Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-09-13-Speech-4-392-000"
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"en.20120913.36.4-392-000"2
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"Mr President, honourable Members, I welcome your initiative to raise the issue of Mr Safarov’s extradition and pardoning. I am fully aware of the very strong reactions prompted by this development, not only in Armenia, but also far beyond.
Ramil Safarov was sentenced in Hungary to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of Gurgen Margaryan, an Armenian officer and fellow NATO course participant. From our contacts with the Hungarian authorities, I understand that the decision to extradite Mr Safarov was based upon written assurances received from the Azerbaijani Government that Mr Safarov would serve the remaining part of his life sentence there.
The subsequent Azerbaijani decisions, including the pardoning of Mr Safarov and steps which have widely been seen as rewarding his crime, are deeply regrettable. The handling of this case has the potential to further complicate the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as – potentially – the Eastern Partnership agenda.
Despite this setback – and I think we cannot pretend that it is otherwise – the EU remains committed to, and persistent in, its support to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process in the framework of the Minsk Group. The EU does not see – and would absolutely reject – any alternative to peaceful conflict settlement. The Safarov case should not be used by anyone to deviate from this.
Intense contacts with all actors to establish the situation have been deployed by the EU, and there was a good discussion on this at the informal Foreign Ministers’ meeting last weekend in Cyprus. Moreover, Baroness Ashton has instructed the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia to visit Yerevan and Baku and convey our messages, which he is doing as we speak.
Last but not least, there is also a lesson for the Eastern Partnership, in which both Armenia and Azerbaijan participate. Without a community of values, without the rule of law and respect for human rights and commitments taken, there can be no reconciliation or peace. In this respect, the implementation of the Eastern Partnership Road map becomes a key element for regional stability.
More than ever, our efforts in support of peace in the region are needed. The Commission welcomes President Schulz’s statement and the European Parliament’s commitment in focusing the attention of partners on this objective."@en1
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