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Voice of America
Aug 31 2012
Armenia Cuts Ties With Hungary in Soldier Dispute
Stefan Bos
August 31, 2012
BUDAPEST, Hungary - Armenia says it is cutting all ties with Hungary
for allowing an Azerbaijani soldier who killed an Armenian officer to
return home. On Friday, Hungary sent the soldier back to Azerbaijan,
where he was immediately pardoned and freed by his country's
president.
Azerbaijani Lieutenant Ramil Safarov was warmly welcomed in the
capital, Baku, after arriving from Hungary, where he was imprisoned
for murder.
Safarov was given a life sentence in 2006 by the Budapest City Court
after he confessed to hacking to death Lieutenant Gurgen Markarian of
Armenia in his sleep.
The incident happened while both were in Hungary for a 2004 language
course of the NATO military alliance.
Yet, as soon as Safarov arrived at the Baku airport, he received an
official pardon from Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev.
In a short statement, the president said he decreed Friday that
Safarov `should be freed from the term of his punishment.'
Safarov told reporters that he regards his freedom as a "restoration
of justice." He explained that he is "very happy" and that "it is
difficult to find words" to express his feelings. Safarov said he
wants to "express gratitude to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
[President] Ilham Aliyev and everyone who supports him."
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan said in published remarks that
"Hungarian authorities should understand that they have made a grave
mistake." He added that as of Friday, his nation would "cease all
diplomatic relations and all ties with Hungary."
The State Department issued a statement saying the United States is
"extremely troubled" by the news of the soldier's pardon and that it
is expressing its "deep concern" to Azerbaijan regarding the action.
The State Department also said it is seeking further details from
Hungary regarding the decision to transfer Safarov to Azerbaijan.
The press chief of Hungary's Foreign Ministry, Gabor Kaleta, said that
it was too early to comment on his country's future relationship with
Armenia or Azerbaijan.
And at Hungary's Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, press
officer Veronika Szucs made clear that this was not the time to ask
the hard questions.
"We don't have anyone who can give you an interview, or read the
statement," said Szucs. "Just a written statement exists. The title is
'Ramil Sahib Safarov's sentence will continue to be' [enforced by
Azerbaijan]."
In the statement, seen by VOA, the ministry said Safarov was
extradited under the '1983 Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of
Sentenced Persons,' which Hungary and Azerbaijan have signed.
Hungary, however, said Azerbaijan promised that it would respect
Budapest's judgment, meaning that "Persons sentenced to life
imprisonment may, at the earliest, be conditionally released after
serving a period of 25 years."
The killing has underscored tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan
over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The territory lies within Azerbaijan, but has remained under the
control of Armenian troops and ethnic Armenian forces since the end of
a six-year separatist war in 1994, which killed 30,000 people and left
about 1 million homeless.
During his trial in Budapest, Safarov claimed that the conflict was at
the root of his actions after the victim allegedly provoked him.
The decision to extradite Safarov comes shortly after Hungarian media
reported that oil-rich Azerbaijan may lend Hungary up to $3.8 billion
by buying special bonds to help it pay off its debt. Hungarian
officials later played down the reports, saying they first want to
conclude talks with the International Monetary Fund and the European
Union.
Hungarian radio reported Friday that Azerbaijan's president has
canceled an upcoming visit to Hungary, following the controversy over
the released soldier.
http://www.voanews.com/content/armenia_cuts_ties_with_hungary_in_soldier_dispute/1499725.html
Aug 31 2012
Armenia Cuts Ties With Hungary in Soldier Dispute
Stefan Bos
August 31, 2012
BUDAPEST, Hungary - Armenia says it is cutting all ties with Hungary
for allowing an Azerbaijani soldier who killed an Armenian officer to
return home. On Friday, Hungary sent the soldier back to Azerbaijan,
where he was immediately pardoned and freed by his country's
president.
Azerbaijani Lieutenant Ramil Safarov was warmly welcomed in the
capital, Baku, after arriving from Hungary, where he was imprisoned
for murder.
Safarov was given a life sentence in 2006 by the Budapest City Court
after he confessed to hacking to death Lieutenant Gurgen Markarian of
Armenia in his sleep.
The incident happened while both were in Hungary for a 2004 language
course of the NATO military alliance.
Yet, as soon as Safarov arrived at the Baku airport, he received an
official pardon from Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev.
In a short statement, the president said he decreed Friday that
Safarov `should be freed from the term of his punishment.'
Safarov told reporters that he regards his freedom as a "restoration
of justice." He explained that he is "very happy" and that "it is
difficult to find words" to express his feelings. Safarov said he
wants to "express gratitude to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
[President] Ilham Aliyev and everyone who supports him."
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan said in published remarks that
"Hungarian authorities should understand that they have made a grave
mistake." He added that as of Friday, his nation would "cease all
diplomatic relations and all ties with Hungary."
The State Department issued a statement saying the United States is
"extremely troubled" by the news of the soldier's pardon and that it
is expressing its "deep concern" to Azerbaijan regarding the action.
The State Department also said it is seeking further details from
Hungary regarding the decision to transfer Safarov to Azerbaijan.
The press chief of Hungary's Foreign Ministry, Gabor Kaleta, said that
it was too early to comment on his country's future relationship with
Armenia or Azerbaijan.
And at Hungary's Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, press
officer Veronika Szucs made clear that this was not the time to ask
the hard questions.
"We don't have anyone who can give you an interview, or read the
statement," said Szucs. "Just a written statement exists. The title is
'Ramil Sahib Safarov's sentence will continue to be' [enforced by
Azerbaijan]."
In the statement, seen by VOA, the ministry said Safarov was
extradited under the '1983 Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of
Sentenced Persons,' which Hungary and Azerbaijan have signed.
Hungary, however, said Azerbaijan promised that it would respect
Budapest's judgment, meaning that "Persons sentenced to life
imprisonment may, at the earliest, be conditionally released after
serving a period of 25 years."
The killing has underscored tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan
over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The territory lies within Azerbaijan, but has remained under the
control of Armenian troops and ethnic Armenian forces since the end of
a six-year separatist war in 1994, which killed 30,000 people and left
about 1 million homeless.
During his trial in Budapest, Safarov claimed that the conflict was at
the root of his actions after the victim allegedly provoked him.
The decision to extradite Safarov comes shortly after Hungarian media
reported that oil-rich Azerbaijan may lend Hungary up to $3.8 billion
by buying special bonds to help it pay off its debt. Hungarian
officials later played down the reports, saying they first want to
conclude talks with the International Monetary Fund and the European
Union.
Hungarian radio reported Friday that Azerbaijan's president has
canceled an upcoming visit to Hungary, following the controversy over
the released soldier.
http://www.voanews.com/content/armenia_cuts_ties_with_hungary_in_soldier_dispute/1499725.html