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UN HOPES SAFAROV PARDON WON'T HARM KARABAKH PROCESS
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 7, 2012 - 16:29 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that Mr. Ban is "concerned about the
developments surrounding the case of Ramil Safarov since his transfer
to Azerbaijan and subsequent pardon by Azerbaijani authorities."
Safarov was sentenced to life for murdering Armenian officer Gurgen
Margaryan, in his sleep, during a 2004 NATO Partnership for Peace
program in Budapest. However, immediately after extradition to
Azerbaijan, the 35-year-old criminal was treated as a hero, promoted
to major and given an apartment and back pay for his years in jail.
Hungarian authorities say Azerbaijan had promised to uphold the
sentence handed down to Safarov.
"The UN underscores the responsibility of Member States to adhere to
international standards and principles of rule of law in criminal cases
in order to ensure accountability and fight impunity. As highlighted
by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Co-Chairs in their recent statement, we hope that this issue will
not damage the Nagorno Karabakh peace process and trust between the
sides. There is no alternative to a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict," Mr. Nesirky said.
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 7, 2012 - 16:29 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that Mr. Ban is "concerned about the
developments surrounding the case of Ramil Safarov since his transfer
to Azerbaijan and subsequent pardon by Azerbaijani authorities."
Safarov was sentenced to life for murdering Armenian officer Gurgen
Margaryan, in his sleep, during a 2004 NATO Partnership for Peace
program in Budapest. However, immediately after extradition to
Azerbaijan, the 35-year-old criminal was treated as a hero, promoted
to major and given an apartment and back pay for his years in jail.
Hungarian authorities say Azerbaijan had promised to uphold the
sentence handed down to Safarov.
"The UN underscores the responsibility of Member States to adhere to
international standards and principles of rule of law in criminal cases
in order to ensure accountability and fight impunity. As highlighted
by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Co-Chairs in their recent statement, we hope that this issue will
not damage the Nagorno Karabakh peace process and trust between the
sides. There is no alternative to a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict," Mr. Nesirky said.