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SAFAROV CASE/THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CONDEMNS AZERBAIJAN
European Armenian Federation For Justice & Democracy
Sept 14 2012
Strasbourg (France) - The European Parliament, gathered in plenary
session, adopted on Thursday, September 13, 2012 by 58 votes
against 13 and 5 abstentions, an urgent resolution which condemns the
glorification granted by Azerbaijan to Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani
officer who assassinated lieutenant Gurken Markarian, an officer of
the Armenian army, during a Partnership for Peace organized by NATO
in Budapest in 2004.
In its urgent resolution, the European Parliament "deplores the
hero's welcome accorded to Mr Safarov in Azerbaijan and the decision
to promote him to the rank of major and pay him eight years' back
salary upon his arrival, and is concerned about the example this
sets for future generations and about the promotion and recognition
he has received from the Azerbaijani state".
The text reflects the atmosphere of the debate which preceded the
vote, during which several European Members of Parliament, such
as Mrs. Veronique de Keyser "group of the Progressive Alliance of
Socialists and Democrats - Belgium), Mr. Charles Tannock (European
Conservatives and Reformists - Great Britain), Mrs. Lunacek (group
of the Greens - Austria) or Mrs. Vergiat (Confederal group of the
European Unified Left - France) expressed their shock as for the grace
granted to the murderer by Azerbaijan, and qualified this attitude
of "scandalous". Mr. Paska (Europe of Freedom and Democracy group -
Slovakia) even compared the Aliev regime to the Mafia.
Moreover, the Parliament "considers that, while the presidential pardon
granted to Mr Safarov complies with the letter of the Convention on
the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, it runs contrary to the spirit
of that international agreement, which was negotiated to allow
the transfer of a person convicted on the territory of one state
to serve the remainder of his or her sentence on the territory of
another state", and "considers the presidential pardon granted to
Mr Safarov as a violation of the diplomatic assurances given to the
Hungarian authorities".
The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy welcomes
the European Parliament's firm position with regard to Azerbaijan.
Contrary to the group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE),
the Parliament did not bend vis-a-vis the pressures of a State which
buys an image with its oil and gas.
"This astounding case raises, once again, alarming questions about
the values, violence and the hatred which Azerbaijan inculcates to
its citizens. It also announces the lack of respect of Azerbaijan
regarding conventions and international treaties", declared Mr.
Karampetian, President of the European Armenian Federation.
In addition, the European Parliament took into account all the aspects
of this case, and adopted a special paragraph which "reiterates its
position that the association agreement currently being negotiated
between the EU and Azerbaijan should include clauses and benchmarks
relating to the protection and promotion of human rights and the rule
of law".
http://www.eafjd.eu/spip.php?article634
European Armenian Federation For Justice & Democracy
Sept 14 2012
Strasbourg (France) - The European Parliament, gathered in plenary
session, adopted on Thursday, September 13, 2012 by 58 votes
against 13 and 5 abstentions, an urgent resolution which condemns the
glorification granted by Azerbaijan to Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani
officer who assassinated lieutenant Gurken Markarian, an officer of
the Armenian army, during a Partnership for Peace organized by NATO
in Budapest in 2004.
In its urgent resolution, the European Parliament "deplores the
hero's welcome accorded to Mr Safarov in Azerbaijan and the decision
to promote him to the rank of major and pay him eight years' back
salary upon his arrival, and is concerned about the example this
sets for future generations and about the promotion and recognition
he has received from the Azerbaijani state".
The text reflects the atmosphere of the debate which preceded the
vote, during which several European Members of Parliament, such
as Mrs. Veronique de Keyser "group of the Progressive Alliance of
Socialists and Democrats - Belgium), Mr. Charles Tannock (European
Conservatives and Reformists - Great Britain), Mrs. Lunacek (group
of the Greens - Austria) or Mrs. Vergiat (Confederal group of the
European Unified Left - France) expressed their shock as for the grace
granted to the murderer by Azerbaijan, and qualified this attitude
of "scandalous". Mr. Paska (Europe of Freedom and Democracy group -
Slovakia) even compared the Aliev regime to the Mafia.
Moreover, the Parliament "considers that, while the presidential pardon
granted to Mr Safarov complies with the letter of the Convention on
the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, it runs contrary to the spirit
of that international agreement, which was negotiated to allow
the transfer of a person convicted on the territory of one state
to serve the remainder of his or her sentence on the territory of
another state", and "considers the presidential pardon granted to
Mr Safarov as a violation of the diplomatic assurances given to the
Hungarian authorities".
The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy welcomes
the European Parliament's firm position with regard to Azerbaijan.
Contrary to the group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE),
the Parliament did not bend vis-a-vis the pressures of a State which
buys an image with its oil and gas.
"This astounding case raises, once again, alarming questions about
the values, violence and the hatred which Azerbaijan inculcates to
its citizens. It also announces the lack of respect of Azerbaijan
regarding conventions and international treaties", declared Mr.
Karampetian, President of the European Armenian Federation.
In addition, the European Parliament took into account all the aspects
of this case, and adopted a special paragraph which "reiterates its
position that the association agreement currently being negotiated
between the EU and Azerbaijan should include clauses and benchmarks
relating to the protection and promotion of human rights and the rule
of law".
http://www.eafjd.eu/spip.php?article634