Karabakh peace process damaged by Hungary's extradition of killer soldier - ministry
YEREVAN. Sept 5 (Interfax) - The extradition by Hungary of Ramil Safarov who killed an Armenian officer and his subsequent pardoning by the Azeri authorities have caused serious damage to the Karabakh peace process, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian said.
"The Azeri-Hungarian deal has caused serious damage to the process of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the efforts aimed at strengthening regional stability and security," Nalbandian said on Tuesday at an emergency session of the Armenian parliament, which focused on the suspension of diplomatic relations with Hungary.
The international community must not allow Azerbaijan "to continue its reckless policy under the guise of a negotiating process," he said.
"Armenia will continue its intense efforts in this area jointly with international partners," the minister said.
In the course of formal correspondence and communication between Yerevan and Budapest Hungary had dismissed the possibility of Safarov's extradition to Azerbaijan, Nalbandian also said.
The relations between Yerevan and Budapest soured after the extradition by Hungary on August 31 of Azeri soldier, Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced in Budapest to life in prison without the right of pardon for at least 30 years for the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian in 2004.
Safarov was pardoned by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on the same day that he was extradited.
Both Safarov and Margarian were in Budapest doing an English language course under NATO's Partnership for Peace Program.
On August 31, Armenia announced termination of its diplomatic relations with Budapest over Safarov's extradition to Azerbaijan.
