U.S. Department of State Expresses Strong Disappointment with Hungary over Safarov Extradition

State Department sources confirmed Thursday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton relayed the U.S. Government's "strong disappointment" over Hungary's extradition of convicted Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov during a state visit by Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi to Washington this week, asbarez.com reports. 

Victoria Nuland, State Department Spokesperson noted that, "Secretary Clinton reiterated our strong disappointment that Hungary transferred convicted murderer Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan, where he was immediately pardoned. This decision was harmful to the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and to trust between the sides."

"We welcome Secretary Clinton's continued efforts to impress upon Hungary's leaders how their reckless release and transfer of unrepentant axe-murder Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan has undermined the peace process," commented Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  "In the interest of peace, we encourage the Secretary to translate her words of criticism - toward both Hungary and Azerbaijan - into reality by putting in place a ban on U.S. arms sale to Baku and ending all military aid to the Azerbaijani armed forces."