his constituents, he noted that "We
in the United States stand firm with our friends in Armenia during
these trying times because of our steadfast commitment to justice,
peace and mutual respect. The actions of the Azeri government stand
in stark contrast to these values and underline the need for the U.S.
government to strongly support Armenia and its people."
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), one of two Members of Congress of Armenian
origin, called for the immediate reincarceration of the Safarov.
"Safarov's release dangerously undermines the rule of law and peace
throughout the region. The Azerbajani government should immediately
reverse its decision to pardon Safarov."
Earlier, Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution architect Adam
Schiff (D-Calif.) commented that "Hungary, where Safarov was supposed
to be serving a life sentence, and Azerbaijan owe the international
community an explanation for this terrible subversion of justice. This
is an appalling result in the case of a confessed killer."
The ANCA reported last week on statements issued by Congressional
Armenian Caucus co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and senior House
Foreign Affairs Committee Member Brad Sherman's condemnation of
the Safarov release. White House and State Department condemnation
was swift last week, following thousands of calls and emails from
Armenian Americans across the U.S. expressing outrage. The White House
statement, issued in the name of National Security Council Spokesman
Tommy Vietor, underscores the President's view that, "This action is
contrary to ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote
reconciliation." Vietor goes on to note that "The United States is
also requesting an explanation from Hungary regarding its decision
to transfer Safarov to Azerbaijan."