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WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
by Gabor Czene
Nepszabadsag
Sept 5 2012
Hungary
Hungary's Armenian minority demands probe into extradition of
Azerbaijani killer
The international convention that was alluded to by Hungary
when it returned Safarov to Azerbaijan had not been created to
facilitate the escape of criminals - Sevan Sarkisyan, chairman
of the National Armenian Self-Government pointed out. Armenians
in Hungary have expressed their regret and astonishment over the
events and the severing of diplomatic relations. At the same time,
they demand an inquiry to establish the political - or even criminal
- responsibility. In the Armenians' view, in obeying Azerbaijan,
the Hungarian justice authorities disregarded the most important,
namely moral considerations.
This is the first time Sarkisyan has come before the public since the
scandal erupted. As he said, he wanted to wait until the positions
became crystallized before giving a news conference. Sarkisyan does
not want to assume that the Hungarian government acted in bad faith.
Rather, the government's attitude was "naive, and at the same time
unprofessional," he presumed. The Ministry of Public Administration
and Justice should have represented professionalism but, regrettably,
the ministry "was not on top of things."
The Armenians - he continued - consider Hungary as a "European
Christian country." Therefore, the murdered Armenian soldier had come
to a country where he could feel safe. However - Sarkisyan recalled -
"he did not get the protection he had believed he would."
According to his statement, Armenia was given guarantees by NATO
and the EU member states that Hungary would act with circumspection
in the issue. No problems arose in connection with the trial and the
sentence itself. However, the extradition of Safarov to Azerbaijan is
completely unacceptable. Sarkisyan mentioned that a similar procedure
would be unthinkable in connection with an Israeli-Arab conflict.
The National Armenian Self-Government tries to perform a mediating
role, but Sarkisyan did not rule out the possibility that tempers
would lead to violent acts.
To Nepszabadsag's suggestion whether economic considerations may have
played a role in Safarov's extradition, Sarkisyan gave an evasive
answer. In his opinion, Azerbaijan perceived Hungary's economic
interest and "tried to hunt down the Hungarians" using this situation.
Now everyone is "hauling Fidesz [-Hungarian Civic Alliance] over the
coals" but - he added - Hungary has a party that has been "continually
spreading lies about Azerbaijan in Hungary." This party is Jobbik
[Movement for a Better Hungary]. He has no concrete evidence but he
concluded this on the basis of the far-right party's statements.
To Nepszabadsag's question as to who should conduct the inquiry urged
by the national self-government, Sarkisyan said that it should be
Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Even if he is apparently showing no
willingness at the moment.
Alex Avanesyan, deputy chairman of the national self-government,
indicated that the nearly 9-million-strong diaspora provides the
Armenians' true strength. Armenians have a strong lobby in the United
States and in a number of West-European countries. Demonstrations are
being held throughout these days in several cities of the American
continent and Europe. Avanesyan called the flag burning in Yerevan an
isolated and extreme event and stressed that the protest demonstrations
were not directed against the Hungarian people.
Gabriella Gaspar nee Soos, who was appointed by the Armenian military
ministry to represent the victim in the Safarov case, was also present
at the news conference. In her opinion, the position taken by the
defence, namely that the murderer had been in a restricted mental
state, is baseless. Expert opinions differ on certain points but
no debate was conducted on a racist motivation. Safarov killed his
Armenian victim with no fewer than 26 axe strikes and, while a fellow
Azeri tried to make him change his mind, he would have killed another
Armenian soldier, too, if the man had not locked himself in his room.
During the trial Safarov never said that he regretted his act - she
noted. Gaspar said that, according to international law, in cases like
this, the countries whose airspace is to be used during the transport
of the extradited person must be notified. Among other issues, she
asks the Hungarian government whether this has been complied with in
Safarov's case.
[Translated from Hungarian]
by Gabor Czene
Nepszabadsag
Sept 5 2012
Hungary
Hungary's Armenian minority demands probe into extradition of
Azerbaijani killer
The international convention that was alluded to by Hungary
when it returned Safarov to Azerbaijan had not been created to
facilitate the escape of criminals - Sevan Sarkisyan, chairman
of the National Armenian Self-Government pointed out. Armenians
in Hungary have expressed their regret and astonishment over the
events and the severing of diplomatic relations. At the same time,
they demand an inquiry to establish the political - or even criminal
- responsibility. In the Armenians' view, in obeying Azerbaijan,
the Hungarian justice authorities disregarded the most important,
namely moral considerations.
This is the first time Sarkisyan has come before the public since the
scandal erupted. As he said, he wanted to wait until the positions
became crystallized before giving a news conference. Sarkisyan does
not want to assume that the Hungarian government acted in bad faith.
Rather, the government's attitude was "naive, and at the same time
unprofessional," he presumed. The Ministry of Public Administration
and Justice should have represented professionalism but, regrettably,
the ministry "was not on top of things."
The Armenians - he continued - consider Hungary as a "European
Christian country." Therefore, the murdered Armenian soldier had come
to a country where he could feel safe. However - Sarkisyan recalled -
"he did not get the protection he had believed he would."
According to his statement, Armenia was given guarantees by NATO
and the EU member states that Hungary would act with circumspection
in the issue. No problems arose in connection with the trial and the
sentence itself. However, the extradition of Safarov to Azerbaijan is
completely unacceptable. Sarkisyan mentioned that a similar procedure
would be unthinkable in connection with an Israeli-Arab conflict.
The National Armenian Self-Government tries to perform a mediating
role, but Sarkisyan did not rule out the possibility that tempers
would lead to violent acts.
To Nepszabadsag's suggestion whether economic considerations may have
played a role in Safarov's extradition, Sarkisyan gave an evasive
answer. In his opinion, Azerbaijan perceived Hungary's economic
interest and "tried to hunt down the Hungarians" using this situation.
Now everyone is "hauling Fidesz [-Hungarian Civic Alliance] over the
coals" but - he added - Hungary has a party that has been "continually
spreading lies about Azerbaijan in Hungary." This party is Jobbik
[Movement for a Better Hungary]. He has no concrete evidence but he
concluded this on the basis of the far-right party's statements.
To Nepszabadsag's question as to who should conduct the inquiry urged
by the national self-government, Sarkisyan said that it should be
Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Even if he is apparently showing no
willingness at the moment.
Alex Avanesyan, deputy chairman of the national self-government,
indicated that the nearly 9-million-strong diaspora provides the
Armenians' true strength. Armenians have a strong lobby in the United
States and in a number of West-European countries. Demonstrations are
being held throughout these days in several cities of the American
continent and Europe. Avanesyan called the flag burning in Yerevan an
isolated and extreme event and stressed that the protest demonstrations
were not directed against the Hungarian people.
Gabriella Gaspar nee Soos, who was appointed by the Armenian military
ministry to represent the victim in the Safarov case, was also present
at the news conference. In her opinion, the position taken by the
defence, namely that the murderer had been in a restricted mental
state, is baseless. Expert opinions differ on certain points but
no debate was conducted on a racist motivation. Safarov killed his
Armenian victim with no fewer than 26 axe strikes and, while a fellow
Azeri tried to make him change his mind, he would have killed another
Armenian soldier, too, if the man had not locked himself in his room.
During the trial Safarov never said that he regretted his act - she
noted. Gaspar said that, according to international law, in cases like
this, the countries whose airspace is to be used during the transport
of the extradited person must be notified. Among other issues, she
asks the Hungarian government whether this has been complied with in
Safarov's case.
[Translated from Hungarian]