From Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:  Within hours of the pardon, Armenian President [Serzh] Sarkisian told an emergency meeting of that country’s National Security Council that Hungary had made a "grave mistake," and soon after he announced the interruption in diplomatic ties.

He announced the decision at a meeting with Yerevan-based foreign ambassadors and representatives of international organizations.

“With these joint actions, Hungary’s and Azerbaijan’s authorities have cleared the way for a repeat of such crimes,” Sarkisian told the envoys. “They are sending a message to murderers. They [murderers] know now that a murder committed on the basis of religious or ethnic hatred can go unpunished.”

“I cannot tolerate that,” Sarkisian said. “The Republic of Armenia cannot tolerate that. The Armenian people will not forgive that.”

“I am officially declaring that today we are suspending diplomatic relations and all official contacts with Hungary,” he added.

Armenia and Hungary have no embassies in each other’s capitals. The Armenian ambassador to that Central European state is based in Vienna.  (photo: AP)

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