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U.S. Rep. Berman urges to block Azeri participation in NATO program
September 28, 2012 - 10:44 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking
Democrat Howard Berman (D-CA) urged the State Department to rally a
joint protest of NATO allies against Azerbaijan and to block that
country's participation in NATO Partnership for Peace initiatives in
response to the Aliyev government's recent pardon and promotion of
convicted axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
In a strongly worded letter sent to Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, Rep. Berman acknowledged the strong Obama administration
condemnation of Azerbaijan's release of Safarov, but added, `in my
view, however, the abhorrent nature of this pardon, as well as the
gruesome nature of the original crime and the context in which it
occurred, demands something more. It demands a strong and meaningful
response.'
Berman went on to outline concrete actions that the State Department
can undertake including: arranging for a joint protest to President
Aliyev by all members of NATO; calling on NATO to suspend Azerbaijan
from all participation in PfP events unless and until Aliyev rescinds
the pardon and promotion and re-incarcerates the killer, or returns
him to Hungary, to serve the remainder of his life sentence;
immediately halting all military assistance and arms transfers to
Azerbaijan.
September 28, 2012 - 10:44 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking
Democrat Howard Berman (D-CA) urged the State Department to rally a
joint protest of NATO allies against Azerbaijan and to block that
country's participation in NATO Partnership for Peace initiatives in
response to the Aliyev government's recent pardon and promotion of
convicted axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
In a strongly worded letter sent to Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, Rep. Berman acknowledged the strong Obama administration
condemnation of Azerbaijan's release of Safarov, but added, `in my
view, however, the abhorrent nature of this pardon, as well as the
gruesome nature of the original crime and the context in which it
occurred, demands something more. It demands a strong and meaningful
response.'
Berman went on to outline concrete actions that the State Department
can undertake including: arranging for a joint protest to President
Aliyev by all members of NATO; calling on NATO to suspend Azerbaijan
from all participation in PfP events unless and until Aliyev rescinds
the pardon and promotion and re-incarcerates the killer, or returns
him to Hungary, to serve the remainder of his life sentence;
immediately halting all military assistance and arms transfers to
Azerbaijan.