Brussels, 03/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, said on Monday 3 September that the EU is concerned about the pardon by Azerbaijan of one of its nationals, extradited by Hungary where he was sentenced to prison for life for the murder of an Armenian. Saying that this decision could have a wider impact on the region, the spokesperson called on the Armenian and Azeri authorities to show moderation on the ground but also in statements in order not to inflame the situation, while the two countries are in dispute over the region of Upper Karabakh. Kocijancic said that the European External Action Service “is in the process of establishing contact” with the Azeri authorities and is in contact with the Hungarian authorities.
Sentenced to life for the murder of an Armenian officer in 2004, Ramil Safarov was sent to Azerbaijan on 31 August by the Hungarian authorities. He was immediately pardoned by the Azeri president and also reintegrated into the army and promoted. In retaliation, Armenia suspended its diplomatic relations with Budapest on Friday, judging that it has made a serious mistake. The minister of foreign affairs in Hungary said that Baku had promised that Safarov would continue to serve his sentence, before the extradition was made. (CG/transl.fl)