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BBC Monitoring Trans Caucasus Unit
May 25, 2012 Friday
Pro-government Azeri media slam BBC over "smear" campaign
Official Azarbaycan newspaper has slammed the BBC's "smear" campaign
against Azerbaijan in the run-up to Eurovision Song Contest.
The paper said despite the government's call not to politicize the
contest, certain powers are not giving up the black PR against
Azerbaijan, adding that the BBC was at the forefront of the campaign.
"Despite hard efforts of the Eurovision bosses to isolate this contest
from politics, there have always been forces that want to create
gossips and controversy around the contest. This year the initiators
of these gossips and political controversy are British media, which is
one of the first countries that established the Eurovision Song
Contest".
The paper gave a summary of the Panorama programme on BBC One, in
which Britain's Eurovision contestant Engelbert Humperdinck was asked
a political question about rights situation in Azerbaijan. The paper
noted that reporters fixed the camera on Engelbert when he refused to
answer the question. It also said that British newspapers Mirror and
The Telegraph slammed Humperdinck for refusal to speak about human
rights situation in Azerbaijan.
The paper said these actions of BBC colleagues were against the
principles of the company.
"It is notable that the BBC, which is distinct for its strict media
regulations, has lost almost all court cases against it. It is also
known that the BBC had to pay 90 per cent of all fines and
compensations due to the 'naughtiness' of Panorama anchors," the paper
went on saying.
The paper added that the BBC reporters "are not leaving alone
Humperdinck" ahead of the contest and quoted a Russian media report as
saying that the singer had been offered to wear a T-shirt with the
words "Please, release them", implying the release of "political
prisoners" in Azerbaijan.
"British journalists insistently urge the singer spread slogans and
make calls to ask the Azerbaijani government to release 'political
prisoners' in Baku," Azarbaycan paper said.
The author of the article said that there were indeed, human rights
problems in Azerbaijan. However, the author questioned why British
journalists were spotlighting those problems only on the eve of the
Eurovision Song Contest. "Does it mean they will not care about these
issues after the contest?"
The paper suggested that perhaps the BBC was "taking revenge" because
Azerbaijan did not extend this company's licence.
The paper went on saying that it did not believe in the BBC's
sincerity, since this company "is taking a biased position by keeping
silent on the occupation of the Azerbaijani lands by Armenia and the
displacement of one million Azerbaijanis from their lands".
"It is difficult to understand and support this position," the paper said.
Private Baki Xabar paper also published an article on 25 May, saying
that "another Eurovision singer was urged to make a political
statement". The article referred to the BBC's Panorama programme
"Dirty Secrets of Eurovision" and said Britain's contestant was urged
to make a political statement. The paper was referring to an article
published in the British Daily Mail.
Yeni Azarbaycan paper on 25 May also dedicated an article to the
Panorama programme with the headline "British mass media: Britain's
Eurovision 2012 contestant has been urged to make a political
statement in Baku on BBC channel".
Opposition Azadliq newspaper has published an article praising the
Panorama programme. The article carries the caption "decisive blow on
the Aliyevs from Britain" and is focused on the statements made by the
programme anchor against the Azerbaijani president and the
government's policies.
Source: Azarbaycan, Baku, in Azeri 25 May 12 p 4; Baki Xabar, Baku, in
Azeri 25 May 12 p 3; Yeni Azarbaycan, Baku, in Azeri 25 May 12 p 4;
Azadliq, Baku in Azeri 25 May 12 p 10
May 25, 2012 Friday
Pro-government Azeri media slam BBC over "smear" campaign
Official Azarbaycan newspaper has slammed the BBC's "smear" campaign
against Azerbaijan in the run-up to Eurovision Song Contest.
The paper said despite the government's call not to politicize the
contest, certain powers are not giving up the black PR against
Azerbaijan, adding that the BBC was at the forefront of the campaign.
"Despite hard efforts of the Eurovision bosses to isolate this contest
from politics, there have always been forces that want to create
gossips and controversy around the contest. This year the initiators
of these gossips and political controversy are British media, which is
one of the first countries that established the Eurovision Song
Contest".
The paper gave a summary of the Panorama programme on BBC One, in
which Britain's Eurovision contestant Engelbert Humperdinck was asked
a political question about rights situation in Azerbaijan. The paper
noted that reporters fixed the camera on Engelbert when he refused to
answer the question. It also said that British newspapers Mirror and
The Telegraph slammed Humperdinck for refusal to speak about human
rights situation in Azerbaijan.
The paper said these actions of BBC colleagues were against the
principles of the company.
"It is notable that the BBC, which is distinct for its strict media
regulations, has lost almost all court cases against it. It is also
known that the BBC had to pay 90 per cent of all fines and
compensations due to the 'naughtiness' of Panorama anchors," the paper
went on saying.
The paper added that the BBC reporters "are not leaving alone
Humperdinck" ahead of the contest and quoted a Russian media report as
saying that the singer had been offered to wear a T-shirt with the
words "Please, release them", implying the release of "political
prisoners" in Azerbaijan.
"British journalists insistently urge the singer spread slogans and
make calls to ask the Azerbaijani government to release 'political
prisoners' in Baku," Azarbaycan paper said.
The author of the article said that there were indeed, human rights
problems in Azerbaijan. However, the author questioned why British
journalists were spotlighting those problems only on the eve of the
Eurovision Song Contest. "Does it mean they will not care about these
issues after the contest?"
The paper suggested that perhaps the BBC was "taking revenge" because
Azerbaijan did not extend this company's licence.
The paper went on saying that it did not believe in the BBC's
sincerity, since this company "is taking a biased position by keeping
silent on the occupation of the Azerbaijani lands by Armenia and the
displacement of one million Azerbaijanis from their lands".
"It is difficult to understand and support this position," the paper said.
Private Baki Xabar paper also published an article on 25 May, saying
that "another Eurovision singer was urged to make a political
statement". The article referred to the BBC's Panorama programme
"Dirty Secrets of Eurovision" and said Britain's contestant was urged
to make a political statement. The paper was referring to an article
published in the British Daily Mail.
Yeni Azarbaycan paper on 25 May also dedicated an article to the
Panorama programme with the headline "British mass media: Britain's
Eurovision 2012 contestant has been urged to make a political
statement in Baku on BBC channel".
Opposition Azadliq newspaper has published an article praising the
Panorama programme. The article carries the caption "decisive blow on
the Aliyevs from Britain" and is focused on the statements made by the
programme anchor against the Azerbaijani president and the
government's policies.
Source: Azarbaycan, Baku, in Azeri 25 May 12 p 4; Baki Xabar, Baku, in
Azeri 25 May 12 p 3; Yeni Azarbaycan, Baku, in Azeri 25 May 12 p 4;
Azadliq, Baku in Azeri 25 May 12 p 10