Azeri, Hungarian Officials Riled over Students’ Visit to Karabakh

BAKU—The Hungarian Embassy in Azerbaijan is investigating reports that a group of Hungarian students led by professor of Armenian studies, Dr. Balint Kovacs, visited Armenia, and then the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, APA reports.

Karabakh-Open.info reported earlier on a meeting between Hungarian and Armenian students at Artsakh State University. Professor of Armenian studies Dr. Balint Kovacs said after the meeting that Armenian-Hungarian relations have a long history; that a strong Armenian community has existed in Hungary since the late Middle Ages and that there have been four Armenian cities in Transylvania. He mentioned that these Armenian cities contributed to the development of the region.

“The issue of Ramil Safarov is a subject of broad discussions in Hungary. This is the disposition of our government, not Hungarians in general. I hope this would not become a stumbling block in our further relations,” the Hungarian professor told reporters in Stepanakert.

“I am a lecturer and, of course, I cannot make political decisions, but I hope that our politicians will find a way to resolve the situation. This issue is evidence of the fact that the Armenians and Hungarians are friends, and their friendship must go on,” he said, continuing the topic of Ramil Safarov’s extradition from Hungary to Azerbaijan. Kovacs noted that the extradition of Safarov was not the right step, and that it should be corrected.

“Karabakh is an integral part of Armenian culture. I believe Christianity unites Armenians and Hungarians, and my students, whether Catholic or Orthodox, are here by the traces of faith. To get acquainted with Armenian culture, we found it appropriate to visit not only Armenia, Tatev, but also Artsakh – Gandzasar and Shushi. We will continue the study of Armenian history in Hungary, and in the future, I am sure our students will choose as a topic for their research works the history of Armenia, Artsakh and Nakhichevan, which is part of Armenia,” concluded the Hungarian Professor.