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ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER NALBANDIAN: HUNGARY ATTEMPTS TO JUSTIFY THE SAFAROV EXTRADITION
http://hetq.am/eng/news/18452/armenian-foreign-minister-nalbandian-hungary-attempts-to-justify-the-safarov-extradition.html
18:07, September 11, 2012
What follows is the statement of Armenian Foreign Minister at a
joint press conference with Jean Asselborn, the Luxembourg Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. A question and answer with the
press follows.
I am pleased to welcome my counterpart, Jean Asselborn, the Luxembourg
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
It's a very important visit as there has been no visit of Luxembourg's
Minister of Foreign Affairs in the past ten years. We are happy to
welcome the Foreign Minister and his delegation.
Today we had an opportunity to talk about the roads we have traveled,
as for twenty years we have had diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Luxembourg. We talked about the expansion of legal framework,
development of trade and economic relations and the cooperation in
cultural, educational and scientific spheres.
Mediamax New Agency: I would like to address my first question to
Mister Nalbandian. Minister Nalbandian, according to sa media report
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to you where
he expressed his willingness to normalize relations with Armenia,
but at the same time he threatened that the suspension of relations
could have a negative impact on Armenia. How would you comment? Did
you receive any letter and what is your response to such a letter?
Edward Nalbandian: The matter was not whether or not there was such a
letter. The Hungarian side has published the letter of the Hungarian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Janos Martonyi.
You know that the Azeri-Hungarian deal shocked the international
community and the international community gave its unanimous
assessment.
What is Azerbaijan saying today? What we are hearing today from
Azerbaijan is no less shocking.
I have to say with regret, that what we are hearing from Hungary is
no less shocking. And what is Hungary saying? The representatives
of the Hungarian Government and other officials are saying that the
deal was transparent, while the Azeri officials at the highest level
are claiming that secret negotiations were held.
The Hungarian side is saying that they were not aware that the
Azeri side would release Safarov upon his arrival in Baku, but the
Azeri high-ranking officials are arguing that the Hungarian side was
well-aware about it.
The Hungarian side sent notes and letters to the embassies accredited
in Budapest expressing its indignation over Azerbaijan's decision to
release Safarov. But the same letter is concluded with the Hungarian
side's commitment to continue the development of strategic relations
with Azerbaijan based on mutual trust. Probably that is the style of
the Hungarian side to express its indignation.
The Hungarian side is saying that the decision to extradite Safarov to
Azerbaijan is in line with the Strasbourg Convention, the Convention of
the Council of Europe. You know that the President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe stated that the deal abuses that
convention.
This is the reality. The reactions voiced from the Hungarian side
are attempts to justify what happened. They are claiming that the
Hungarian side takes no responsibility for that deal. The reason why
Armenia made a decision to suspend the relations with Hungary is due
to Hungary's responsibility for that deal.
Radio Liberty: My question is for Mr. Nalbandian. Mr. Nalbandian,
Armenia suspended relations with Hungary and particularly, among the
high level representatives of European institutions, Fule, Ashton
have been stating that the extradition had taken place within the
scope of international organizations.
How does Armenia asses this approach of the European institutions?
Again, in these conditions, I should turn back to the Eastern
Partnership: How do you imagine the further development of Eastern
Partnership program?
Edward Nalbandian: The approach of the international community was
a unanimous approach and a united reaction.
There is no international institution that did not express its negative
approach towards this process.
>>From the European Union not only the statement you refer to was
made, but also other statements were made including the statements
by the EU member states.
During these last days I received dozens of telephone calls from
the Foreign Ministers of different states, including the EU member
states, who have expressed their unequivocal approach towards this
Azerbaijani-Hungarian deal. There is no country that can express its
support to what has happened, no state that would support Azerbaijan.
Who can express its support towards Azerbaijan in these conditions?
