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AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER DOES NOT WANT POLITICIZING OF EUROVISION
Vestnik Kavkaza
March 14 2012
Russia
Responding to a question from journalist Thornsten Jungholt on Baku's
hosting the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov noted his gladness that his country won the right
to host it in May this year.
Mammadyarov emphasized that democratization, respect for human rights
and rule of law are priority aspects of Azerbaijani policy. He reminded
that Azerbaijan is a member of many international organizations,
such as the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The country has
free parties and opposition, many of which publish their own papers
and have websites criticizing the government.
The foreign minister noted that he understands people politicizing
Azerbaijan's hosting the contest. But it is mainly a cultural event,
not political, and everyone has the right to their own opinion.
Commenting on Armenia's boycott of the contest and possible
escalation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Mammadyarov emphasized that the Eurovision Song Contest must not
be used for political purposes, especially within the framework of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
The minister reminded that Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijani territory
occupied by Armenia. The territory has been occupied for 20 years,
despite demands of UN resolutions to withdraw. Mammadyarov says that
negotiations have brought no results, yet Azerbaijan is willing to
continue them.
Vestnik Kavkaza
March 14 2012
Russia
Responding to a question from journalist Thornsten Jungholt on Baku's
hosting the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov noted his gladness that his country won the right
to host it in May this year.
Mammadyarov emphasized that democratization, respect for human rights
and rule of law are priority aspects of Azerbaijani policy. He reminded
that Azerbaijan is a member of many international organizations,
such as the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The country has
free parties and opposition, many of which publish their own papers
and have websites criticizing the government.
The foreign minister noted that he understands people politicizing
Azerbaijan's hosting the contest. But it is mainly a cultural event,
not political, and everyone has the right to their own opinion.
Commenting on Armenia's boycott of the contest and possible
escalation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Mammadyarov emphasized that the Eurovision Song Contest must not
be used for political purposes, especially within the framework of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
The minister reminded that Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijani territory
occupied by Armenia. The territory has been occupied for 20 years,
despite demands of UN resolutions to withdraw. Mammadyarov says that
negotiations have brought no results, yet Azerbaijan is willing to
continue them.