CANBERRA: Australia’s Ambassador NATO, Dr. Brendan Nelson has added his voice to the international condemnation and criticism of Azerbaijan’s release of convicted axe-murderer Ramil Safarov.
Ambassador Nelson shared the Australian government’s "disappointment" at "the decision of President Aliyev to pardon Safarov".
Dr. Nelson, similar to the Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, noted that this issue occurred against the backdrop of the Narogno-Karabakh conflict and that "Azerbaijan’s actions have the potential to undermine the ongoing mediation process under the OSCE Minsk Group".
ANC Australia Executive Director Vache Kahramanian welcomed the Ambassador’s statement, who has been a long-standing friend of the Armenian-Australian community.
The text of the letter can be read below.
19 September 2012
Mr Vache H Kahramaian

Executive Director

Armenian National Committee of Australia

259 Penshurst Street

Willoughby NSW 2068


Dear Mr Kahramanian


Thank you for your letter dated 1 September 2012 about the extradition from Hungary and subsequent release of Azerbaijani military officer, Ramil Safarov, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Armenian Army officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest in 2004.
As you would know from the response of my colleague from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Government is disappointed by the decision of President Aliyev to pardon Safarov. The extradition and pardoning occur against the background of the broader issue of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, and the question of their territorial dispute regarding Nagorno-Karabakh. Given these difficult relations, in addition to causing distress at a personal level for Gurgen Margaryan’s family, Azerbaijan’s actions have the potential to undermine the ongoing mediation process under the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) Minsk Group.


The Australian Government supports the work of the Minsk Group in solving the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute. The Government strongly encourages both sides to remain engaged in finding a solution through dialogue.


Thank you for bringing your views to the attention of the Australian Government.
Yours sincerely,


[signed]

Brendan Nelson
Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO
