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ANCA EXPRESSES OUTRAGE TO HUNGARIAN AMBASSADOR
asbarez
Tuesday, September 11th, 2012
Hungary's Ambassador to US Gyorgy Szapary
WASHINGTON-During a Monday, September 10 meeting at the Hungarian
Embassy with Ambassador Gyorgy Szapary, an Armenian National Committee
of America shared the Armenian American community's outrage over
the Hungarian government's decision to transfer to Baku convicted
Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, despite the clear indications
that he would, upon his arrival, be pardoned for his crime and praised
as a national hero.
The ANCA delegation criticized the weak response from Budapest
regarding Azerbaijan's pardon and promotion of a proud and unrepentant
Safarov, who was, until his extradition, serving a life sentence
in Hungary for the 2004 brutal axe-murder of Lt. Gurgen Margaryan,
in his sleep, during a NATO English language training program.
In calling upon the Hungarian government for an open apology and a
meaningful condemnation of Baku's shameful actions, the ANCA expressed,
during the course of an hour-long meeting, the full range of the
community's concerns, including the following three points:
1. It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it
was unaware of the obvious "pardon" loophole in its extradition treaty.
2. It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it was
unaware of the Azerbaijani government's public praise of Ramil Safarov
as a national hero, or the very high likelihood that this killer
would be released by Ilham Aliyev if he were transferred to Baku.
3. It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it was
unaware that its actions would contribute to emboldening Azerbaijan to
escalate its threats and acts of violence, de-stablizing the region,
and setting back the cause of peace.
Worldwide suspicions that the Hungarian Government knew full well
of Azerbaijan's intention to pardon Safarov were confirmed just
one day after the meeting with the Hungarian Ambassador Reuters
reported Tuesday that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated,
"The foreign ministry had forecast precisely what types of consequences
this or the other decision [extradition or non-extradition] may have.
Nothing happened after our decision that we would not have reckoned
with in advance."
Orban's statements come as speculation continues about the connection
between the Safarov's extradition and talks between the Orban
Administration and Aliyev regarding a possible Azerbaijani buy-out
of Hungarian loans valuing over $2-3 Billion Euros. International
financial news outlets reported the possible deal just days prior to
the August 31st release of Safarov.
The Hungarian opposition Tuesday condemned Prime Minister Orban's
actions as 'morally bankrupt,' and called for his resignation.
Thousands of Hungarians protested the Orban decision during
demonstrations in Budapest last week.
Despite international criticism from the U.S., France, Russia, and
NATO, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev remains defiant about his
decision to pardon, promote and financially reward axe-murderer Ramil
Safarov for the ethnically motivated murder of Lt. Gurgen Margaryan.
Safarov's repatriation "was carried out in accordance with European
conventions, and his release in accordance with Azerbaijan's
constitution," Reuters quoted Aliyev as stating during a joint press
conference with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Over the past week, Armenians around the world - from Calcutta, India
to the United States - have protested the Orban extradition of Safarov
with demonstrations in front of Hungarian embassies and consulates.
On September 7, representatives from Armenian organizations met
with Dr. Gabor Garai, the Hungarian consul in Boston, to voice
their outrage at the Hungarian government's decision to extradite
Ramil Safarov. During the meeting, representatives expressed
their consternation at the Hungarian government's unremorseful
stance, despite being warned in advance of the consequences of the
extradition. They stressed that support for Safarov in Azerbaijan
is the crystallization of rabid anti-Armenian sentiments there. The
delegation included ANCA Eastern Region Chairman George Aghjayan,
ANCA Eastern Region Director Michelle Hagopian, Sarhad Karaguezian
representing Boston's ARF "Sardarabad" Gomideh, AYF Central Executive
Board member Sosse Beugekian, and Armenian Weekly Assistant Editor
Nanore Barsoumian.
asbarez
Tuesday, September 11th, 2012
Hungary's Ambassador to US Gyorgy Szapary
WASHINGTON-During a Monday, September 10 meeting at the Hungarian
Embassy with Ambassador Gyorgy Szapary, an Armenian National Committee
of America shared the Armenian American community's outrage over
the Hungarian government's decision to transfer to Baku convicted
Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, despite the clear indications
that he would, upon his arrival, be pardoned for his crime and praised
as a national hero.
The ANCA delegation criticized the weak response from Budapest
regarding Azerbaijan's pardon and promotion of a proud and unrepentant
Safarov, who was, until his extradition, serving a life sentence
in Hungary for the 2004 brutal axe-murder of Lt. Gurgen Margaryan,
in his sleep, during a NATO English language training program.
In calling upon the Hungarian government for an open apology and a
meaningful condemnation of Baku's shameful actions, the ANCA expressed,
during the course of an hour-long meeting, the full range of the
community's concerns, including the following three points:
1. It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it
was unaware of the obvious "pardon" loophole in its extradition treaty.
2. It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it was
unaware of the Azerbaijani government's public praise of Ramil Safarov
as a national hero, or the very high likelihood that this killer
would be released by Ilham Aliyev if he were transferred to Baku.
3. It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it was
unaware that its actions would contribute to emboldening Azerbaijan to
escalate its threats and acts of violence, de-stablizing the region,
and setting back the cause of peace.
Worldwide suspicions that the Hungarian Government knew full well
of Azerbaijan's intention to pardon Safarov were confirmed just
one day after the meeting with the Hungarian Ambassador Reuters
reported Tuesday that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated,
"The foreign ministry had forecast precisely what types of consequences
this or the other decision [extradition or non-extradition] may have.
Nothing happened after our decision that we would not have reckoned
with in advance."
Orban's statements come as speculation continues about the connection
between the Safarov's extradition and talks between the Orban
Administration and Aliyev regarding a possible Azerbaijani buy-out
of Hungarian loans valuing over $2-3 Billion Euros. International
financial news outlets reported the possible deal just days prior to
the August 31st release of Safarov.
The Hungarian opposition Tuesday condemned Prime Minister Orban's
actions as 'morally bankrupt,' and called for his resignation.
Thousands of Hungarians protested the Orban decision during
demonstrations in Budapest last week.
Despite international criticism from the U.S., France, Russia, and
NATO, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev remains defiant about his
decision to pardon, promote and financially reward axe-murderer Ramil
Safarov for the ethnically motivated murder of Lt. Gurgen Margaryan.
Safarov's repatriation "was carried out in accordance with European
conventions, and his release in accordance with Azerbaijan's
constitution," Reuters quoted Aliyev as stating during a joint press
conference with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Over the past week, Armenians around the world - from Calcutta, India
to the United States - have protested the Orban extradition of Safarov
with demonstrations in front of Hungarian embassies and consulates.
On September 7, representatives from Armenian organizations met
with Dr. Gabor Garai, the Hungarian consul in Boston, to voice
their outrage at the Hungarian government's decision to extradite
Ramil Safarov. During the meeting, representatives expressed
their consternation at the Hungarian government's unremorseful
stance, despite being warned in advance of the consequences of the
extradition. They stressed that support for Safarov in Azerbaijan
is the crystallization of rabid anti-Armenian sentiments there. The
delegation included ANCA Eastern Region Chairman George Aghjayan,
ANCA Eastern Region Director Michelle Hagopian, Sarhad Karaguezian
representing Boston's ARF "Sardarabad" Gomideh, AYF Central Executive
Board member Sosse Beugekian, and Armenian Weekly Assistant Editor
Nanore Barsoumian.