The Armenian Bar Association (ABA) sent the following letter to President Barack Obama regarding Ramil Safarov’s extradition and later release in Azerbaijan.
September 3, 2012
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama:
Greetings to you on behalf of the Armenian Bar Association, the largest and most diverse group of Armenian-American judges, lawyers, and students who are bound together by the greatest–and often elusive–universal interest, namely justice.
Your life and career have been guided by the North Star of our times, carrying within its glow the promise of enlightenment. These two principles–enlightenment and justice– form the ligament that holds civilized men and women and civilized nations together.
The Executive Committee of the Armenian Bar Association shares your deep concern over Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s illicit pardon of Azeri Ramil Safarov, who was convicted in Hungarian courts of axing to death an innocent Armenian, Gurgen Margaryan. The painful irony of the crime is that it occurred during a training program in Budapest under the auspices of NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program.
Whereas communicating to Azerbaijan’s authorities your disappointment about the decision to pardon Safarov is welcome news to us, we hope there will be more said and more done by you about the affront to international law and fundamental notions of, simply, what is right and what is wrong.
We ask that you follow your own conscience and sense of justice which have elevated you to the highest office in our land and have led to the support of millions of Americans, including the support of countless Armenian-Americans.
Mr. Aliyev’s decision to pardon Safarov is a repudiation of your and American efforts to bring peace, reduce regional tensions, and promote reconciliation.
This week, as you accept the nomination of the Democratic Party and, as anticipated, share with the nation the importance of the rule of law, and as you remind the world about the United States of America being the champion of freedom and democracy, we ask that you please take a moment to reflect on how those declarations can be reconciled with the current state of friendly relations with the regime in Azerbaijan.
We urge you to let the world see you as the brave leader for whom justice is above and for all.
Very Truly Yours,
Garo B. Ghazarian
Chairman, Board of Governors
Armenian Bar Association
Edvin Minassian
Chairman, Ex-Officio
Armen K. Hovannisian
Vice-Chairman
Harry Dikranian
Vice-Chairman
Sara Bedirian
Treasurer
Hovanes Margarian
Secretary
Vicken I. Simonian
Chairman Emeritus
Thanks to the team who wrote this letter to P.Obama
We must unite and face
every problem we face…
Using our names and surnames with pride…
We need more support
To save every innocent…..
Not only our young men
Gurgen was slayed* by axe…
Where did he find that dagger…?
Even you can’t kill wild animal by such savage way….!
Sylva-MD-Poetry
________________________
* slayed: poetic word for slain
I was wondering how Vahe Avetyan’s family is feeling and thinking right now. No further comment.
Ani:
are you comparing Safarov to Nemetz Rubo’s goons ?
Are you that full of hate towards the Gov of RoA that you would find moral equivalence in the two ?
The goons are bound over to trial: wait for the outcome before you spill your venom. Despite the horrific nature of Officer Avertyan’s murder, he was awake and got involved in a physical fight with some thickneck savages.
For you to compare that with the premeditated, cold blood hacking to death of a sleeping man – is beneath contempt.
No further comment.
I’m just wondering what kind of person is neandertal Ilham Aliev.Is he human or
alien from another planet and Safarov?KaroMavian
Sylva-MD-Poetry said it very well: “Using our names and surnames with pride…”
Thank you Karo Mavian for voicing your opinion under your own name.
Antoine S. Terjanian, Ottawa, Canada
Avery jan, inz hamar yerp hayi hayin e isbanum, en el mi martu tem dasnihink hoki, ta amenamez hanzankin e. Tshnamin yerp mer mechum e da anuntuneli e.
Azerbaijan and turkey are critical US allies. Moreover even tough turkey is going through a difficult time with Israel, Azerbaijan now have close relations with Israel. Here, the lesson for the Armenian community is that you cannot rely on politicians, but you keep trying to accomplish your goals through pressuring politicians. You should instead try directly working with Turks especially in the US. You cannot dictate anything to Turkey, it’s way more powerful. But you can engage with Turks especially here in the US and try to meet at a common platform. Things can change in Turkey only if you gather support from a significant part of Turkish public.
last thing we need is advice from Turks like you, proud or otherwise.
