WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) - on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the brutal axe-murder of Armenian Army Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan by Azerbaijani Lt. Ramil Safarov - expanded an outreach campaign to the Washington, DC foreign policy community about Azerbaijani’s escalating threats of war, destabilizing arms build-up, and ongoing threats to peace

Lt. Margaryan was axed to death in his sleep on February 19, 2004, by Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov, during a NATO-sponsored English language training program. The U.S. condemned the action, with an immediate White House statement, issued in the name of National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor, underscoring the President's view that, "This action is contrary to ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote reconciliation." Similar statements were issued by Members of Congress and elected officials around the world.

“Lieutenant Margaryan’s premeditated and brutal murder nine years ago, and, more recently, President Aliyev's pardon, praise, and promotion of his unrepentant killer, Ramil Safarov, reflect and reinforce the very same toxic, anti-Armenian hatred that fueled the Azerbaijani pogroms in Sumgait, Kirovabad, Maragha, and Baku,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  “It is this officially-sanctioned hatred that would surely - if Artaskh were ever to fall into Aliyev's angry grasp - lead to an all-out drive by Baku to destroy the entire Armenian population of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.”