We expect a precise and unambiguous response by all our partners with regard to this incident. Serzh Sargsyan, RA President
Following extradition, release and glorification of the Azerbaijani Army officer and axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan invited Heads of diplomatic missions of the UN member States and Heads of the offices of the international organizations accredited in Armenia for an extraordinary meeting. At the meeting president announced suspending Armenia-Hungary relations and shared Armenia’s expectation from the international society to give clear standing i.e. standing indicating Azerbaijani’s blame. Since then first U.S.A., then EU, Russia and France shared their approaches on various levels. Weather they match Armenia’s expectations or not, we hereby present them for consideration.
U.S.A. Approach
Press Statement (31.08.2012) Acting Deputy Spokesperson Patrick Ventrell
The United States is extremely troubled by the news that the President of Azerbaijan pardoned Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov, who returned to Baku today following his transfer from Hungary. We are expressing our deep concern to Azerbaijan regarding this action and seeking an explanation. We are also seeking further details from Hungary regarding the decision to transfer Mr. Safarov to Azerbaijan.
Statement NSC Spokesman Tommy Vietor (31.08.2012)
President Obama is deeply concerned by today’s announcement that the President of Azerbaijan has pardoned Ramil Safarov following his return from Hungary. We are communicating to Azerbaijani authorities our disappointment about the decision to pardon Safarov. This action is contrary to ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote reconciliation. The United States is also requesting an explanation from Hungary regarding its decision to transfer Safarov to Azerbaijan.
France Approach
France Ministry of Foreign Affairs(03.09.2012)
France, who, like the other co-chairs of the Minsk Group, is strongly committed to a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, believes that this decision risks seriously damaging the negotiation efforts and the establishment of a climate of trust between the parties.
Russia Approach
Statement of A.K. Lukashevich, Official Representative of MFA of Russia
In Russia, which is the co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, received reports with deep concern regarding the clemency of Baku Azeri serviceman Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the commission of the murder of an Armenian officer with an extreme atrocity in Hungary in the 2004, as well as regarding the preceded decision of the Hungarian authorities to extradite him to Azerbaijan.
We believe that these actions of Azerbaijan, as well as the Hungarian authorities to run counter to the efforts agreed at international level, particularly through the OSCE Minsk Group, directed to reduce tension in the region. We also expect that appropriate assessment of the situation will be given by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group in the near future.
Statement Nikolai Bordyuzha (Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) / 03.09.2012
This decision questions the effectiveness of the interstate system of fighting crime. This move, which apparently was made for some political reasons, cannot be justified. I am convinced the international community will not hesitate to give an impartial assessment to what happened
OSCE Approach
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Robert Bradtke of the United States of America, Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, and Jacques Faure of France) and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, met on September 2 with the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, and on September 3 with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, to address recent events in the region and efforts to peacefully resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
They expressed their deep concern and regret for the damage the pardon and any attempts to glorify the crime have done to the peace process and trust between the sides.
The Co-Chairs reiterated to both Ministers that, as their Presidents stated in Los Cabos on June 19, there is no alternative to a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They will continue to maintain contacts with the sides to reduce tensions and advance the peace process.
EU Approach
Joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle (03.09.2012)
The High Representative and Commissioner Füle are concerned by the news that the President of Azerbaijan has pardoned Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov… Ramil Safarov was transferred from Hungary to Azerbaijan on 31 August on the basis of an Azerbaijani request, in the framework of the Convention of Strasbourg on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons of 21 March 1983, to serve the rest of his sentence. EU representatives are in contact with the relevant authorities and will continue to follow the situation closely.
In the interest of regional stability and on-going efforts towards reconciliation, the High Representative and Commissioner Fule reiterate their call on Azerbaijan and Armenia to exercise restraint, on the ground as well as in public statements, in order to prevent an escalation of the situation.”
Statement of Commissioner for Human Rights/ Council of Europe (04.09.2012)
Racist crimes must not go unpunished. Violent offences motivated by bias, such as racial or inter-ethnic hatred, are a particularly pernicious form of criminality. It is already highly regrettable if someone who commits a gruesome murder motivated by the victim’s ethnicity or nationality is treated with a leniency not displayed towards others convicted of crimes. Such glorification of hate crimes can only send a message that others belonging to the same ethnic group as the victim, or indeed other members of vulnerable groups, are “fair game“. This is an extremely dangerous message
Statement: Council of Europe’s Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland
I do not want to comment on the legal proceedings, but I find it unacceptable that a convicted murderer is welcomed as a hero. I reject the prospect of a world whose moral code begins to fray, where respect for human dignity is denied. This is not the Europe that we should wish for future generations. I condemn such glorification of crime, and urge that we all work to uphold the respect for life, and our values as defended by the Council of Europe
Statement of European Parliament President Martin Schulz (05.09.2012)
I am disturbed by what appears to be a politically motivated pardon of Mr. Safarov by the President of Azerbaijan. At the same time, I urge Azerbaijan and Armenia to avoid any moves and statements that might exacerbate the situation.
As can be noticed, highest level approach has so far been shared by the EU. Though condemning Azerbaijan, EU’s viewpoints still were directed to both sides (Azerbaijan and Armenia) being questionably precise in terms of extending blames as could have been expected. In line with this U.S. approach seems to be so far the “most matching” to Armenia’s expectations of preciseness and ambiguity. Interestingly enough Armenia’s strategic partner (Russia) shared a lower-than-expected level approach. Russia together with France put the whole “responsibility” for issuing precise statements on OSCE. Furthermore, none of Armenia’s neighbors reflected on the issue. In the context of these developments it seems more than strange that Armenia’s deputy foreign minister Mr. Shavarsh Kocharyan states to be delighted with international response.
P.S. At the August 31 Ambassadorial meeting Serzh Sargsyan stated “We will judge the attitude of our partners towards the security of the Armenian nation by their response to this incident.” This extradition incident seems to be a best chance for making such judgments.
