Azeri minister blames international bodies for Armenian defectors’ hunger strike
Sarq, Baku
28 May 04
Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Sarq on 28 May
headlined “The national security minister calls on the two Armenians
to stop their hunger strike” and subheaded “Namiq Abbasov: ‘If any
tragedy happens to them, the International Committee of the Red Cross
and other structures will be responsible for this'”
Azerbaijani National Security Minister Namiq Abbasov has called on
the Armenian defectors, Artur Apresyan and Roman Teryan, to stop
their hunger strike, which they have started in protest against
the activities of the UNHCR and the International Committee of the
Red Cross.
He said that the aforesaid individuals place the responsibility
for this action on international organizations. Abbasov added that
according to the law, those held in solitary confinement cells at the
National Security Ministry are force-fed if they announce a hunger
strike. “But the law does not apply to them Apresyan and Teryan ,”
Abbasov said.
He added: “Today I issued an instruction to persuade them to stop their
move. Let them be patient, start to eat and see what extra measures
we take. Our human rights organizations, NGOs and media outlets are
protecting them. If any tragedy happens to them, the International
Committee of the Red Cross and other structures will be responsible
for this”.
From: Baghdasarian