Interfax, Russia
Sept 21 2012
Azeri diplomats secure in Hungary despite Armenian threats - ambassador
BAKU. Sept 21
Hungarian authorities are providing security to Azeri diplomats in the
country at a high level, Azeri Ambassador to Hungary Vilayat Guliyev
told journalists on Friday.
"Armenia's threats do not scare Azeri diplomats anymore. Nothing
ventured, nothing gained. When we were undertaking steps to have Ramil
Safarov freed, we were prepared for this," Guliyev said.
The relationship between Azerbaijan and Hungary remains good, and the
two countries are continuing to implement their plans, Guliyev said.
"The next meeting of the bilateral intergovernmental commission will
take place on October 8-9," he said.
"Relations between Azerbaijan and Hungary are continuing to develop as
before, and the note that the Hungarian Foreign Ministry has presented
to Azerbaijan regarding the Ramil Safarov case has not affected
bilateral relations between the two countries in any way," he said.
"Despite the threat by ASALA (the Armenian Secret Army for the
Liberation of Armenia), the Azeri Embassy is continuing its activities
as usual, but with increased security measures," he said.
"The Azeri Embassy to Hungary is continuing to receive letters with
threats to Azeri diplomats, which have been passed to the relevant
bodies for examination," he said.
It was reported earlier that Ramil Safarov, a senior lieutenant of the
Azeri armed forces, murdered Armenian army lieutenant Gurgen Margarian
in 2004 in Budapest, where both were attending an English language
course as part of NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Safarov said
in court that he had killed Margarian for defiling an Azeri flag.
In 2006, a Budapest court gave Safarov a life sentence without the
right to seek pardon during the first 30 years of the term.
Hungary extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan on August 31, 2012, assuming
that he would serve the rest of his term in his own country. However,
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev pardoned him the same day. Moreover,
Safarov was received by Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, who promoted
him to major, presented him with a key to a new apartment and ordered
that he be paid his allowance over the previous 8.5 years.
Safarov's extradition and pardon caused an outcry in Yerevan, which
severed its diplomatic relations with Budapest. The EU, the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs (the U.S., France, and Russia), and a number of other
international organizations criticized Safarov's pardoning, and the
Hungarian Foreign Ministry sent a note to Azerbaijan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Sept 21 2012
Azeri diplomats secure in Hungary despite Armenian threats - ambassador
BAKU. Sept 21
Hungarian authorities are providing security to Azeri diplomats in the
country at a high level, Azeri Ambassador to Hungary Vilayat Guliyev
told journalists on Friday.
"Armenia's threats do not scare Azeri diplomats anymore. Nothing
ventured, nothing gained. When we were undertaking steps to have Ramil
Safarov freed, we were prepared for this," Guliyev said.
The relationship between Azerbaijan and Hungary remains good, and the
two countries are continuing to implement their plans, Guliyev said.
"The next meeting of the bilateral intergovernmental commission will
take place on October 8-9," he said.
"Relations between Azerbaijan and Hungary are continuing to develop as
before, and the note that the Hungarian Foreign Ministry has presented
to Azerbaijan regarding the Ramil Safarov case has not affected
bilateral relations between the two countries in any way," he said.
"Despite the threat by ASALA (the Armenian Secret Army for the
Liberation of Armenia), the Azeri Embassy is continuing its activities
as usual, but with increased security measures," he said.
"The Azeri Embassy to Hungary is continuing to receive letters with
threats to Azeri diplomats, which have been passed to the relevant
bodies for examination," he said.
It was reported earlier that Ramil Safarov, a senior lieutenant of the
Azeri armed forces, murdered Armenian army lieutenant Gurgen Margarian
in 2004 in Budapest, where both were attending an English language
course as part of NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Safarov said
in court that he had killed Margarian for defiling an Azeri flag.
In 2006, a Budapest court gave Safarov a life sentence without the
right to seek pardon during the first 30 years of the term.
Hungary extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan on August 31, 2012, assuming
that he would serve the rest of his term in his own country. However,
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev pardoned him the same day. Moreover,
Safarov was received by Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, who promoted
him to major, presented him with a key to a new apartment and ordered
that he be paid his allowance over the previous 8.5 years.
Safarov's extradition and pardon caused an outcry in Yerevan, which
severed its diplomatic relations with Budapest. The EU, the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs (the U.S., France, and Russia), and a number of other
international organizations criticized Safarov's pardoning, and the
Hungarian Foreign Ministry sent a note to Azerbaijan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress