YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Head of Armenia’s Mission to NATO Ambassador Vigen Tchitetchian–submitted a letter on Monday on behalf of Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer–expressing his sadness and indignation over the brutal murder of Lieutenant Gurgen Margarian by an Azeri soldier.
Tchitetchian is meeting with the Secretary-General to discuss the development of Armenia’s cooperation with the alliance in the framework of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program.
The Ambassador addressed the tragic incident that took place at the PfP language training courses held in Budapest. The Secretary General–too–condemned the murder and asked that the Ambassador convey his sincere condolences to the family of the slain soldier.
In his letter–the Minister stated that such an act is "sad but also expected–as the consequence of the warmongering statemen’s of those within Azerbaijan’s government–old and new. Unfortunately–under the new President–such policy has been preserved and given new impetus."
The Minister added that "there has been not a single PfP event that has not been used by official Baku for blatant and unsophisticated anti-Armenian propaganda and hysteria."
The Ambassador reconfirmed that the commitmen’s that countries undertake in the framework of the PfP are irrevocable and have to be fully respected as is demanded by the spirit of the Partnership.
Margarian–26–was studying English at the National Military Academy of Hungary in Budapest within the scope of the PfP. Senior Lieutenant of Azeri armed forces Ramil Safarov–who was also participating in the language training course–killed the sleeping Margarian by ax the morning of February 19. The Azeri officer attempted also to kill another Armenian Lieutenant–but failed. He was arrested by Hungarian police–who have said that Safarov and Margarian had no contact with each other–alluded that the intent to kill Margarian "appeared a month ago," but have not made public the relevant evidence–according to Ambassador of Armenia in Austria and Hungary Jivan Tabibian.
Meanwhile–Azeri officials have expressed frustration at being unable to meet with Safarov–who is being held in temporary custody in Hungary. There are no plans to transfer him to prison–according to the police department press service.
Azeri officials have not been allowed to meet with Safarov yet because investigators are still trying to learn why the Azeri officer committed the crime and his mental state at that moment. At present–the law enforcement agencies know very little about the incident–but can keep Safarov under investigation for one month–according to Hungarian law.