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Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Rue Albert Street, Suite/Bureau 516
Ottawa, Ontario
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622
Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/Courriel: [email protected]
www.anccanada.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2014 Contact: R. Roupen Kouyoumdjian
(514) 265-4602
The Armenian National Committee of Canada's (ANCC) statement on the
Occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Axe Murder during the NATO
Sponsored Course
Ottawa - The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) reminds the
international community of the horrific axe murder of Armenian
lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan , committed by Azerbaijani lieutenant Ramil
Safarov during a NATO- sponsored course.
The ANCC condemns the pardoning and rewarding of this convicted killer
by the government of Azerbaijan.
On February 18, 2004, while both men were participating in a
NATO-sponsored course in Hungary, Azerbaijani lieutenant Ramil Safarov
axed to death Armenian lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, when the latter was
sleeping. Safarov subsequently admitted to the murder, and was convicted
by a Hungarian court and sentenced to life in prison for his heinous
act. Hungary had consistently refused extradition until August 2012,
when it allowed Safarov to return to Azerbaijan, under assurances and
promises by Azerbaijani officials that he would serve out his full
prison term. However, upon his arrival in Azerbaijan, Safarov was
welcomed as a hero, received a full presidential pardon by Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliev and was promoted to a Major rank in addition to
receiving various compensations.
In recent weeks, Azeri forces attacked Armenian positions on more than
one occasion on the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's border, resulting in the
death of an Armenian soldier and the wounding of a 16 year-old youngster.
These recent violations of the ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict represent an escalation of the on-going disregard by Azerbaijan
for the OSCE Minsk Group efforts to solve the conflict peacefully. The
OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 by the Conference on Security and
Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), now renamed Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Canada is a member of the OSCE which is
headed by a French, Russian and American co-chairmanship.
Azerbaijan's latest actions are another clear example of how the Aliev
regime continues to incite ethnic hatred and violence, and threaten
peace in the region; all in an effort to deflect focus away from its own
corrupt practices. With a track record of complete disregard for
international law, and continuous abuse of human rights, Azerbaijan
cannot be trusted as a credible partner to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process brought forth by the OSCE Minsk Group.
The extradition and pardoning of Safarov in 2012 raised concerns in the
OSCE Minsk Group's co-chairmanship countries of Russia, France and the
United States (where both the White House and Congressional leaders
strongly expressed their concerns regarding Azerbaijan's actions). On
the other hand, Hungarian officials had said that they acted in good faith.
`Political leaders in Canada and throughout the world should condemn
Azerbaijan's blatant disregard for international law and its ongoing
belligerence. The world community must now demonstrate that Azerbaijan
cannot continue its unlawful and inhumane actions. This notorious human
rights abusing regime, headed by Aliev, is, once more, characterized as
'murderous' `, stated ANCC President Dr. Girair Basmadjian,
-30-
******
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots human rights organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.
------
Le CNAC est l'organisation canado-arménienne des droits humains la plus
large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux, chapitres
et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations affiliées à
travers le monde, le CNAC s'occupe activement des inquiétudes de la
communauté canadienne-arménienne.
130 Rue Albert Street, Suite/Bureau 516
Ottawa, Ontario
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622
Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/Courriel: [email protected]
www.anccanada.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2014 Contact: R. Roupen Kouyoumdjian
(514) 265-4602
The Armenian National Committee of Canada's (ANCC) statement on the
Occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Axe Murder during the NATO
Sponsored Course
Ottawa - The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) reminds the
international community of the horrific axe murder of Armenian
lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan , committed by Azerbaijani lieutenant Ramil
Safarov during a NATO- sponsored course.
The ANCC condemns the pardoning and rewarding of this convicted killer
by the government of Azerbaijan.
On February 18, 2004, while both men were participating in a
NATO-sponsored course in Hungary, Azerbaijani lieutenant Ramil Safarov
axed to death Armenian lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, when the latter was
sleeping. Safarov subsequently admitted to the murder, and was convicted
by a Hungarian court and sentenced to life in prison for his heinous
act. Hungary had consistently refused extradition until August 2012,
when it allowed Safarov to return to Azerbaijan, under assurances and
promises by Azerbaijani officials that he would serve out his full
prison term. However, upon his arrival in Azerbaijan, Safarov was
welcomed as a hero, received a full presidential pardon by Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliev and was promoted to a Major rank in addition to
receiving various compensations.
In recent weeks, Azeri forces attacked Armenian positions on more than
one occasion on the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's border, resulting in the
death of an Armenian soldier and the wounding of a 16 year-old youngster.
These recent violations of the ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict represent an escalation of the on-going disregard by Azerbaijan
for the OSCE Minsk Group efforts to solve the conflict peacefully. The
OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 by the Conference on Security and
Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), now renamed Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Canada is a member of the OSCE which is
headed by a French, Russian and American co-chairmanship.
Azerbaijan's latest actions are another clear example of how the Aliev
regime continues to incite ethnic hatred and violence, and threaten
peace in the region; all in an effort to deflect focus away from its own
corrupt practices. With a track record of complete disregard for
international law, and continuous abuse of human rights, Azerbaijan
cannot be trusted as a credible partner to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process brought forth by the OSCE Minsk Group.
The extradition and pardoning of Safarov in 2012 raised concerns in the
OSCE Minsk Group's co-chairmanship countries of Russia, France and the
United States (where both the White House and Congressional leaders
strongly expressed their concerns regarding Azerbaijan's actions). On
the other hand, Hungarian officials had said that they acted in good faith.
`Political leaders in Canada and throughout the world should condemn
Azerbaijan's blatant disregard for international law and its ongoing
belligerence. The world community must now demonstrate that Azerbaijan
cannot continue its unlawful and inhumane actions. This notorious human
rights abusing regime, headed by Aliev, is, once more, characterized as
'murderous' `, stated ANCC President Dr. Girair Basmadjian,
-30-
******
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots human rights organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.
------
Le CNAC est l'organisation canado-arménienne des droits humains la plus
large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux, chapitres
et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations affiliées à
travers le monde, le CNAC s'occupe activement des inquiétudes de la
communauté canadienne-arménienne.