Karabakh to U.S. State Dept.: return of Azeri saboteurs impossibleFebruary 24, 2015 - 16:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The press secretary of the Nagorno Karabakh president expressed astonishment over the U.S. Department of State’s recent call for return of Azerbaijani saboteurs, Tert.am reports. “I don’t think it is possible; we have already voiced our position,” David Babayan told Tert.am, when asked to comment on the possibility of Azerbaijan’s future claims in the wake of Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki’s reiteration of Assistant Secretary Victoria Nuland’s earlier call. One of the saboteurs, Dilham Askerov, was given a life sentence in Azerbaijan. The other, Shahbaz Quliev, was convicted for 22 years in prison over charges of spying, border infiltration, illegal use of arms and arm supplies, kidnapping and murder. Describing the United States’ call as somewhat strange, Babayan noted that Azerbaijan has more important issues to focus on. “Azerbaijan, which glorifies axe-murderer Ramil Safarov as a hero, hasn’t for some reason faced any calls. And now the Azerbaijani lobby keeps making certain attempts. [The issue] has long been closed. There was a major humanitarian gesture on our part and an open and transparent trial appropriate to a democratic country,” he added. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |