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AUSTRALIAN TV COVERS ARMENIAN PROTEST AT HUNGARIAN EMBASSY IN CANBERRA
ARMENPRESS
18 September, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS:Busloads of Armenian-Australians
joined in the international condemnation over the extradition and
pardon of Azeri lieutenant Ramil Safarov by protesting in front of
the Hungarian Embassy in Canberra. SBS Television and several radio
stations covered the demonstration of the 250 members of the community,
who stood in solidarity with slain Armenian solider Gurgen Margaryan,
who was axed to death by Safarov during a 2004 NATO Partnership
for Peace program in Hungary, reports Armenpress citing Armenian
National Committee ov Australia. Safarov was expected to serve a life
sentence in Hungary, however, was extradited to Azerbaijan where he
was immediately pardoned by the Azeri government.
Upon returning to Azerbaijan, Safarov has been treated as a national
hero, causing fury in the international Armenian community. The
protest, a joint effort by the community's Armenian churches,
political, youth and relief organisations, strongly conveyed
the feelings of Armenian-Australians, calling upon the Hungarian
authorities to condemn the actions of Azerbaijian. This message
was conveyed with loud chants and signs reading "Punish not Pardon",
"Shame Hungary Shame", "We Want Justice", "A crime punished is a crime
encouraged", and others. During the two hour demonstration, Armenian
National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) Executive Director
Vache Kahramanian and Father Avedis Hambardzumyan of the Armenian
Apostolic Church met with the Hungarian Ambassador to Australia,
Anna Siko. During the meeting, which occurred to a backdrop of strong
chants from the crowd outside, Siko was presented with a letter on
behalf of the community calling upon the following: The condemnation
by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of his Azeri counterpart
Ilham Aliyev for pardoning a convicted murderer despite assurances
provided by Azerbaijan: The condemnation of Azerbaijan's continued
aggression and threats of war against the Republic of Armenia and
the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and Recognition of the Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state to ensure the safety and
security of its people. At the conclusion of the meeting, Kahramanian
addressed the gathered, stating: "Our issue is not with the peaceful
people of Hungary but with those officials in Budapest who allowed the
extradition of a convicted cold-blooded murderer." "We will continue
to pursue the Hungarian authorities through the Embassy in Canberra
until we receive a response which is not a response that the Hungarian
government wants to hear, but a response which is just and correct."
"Today we not only fight for the memory of an Armenian solider but
as human beings of this world we fight for the dignity of all mankind."
The protest received coverage through SBS TV World News, ABC Radio
and SBS Radio.
ARMENPRESS
18 September, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS:Busloads of Armenian-Australians
joined in the international condemnation over the extradition and
pardon of Azeri lieutenant Ramil Safarov by protesting in front of
the Hungarian Embassy in Canberra. SBS Television and several radio
stations covered the demonstration of the 250 members of the community,
who stood in solidarity with slain Armenian solider Gurgen Margaryan,
who was axed to death by Safarov during a 2004 NATO Partnership
for Peace program in Hungary, reports Armenpress citing Armenian
National Committee ov Australia. Safarov was expected to serve a life
sentence in Hungary, however, was extradited to Azerbaijan where he
was immediately pardoned by the Azeri government.
Upon returning to Azerbaijan, Safarov has been treated as a national
hero, causing fury in the international Armenian community. The
protest, a joint effort by the community's Armenian churches,
political, youth and relief organisations, strongly conveyed
the feelings of Armenian-Australians, calling upon the Hungarian
authorities to condemn the actions of Azerbaijian. This message
was conveyed with loud chants and signs reading "Punish not Pardon",
"Shame Hungary Shame", "We Want Justice", "A crime punished is a crime
encouraged", and others. During the two hour demonstration, Armenian
National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) Executive Director
Vache Kahramanian and Father Avedis Hambardzumyan of the Armenian
Apostolic Church met with the Hungarian Ambassador to Australia,
Anna Siko. During the meeting, which occurred to a backdrop of strong
chants from the crowd outside, Siko was presented with a letter on
behalf of the community calling upon the following: The condemnation
by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of his Azeri counterpart
Ilham Aliyev for pardoning a convicted murderer despite assurances
provided by Azerbaijan: The condemnation of Azerbaijan's continued
aggression and threats of war against the Republic of Armenia and
the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and Recognition of the Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state to ensure the safety and
security of its people. At the conclusion of the meeting, Kahramanian
addressed the gathered, stating: "Our issue is not with the peaceful
people of Hungary but with those officials in Budapest who allowed the
extradition of a convicted cold-blooded murderer." "We will continue
to pursue the Hungarian authorities through the Embassy in Canberra
until we receive a response which is not a response that the Hungarian
government wants to hear, but a response which is just and correct."
"Today we not only fight for the memory of an Armenian solider but
as human beings of this world we fight for the dignity of all mankind."
The protest received coverage through SBS TV World News, ABC Radio
and SBS Radio.