Tweet
CHEERS AND TEARS FOR AZERBAIJAN'S CRYSTAL HALL
ARMENPRESS
APRIL 18, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijan has announced the completion
of its new concert hall which will be the venue for this year's
Eurovision Song Contest. The Crystal Hall in the capital Baku is now
ready to open its doors to pop-stars from forty-three countries next
month, reports Armenpress citing Euronews.
The multi-purpose indoor arena with a 23,000- seat capacity has
created a sense of pride in many Baku residents.
"It is not just a festival, it's a grand occasion for the republic,"
said one local. "At last everyone will have heard of us and at last
they will be able to find Azerbaijan on the map. It's great."
But the oil rich nation is also internationally criticised for its
heavy-handed treatment of civil groups and the media. And one human
rights organisation sees the competition as a chance to promote change.
Human Rights Watch European and Asia Director, Hugh Williamson said:
"Last week we asked the EBU to approach the Azerbaijan government
directly, to see if there are any plans to release imprisoned
journalists before the Eurovision Song Contest and also to campaign
for more press and political freedom s in Azerbaijan."
And within the country, opposition groups have condemned President
Ilham Aliyev and his government for trampling on people's rights.
Forcible evictions and the demolition of homes, they say, have been
the price for the gleaming glass and steel building.
From: Baghdasarian
ARMENPRESS
APRIL 18, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijan has announced the completion
of its new concert hall which will be the venue for this year's
Eurovision Song Contest. The Crystal Hall in the capital Baku is now
ready to open its doors to pop-stars from forty-three countries next
month, reports Armenpress citing Euronews.
The multi-purpose indoor arena with a 23,000- seat capacity has
created a sense of pride in many Baku residents.
"It is not just a festival, it's a grand occasion for the republic,"
said one local. "At last everyone will have heard of us and at last
they will be able to find Azerbaijan on the map. It's great."
But the oil rich nation is also internationally criticised for its
heavy-handed treatment of civil groups and the media. And one human
rights organisation sees the competition as a chance to promote change.
Human Rights Watch European and Asia Director, Hugh Williamson said:
"Last week we asked the EBU to approach the Azerbaijan government
directly, to see if there are any plans to release imprisoned
journalists before the Eurovision Song Contest and also to campaign
for more press and political freedom s in Azerbaijan."
And within the country, opposition groups have condemned President
Ilham Aliyev and his government for trampling on people's rights.
Forcible evictions and the demolition of homes, they say, have been
the price for the gleaming glass and steel building.
From: Baghdasarian