Opening remarks by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the meeting of the RA National Security Council

You already know what has happened: the brigand, who murdered Gurgen Margarian, was returned by the Hungarian authorities to Azerbaijan and President Aliev granted pardon to that murderer. We clearly will not tolerate that and have to decide on our future steps.

First, it was explicit and has already been done – the RA Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff have ordered special alert. It is a necessary condition.

Second, Gorik Gurgenovich, (Head of the RA National Security Service) I will see you in my office right after this meeting – I have a special assignment for you.

Third, I want us to discuss the appropriateness of maintaining diplomatic relations with Hungary.

Fourth, I believe, it would be right for the RA National Assembly to convene a session and discuss this issue.

Next, I think as early as tomorrow letters must be sent to the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair states. All our diplomatic structures must receive corresponding instructions. I have already spoken to the leaders of our traditional parties, and I trust our people abroad ought to speak out on this too. The Hungarian authorities must realize that it was a huge mistake. In fact, they cut a deal with the Azeri authorities, and the commentaries of the Azerbaijani side that the secret negotiations have been going on for almost a year and that the issue was eventually solved during the Hungarian Prime Minister’s official visit to Baku prove that there has been no decision of the Minister of Justice but rather a coordinated action by the two countries which cut a deal, agreed actions of their authorities. We have to present an equivalent response.
It was not a plain murder; it was a hate crime on ethnic grounds, which has been exonerated by the country which is a member to the European Union. It’s a nasty thing.