Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 14 / Trend S. Agayeva /
Adopting the resolution on Ramil Safarov's case by the European Parliament is a politicized action, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told media at the briefing today.
"The actions taken by Azerbaijan on this issue correspond to all international conventions," he said. "The case on Ramil Safarov is closed for Azerbaijan."
"Azerbaijan urges MEPs to get to the root of the matter," he said.
"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is at the root of Safarov's case," he said. "The international community must understand that the conflict will be resolved after the Armenian troops are withdrawn from Azerbaijani territory."
"Using all opportunities, Armenia tries to maintain the status quo," he said.
The European Parliament passed a resolution on Safarov's case at the plenary session in Strasbourg on Thursday, expressing regret over Baku's decision to pardon Ramil Safarov.
According to the European Parliament, the concern was expressed in the resolution that this decision may exacerbate tension between the two countries and undermine the efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Moreover, the European Parliament's resolution expresses support for the OSCE Minsk Group's efforts for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov, who was convicted in Hungary, returned to Azerbaijan on Aug. 31. The same day, under an order of the head of state, he was pardoned.
Ramil Safarov was born on August 25, 1977 in the Jabrail region of Azerbaijan. Safarov 34, who participated in NATO exercises in 2004 in Hungary, was charged with the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan, who insulted the Azerbaijani flag. As the result of the verdict by the Budapest court, Safarov was sentenced to life imprisonment without the right of pardon during 30 years.
Immediately after the Azerbaijani officer's release, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced that Armenia suspends diplomatic relations and all official contacts with Hungary.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.