Switzerland to assist in normalization of Hungary -Armenia ties

Switzerland can help ease the tensions that have arisen in Hungarian-Armenian relations after Hungary extradited to Azerbaijan an officer sentenced to life in prison who was pardoned at home, Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi said at the radio program "180 Minutes" on the Hungarian Kossuth Radio.

"Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter offered Hungary assistance in normalizing the Hungarian-Armenian relations. And Switzerland as a traditionally neutral, intermediary country can help," Martonyi said, stressing that it is necessary to use all possible means to ease tensions between Hungary and Armenia, UKRINFORM reports.

He said the Hungarian government regarding the case of extradition of Azerbaijani Ramil Safarov, who in 2004 killed an Armenian officer, acted legally.

On August 31, Armenia ceased diplomatic relations with Hungary, after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned Ramil Safarov extradited to Azerbaijan.

Ramil Safarov was convicted in Hungary to life imprisonment for the murder in 2004 of an Armenian officer, with whom he underwent in Budapest training of the NATO "Partnership for Peace" program. Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov, who was convicted in Hungary, returned on Friday to Azerbaijan. The same day, under an order of the head of state, he was pardoned.

Ramil Safarov was born on August 25, 1977 in the Jabrail region of Azerbaijan. Safarov 34, who participated in NATO exercises in 2004 in Hungary, was charged with the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan, who insulted the Azerbaijani flag. As the result of the verdict by the Budapest court, Safarov was sentenced to life imprisonment without the right of pardon during 30 years.


/Trend/