Tweet
SAFAROV'S LIBERATION RECALLS HATRED
Diena
Sept 10 2012
Latvia
Commentary by Atis Klimovics
The liberation of Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov via an amnesty act
signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev after Safarov committed
a serious crime has harmed the Southern Caucasus country that is rich
with fuel resources, because it reduces trust in the honesty of Baku
when it comes to observing international agreements.
Reasons for Amnesty
Apparently the head of state thought least about this fact, and
the true reason is that the amnesty of the officer who committed a
merciless murder eight years ago can be sought in efforts to satisfy
the nation's patriotic emotions. It goes without saying that the
Azerbaijanis have not had and never will have any more important
issues than the losses which were caused during the 1990s war against
the Armenians - a war which ended with huge human sacrifices and the
loss of a substantial segment of the country's territory. Nearly one
million people remained homeless. For that reason, there is no doubt
that President Aliyev, who is an authoritarian ruler, has not been
able to refrain from the opportunity to polish up his image as the
leader of the nation. At the same time, however, events related to
Safarov allow us to know that the international community has not
done anything during the past 20 years to help in improving the
relationship between two nations - the Azerbaijanis and the Armenians.
The war which ended 18 years ago is remembered by Azerbaijanis and
Armenians both. Many of them had to spend this period of time living
with personally experienced scenes of horror. It may be that Safarov,
who used an axe to chop up an American officer with an axe during
NATO language courses in Budapest is one such person, but that does
not justify the commission of such a murder.
Results of Liberation
It goes without question that Safarov's liberation and the awarding
of the highest military rank to him nearly turns him into a national
hero, but Yerevan has perceived this as cynical mockery. That is
why the reaction is so harsh. Armenia threatens to review relations
with Budapest, which transferred Safarov to the Azerbaijani law
enforcement structures. There has also been talk of renewing a military
confrontation with Azerbaijan, though that probably will not go beyond
words. War will not benefit Yerevan or Baku, and people in both capital
cities understand that. A brief and successful war is not possible.
All in all, this incident reminds us once again that during a period
that is less than 20 years has not involved the slightest attempt to
deal with the problems which relate to the conflict between Armenians
and Azerbaijanis. For representatives of major politics, these problems
simply have not seemed to be importance, and that is why there has been
no serious examination of the Nagorno-Karabakh war and the crimes that
were committed therein. Safarov's liberation allows us to understand
the great harm which both Caucasian nations have faced because of
events that occurred 20 years ago - a process which involves many
hushed up crimes. What is more, both sides committed many crimes,
but people in neither country are discussing them.
Once I heard an Armenian from Nagorno-Karabakh who frankly told me
about how Azerbaijani rural villages were besieged and destroyed.
Shortly after that, an Azerbaijani who took part in the Baku war told
me about how he mocked captured and murdered Armenian soldiers. The
war crimes have not been investigated, and the hatred between the
two nations remains very real even today.
[Translated from Latvian]
From: A. Papazian
Diena
Sept 10 2012
Latvia
Commentary by Atis Klimovics
The liberation of Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov via an amnesty act
signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev after Safarov committed
a serious crime has harmed the Southern Caucasus country that is rich
with fuel resources, because it reduces trust in the honesty of Baku
when it comes to observing international agreements.
Reasons for Amnesty
Apparently the head of state thought least about this fact, and
the true reason is that the amnesty of the officer who committed a
merciless murder eight years ago can be sought in efforts to satisfy
the nation's patriotic emotions. It goes without saying that the
Azerbaijanis have not had and never will have any more important
issues than the losses which were caused during the 1990s war against
the Armenians - a war which ended with huge human sacrifices and the
loss of a substantial segment of the country's territory. Nearly one
million people remained homeless. For that reason, there is no doubt
that President Aliyev, who is an authoritarian ruler, has not been
able to refrain from the opportunity to polish up his image as the
leader of the nation. At the same time, however, events related to
Safarov allow us to know that the international community has not
done anything during the past 20 years to help in improving the
relationship between two nations - the Azerbaijanis and the Armenians.
The war which ended 18 years ago is remembered by Azerbaijanis and
Armenians both. Many of them had to spend this period of time living
with personally experienced scenes of horror. It may be that Safarov,
who used an axe to chop up an American officer with an axe during
NATO language courses in Budapest is one such person, but that does
not justify the commission of such a murder.
Results of Liberation
It goes without question that Safarov's liberation and the awarding
of the highest military rank to him nearly turns him into a national
hero, but Yerevan has perceived this as cynical mockery. That is
why the reaction is so harsh. Armenia threatens to review relations
with Budapest, which transferred Safarov to the Azerbaijani law
enforcement structures. There has also been talk of renewing a military
confrontation with Azerbaijan, though that probably will not go beyond
words. War will not benefit Yerevan or Baku, and people in both capital
cities understand that. A brief and successful war is not possible.
All in all, this incident reminds us once again that during a period
that is less than 20 years has not involved the slightest attempt to
deal with the problems which relate to the conflict between Armenians
and Azerbaijanis. For representatives of major politics, these problems
simply have not seemed to be importance, and that is why there has been
no serious examination of the Nagorno-Karabakh war and the crimes that
were committed therein. Safarov's liberation allows us to understand
the great harm which both Caucasian nations have faced because of
events that occurred 20 years ago - a process which involves many
hushed up crimes. What is more, both sides committed many crimes,
but people in neither country are discussing them.
Once I heard an Armenian from Nagorno-Karabakh who frankly told me
about how Azerbaijani rural villages were besieged and destroyed.
Shortly after that, an Azerbaijani who took part in the Baku war told
me about how he mocked captured and murdered Armenian soldiers. The
war crimes have not been investigated, and the hatred between the
two nations remains very real even today.
[Translated from Latvian]
From: A. Papazian