Perhaps the staff of the Psychiatric Hospital No. 1, that had sent
a letter to the President of Azerbaijan and was on the presidential
website of Azerbaijan for a couple of days.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://hetq.am/eng/news/18452/armenian-foreign-minister-nalbandian-hungary-attempts-to-justify-the-safarov-extradition.html
18:07, September 11, 2012
What follows is the statement of Armenian Foreign Minister at a
joint press conference with Jean Asselborn, the Luxembourg Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. A question and answer with the
press follows.
I am pleased to welcome my counterpart, Jean Asselborn, the Luxembourg
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
It's a very important visit as there has been no visit of Luxembourg's
Minister of Foreign Affairs in the past ten years. We are happy to
welcome the Foreign Minister and his delegation.
Today we had an opportunity to talk about the roads we have traveled,
as for twenty years we have had diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Luxembourg. We talked about the expansion of legal framework,
development of trade and economic relations and the cooperation in
cultural, educational and scientific spheres.
Mediamax New Agency: I would like to address my first question to
Mister Nalbandian. Minister Nalbandian, according to sa media report
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to you where
he expressed his willingness to normalize relations with Armenia,
but at the same time he threatened that the suspension of relations
could have a negative impact on Armenia. How would you comment? Did
you receive any letter and what is your response to such a letter?
Edward Nalbandian: The matter was not whether or not there was such a
letter. The Hungarian side has published the letter of the Hungarian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Janos Martonyi.
You know that the Azeri-Hungarian deal shocked the international
community and the international community gave its unanimous
assessment.
What is Azerbaijan saying today? What we are hearing today from
Azerbaijan is no less shocking.
I have to say with regret, that what we are hearing from Hungary is
no less shocking. And what is Hungary saying? The representatives
of the Hungarian Government and other officials are saying that the
deal was transparent, while the Azeri officials at the highest level
are claiming that secret negotiations were held.
The Hungarian side is saying that they were not aware that the
Azeri side would release Safarov upon his arrival in Baku, but the
Azeri high-ranking officials are arguing that the Hungarian side was
well-aware about it.
The Hungarian side sent notes and letters to the embassies accredited
in Budapest expressing its indignation over Azerbaijan's decision to
release Safarov. But the same letter is concluded with the Hungarian
side's commitment to continue the development of strategic relations
with Azerbaijan based on mutual trust. Probably that is the style of
the Hungarian side to express its indignation.
The Hungarian side is saying that the decision to extradite Safarov to
Azerbaijan is in line with the Strasbourg Convention, the Convention of
the Council of Europe. You know that the President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe stated that the deal abuses that
convention.
This is the reality. The reactions voiced from the Hungarian side
are attempts to justify what happened. They are claiming that the
Hungarian side takes no responsibility for that deal. The reason why
Armenia made a decision to suspend the relations with Hungary is due
to Hungary's responsibility for that deal.
Radio Liberty: My question is for Mr. Nalbandian. Mr. Nalbandian,
Armenia suspended relations with Hungary and particularly, among the
high level representatives of European institutions, Fule, Ashton
have been stating that the extradition had taken place within the
scope of international organizations.
How does Armenia asses this approach of the European institutions?
Again, in these conditions, I should turn back to the Eastern
Partnership: How do you imagine the further development of Eastern
Partnership program?
Edward Nalbandian: The approach of the international community was
a unanimous approach and a united reaction.
There is no international institution that did not express its negative
approach towards this process.
>>From the European Union not only the statement you refer to was
made, but also other statements were made including the statements
by the EU member states.
During these last days I received dozens of telephone calls from
the Foreign Ministers of different states, including the EU member
states, who have expressed their unequivocal approach towards this
Azerbaijani-Hungarian deal. There is no country that can express its
support to what has happened, no state that would support Azerbaijan.
Who can express its support towards Azerbaijan in these conditions?
Perhaps the staff of the Psychiatric Hospital No. 1, that had sent
a letter to the President of Azerbaijan and was on the presidential
website of Azerbaijan for a couple of days.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress