DELEGATION TO THE EU-ARMENIA, EU-AZERBAIJAN AND EU-GEORGIA PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMITTEES STATEMENT by Mr Milan CABRNOCH, Chairman of the Delegation on the case of Ramil Safarov Brussels, 5 September 2012. In my capacity as Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, I express my deep concern about the Azerbaijani President's decision to pardon Ramil Safarov, who was supposed to serve a life sentence for brutally murdering Gurgen Margaryan, an Armenian military officer, in Hungary in 2004. For a number of years, the Members of our Delegation have redoubled their efforts in order to contribute to the improvement of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan through the parliamentary dialogue and, most recently, also through the Euronest PA. Moreover, we have intensified the bilateral contacts with Armenia and Azerbaijan, by making use of the instruments of parliamentary diplomacy, in the hope to reduce regional tensions, promote reconciliation and contribute to finding a viable solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Our Delegation has made it clear to its Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts that respect for human rights, the rule of law and European values should always be at the heart of their European integration aspirations. In this context, the decision of Mr Aliyev might be seen as a dangerous misuse of judicial proceedings. I urge the authorities of Azerbaijan to show their commitment to the values I mentioned and strongly encourage Azerbaijan and Armenia to remain engaged in a reconciliation process. For further information contact: Office of Mr Milan CABRNOCH, tel.32.2.284.53.78, e-mail: [email protected] Eastern Partnership and Russia Unit, tel.32.2.284.29.54, e-mail: [email protected] B-1047 BRUSSELS TEL. (32-2) 284 29 54 FAX (32-2) 284.68 30 F-67070 STRASBOURG TEL. (33-3) 88.16.42 43 FAX (33-3) 88.17.9743 .