We know all about politicians: US, French, and all the rest.
Don’t you worry: we know what’s it about. We know how to play the game. Not everything is as it appears. Part of the program.
(go ask Anti-Armenian Turcophile Mr. Bryza who is it that got him fired and then come back and give us advice about politics – proud Turk)
As for the so-called ‘critical’ ally: the one time US needed Turkey during the Iraqi invasion, Turks refused to help. US military has not forgotten and has not forgiven Turks. One thing Anglo-Saxons are masters at is getting even very subtly. And they have long memories. You guys won’t even know you are being played until it’s too late. You Turks will pay for betraying Americans who have been propping you guys up for decades.
And 30 million Kurds are engaging you Tutks very nicely: Armenians don’y have to do anything, but sit back and enjoy fine Armenian brandy.
Who do you think caused the explosion in the grenade depot that killed 25 Turk troops – the Martians? Even Turks admit it as no accident.
And Azerbaijan is not even a country: it is just a gas station for the West. when the oil runs out, West will find another gas station. The fake state of Azerbaijan will break up into many parts. And if Sultan Aliyev doesn’t behave, Putin will pull a Saakashvili on him. Russian tanks will be in Baku in less than 24 hours.
99% of Turks do not even think about this issue. But a big part of Armenian population especially in the diaspora is quite obsessed with this issue. If you see this issue as a war between two nations, then the sad truth is things are not going well for your side. Here are the facts. Turkey’s GDP increased three-fold in the last 8 years, now Turkey has the world’s 15th largest economy with GDP of $ 800Billion, compare that to Armenia with GDP of $10.5 Billion (a significant portion through foreign aid). Turkish diaspora in the US is getting much stronger, you no longer have the significant advantage in the congress. Turkey is becoming even more vital for the US after the developments in the region. So things are not going well for your “cause”. You can do whatever you want, but it is not difficult for anybody who knows Turkish public is to understand that you cannot dictate any “solution” to Turkish public through third parties. Even for the moment, suppose that the next US president states the g-word and you got your resolution through the congress (which is not likely to happen, but lets suppose for the sake of argument), even then Turks will not agree to anything regardless of what sanctions, bla-bla happen. We would not agree to anything that we consider “unjust” no matter what the cost will be. You could be much more successful, if you get support of the Turkish public. Most Turks accept that tragic things happened over that time period. Through dialogue we can understand each other better. With your current strategy, you can do some small damage to Turkish interests (and your power is getting weaker and weaker) but in return you won’t get anything. Armenia could do much better if it cooperates with Turkey putting aside this animosity. The average Turk do not hate Armenians (there are many Armenians working in Turkey many of whom are illegals), but unfortunately most (but not all) Armenians hate Turks. You are only hurting yourselves with this hate. You can respond to my post, but this is my last message, I do not want to get into a heated debate. Peace.
Proudturk. You seem to be well informed and justifiably proud of the economic progress achieved by the Republic of Turkey in the last decade.
What I don’t understand, is if you are so proud, and your people are the majority in the USA, and you want your message to be one of peace, why do you hide behind a pseudonym ?
Sylva-MD-Poetry said it very well in the first comment: “Using our names and surnames with pride…”
How can we engage in a true dialog if you hide behind a mask?
Antoine S. Terjanian, Ottawa, Canada
Congratulations to the Armenian Bar Association on their letter to Pres. Obama on the Axe-Killer Safarov whom killed the Armenian Lt. Gurgen Margaryan practically severing his body. Petitions should be established by all Armenian Organizations to protest and to see that this Axe killer is returned to prison with the petitions sent to the United Nations & numerous countries.
How about withholding US foreign aid dollars to Azerbaijan? That should have a little impact…
And best yet with the ABA in the picture, Gurgen Margaryan’s family, if needed with help from the government of Armenia and the diaspora, should sue Azerbaijan and perhaps NATO just to bring attention to their son’s murder and release of the criminal.