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DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER AND UNHCR REP. IN ARMENIA DISCUSS SITUATION OVER HAKOB INJIGHULYAN
September 19, 2013 | 21:08
YEREVAN. - Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyanon Thursday
had a meeting with Christoph Bierwirth, UNHCR Representative in
Armenia and discussed prospects of general cooperation in relevant
spheres of mutual interest.
During the meeting Tonoyan inter alia touched upon the situation
concerning the Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan held in Azerbaijani
captivity. He referred to a recent press release on an Azerbaijani
media outlet quoting Mr.Shahin Sailov, Secretary of State Commission
of Azerbaijan on POW, Detainees and Missing in Action who said that
the Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan reportedly made a request to be
sent to a third country.
If this information is not yet another propaganda trick on part of
the Azerbaijani authorities, the logical follow-up would suggest
engagement of the UNHCR office in Baku according to its mandate to
proceed with determination of a refugee status for H. Injighulyan,
Defense Ministry said in a statement.
He also informed that the Armenian side has reiterated its pledge for
several times that Injighulyan will not be subject to any criminal
prosecution thus eliminating any possibility of "well-founded fear of
being persecuted", especially when no other grounds exist to confirm
this fear based on race, nationality, religion, political opinion.
Emphasizing the above-mentioned facts he called upon UNHCR and other
stake holders to consider these facts in their approach when addressing
such cases.
The Deputy Minister noted that granting Injighulyan a "refugee status"
could be understood as a chance for him to escape inevitable physical
abuse, torture or other tragic consequences as experienced before in
similar cases such as Manvel Saribekyan's- a shepherd who was brutally
killed while being captive under Azerbaijani protection. However,
it was emphasized that negative precedents should be avoided thus
the course of action should be considered extremely carefully given
the complex pattern.
Mr. Bierwirth took note of the position expressed by the First
Deputy Minister and promised to share it with his headquarters in
Geneva. He emphasized, however, the independence of UNHCR in conducting
mandate status determination procedures and the purely humanitarian,
non-political mandate of UNHCR.
In addition it was stated that Armenia is ready to discuss such cases
on a bilateral level with Azerbaijan without mediation efforts in
existing international or any other frameworks and formats.
http://news.am/eng/news/172100.html
September 19, 2013 | 21:08
YEREVAN. - Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyanon Thursday
had a meeting with Christoph Bierwirth, UNHCR Representative in
Armenia and discussed prospects of general cooperation in relevant
spheres of mutual interest.
During the meeting Tonoyan inter alia touched upon the situation
concerning the Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan held in Azerbaijani
captivity. He referred to a recent press release on an Azerbaijani
media outlet quoting Mr.Shahin Sailov, Secretary of State Commission
of Azerbaijan on POW, Detainees and Missing in Action who said that
the Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan reportedly made a request to be
sent to a third country.
If this information is not yet another propaganda trick on part of
the Azerbaijani authorities, the logical follow-up would suggest
engagement of the UNHCR office in Baku according to its mandate to
proceed with determination of a refugee status for H. Injighulyan,
Defense Ministry said in a statement.
He also informed that the Armenian side has reiterated its pledge for
several times that Injighulyan will not be subject to any criminal
prosecution thus eliminating any possibility of "well-founded fear of
being persecuted", especially when no other grounds exist to confirm
this fear based on race, nationality, religion, political opinion.
Emphasizing the above-mentioned facts he called upon UNHCR and other
stake holders to consider these facts in their approach when addressing
such cases.
The Deputy Minister noted that granting Injighulyan a "refugee status"
could be understood as a chance for him to escape inevitable physical
abuse, torture or other tragic consequences as experienced before in
similar cases such as Manvel Saribekyan's- a shepherd who was brutally
killed while being captive under Azerbaijani protection. However,
it was emphasized that negative precedents should be avoided thus
the course of action should be considered extremely carefully given
the complex pattern.
Mr. Bierwirth took note of the position expressed by the First
Deputy Minister and promised to share it with his headquarters in
Geneva. He emphasized, however, the independence of UNHCR in conducting
mandate status determination procedures and the purely humanitarian,
non-political mandate of UNHCR.
In addition it was stated that Armenia is ready to discuss such cases
on a bilateral level with Azerbaijan without mediation efforts in
existing international or any other frameworks and formats.
http://news.am/eng/news/172100.html