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AZERI OPPOSITION PLANS PROTESTS AHEAD OF EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
ANS TV
Feb 18 2012
Azerbaijan
[translated from Azeri]
[Presenter] The [opposition umbrella group] Public Chamber has stated
it intends to stage protests to demand the release of political
prisoners as a precondition for the government when the preparations
are under way for the Eurovision song contest scheduled for May
in Baku. The [pro-government] Motherland Party and [the ruling]
New Azerbaijan Party have described this step of the opposition as
a blow to interests of Azerbaijan.
[Correspondent] The Public Chamber is preparing to stage protests
to demand the release of those whom it calls political prisoners in
the run-up to the Eurovision song contest. The Public Chamber states
that if their demands are not met, they will take steps to persuade
thousands of journalists to visit the country to cover the song
contest only and speak about political prisoners and corruption. The
appearance of protesters in front of journalists by wearing shirts
with pictures of the so-called political prisoners is also part of
the plan. A member of Public Chamber, Panah Huseyn, has told ANS TV's
"Aciq Sohbat" (Open Talk) talk show that the Public Chamber is not
against the holding of the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan.
However, in order to ensure that this event is held in a normal manner,
the authorities should take steps to release persons being considered
as political prisoners.
[Panah Huseyn] [If someone] is being kept in prison without any facts
and argument, based on some repressive purpose, we cannot remain
silent about this as we also have hearts. This does not correspond
to both the interests of Azerbaijan and the interests of the event
to be held in the country.
[Correspondent] It should be recalled that the Public Chamber has
not made a final decision to this effect yet. But some leaders of
the political parties have spoken against their plan. The chairman
of the Motherland Party, MP Fazail Agamali, believes that the Public
Chamber's preconditions for the government is wrong.
[Fazail Agamali, chairman of the Motherland Party] The attempts to
compare the song contest with rallies and people whom the Public
Chamber calls prisoners of conscience and raising this topic today
are not understandable.
[Correspondent] The executive secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party,
Ali Ahmadov, describes the Public Chamber's intention as a blow to
the interests of Azerbaijan. According to him, if someone opposes
the holding of the song contest in Azerbaijan, it means that he is
in the same position with Armenians.
[Ali Ahmadov, executive secretary of the New Azerbaijani Party] It is
difficult to imagine the second one who had no desire for the holding
of the song contest in Azerbaijan as much as Armenians. In that case, I
consider that there is no difference between the attempts of Armenians
and attempts of those in Azerbaijan who are trying to prevent the
conduct of the song contest in the country or cast a shadow on it.
[Passage omitted; a vox pop held among Baku residents]
[translated from Azeri]
ANS TV
Feb 18 2012
Azerbaijan
[translated from Azeri]
[Presenter] The [opposition umbrella group] Public Chamber has stated
it intends to stage protests to demand the release of political
prisoners as a precondition for the government when the preparations
are under way for the Eurovision song contest scheduled for May
in Baku. The [pro-government] Motherland Party and [the ruling]
New Azerbaijan Party have described this step of the opposition as
a blow to interests of Azerbaijan.
[Correspondent] The Public Chamber is preparing to stage protests
to demand the release of those whom it calls political prisoners in
the run-up to the Eurovision song contest. The Public Chamber states
that if their demands are not met, they will take steps to persuade
thousands of journalists to visit the country to cover the song
contest only and speak about political prisoners and corruption. The
appearance of protesters in front of journalists by wearing shirts
with pictures of the so-called political prisoners is also part of
the plan. A member of Public Chamber, Panah Huseyn, has told ANS TV's
"Aciq Sohbat" (Open Talk) talk show that the Public Chamber is not
against the holding of the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan.
However, in order to ensure that this event is held in a normal manner,
the authorities should take steps to release persons being considered
as political prisoners.
[Panah Huseyn] [If someone] is being kept in prison without any facts
and argument, based on some repressive purpose, we cannot remain
silent about this as we also have hearts. This does not correspond
to both the interests of Azerbaijan and the interests of the event
to be held in the country.
[Correspondent] It should be recalled that the Public Chamber has
not made a final decision to this effect yet. But some leaders of
the political parties have spoken against their plan. The chairman
of the Motherland Party, MP Fazail Agamali, believes that the Public
Chamber's preconditions for the government is wrong.
[Fazail Agamali, chairman of the Motherland Party] The attempts to
compare the song contest with rallies and people whom the Public
Chamber calls prisoners of conscience and raising this topic today
are not understandable.
[Correspondent] The executive secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party,
Ali Ahmadov, describes the Public Chamber's intention as a blow to
the interests of Azerbaijan. According to him, if someone opposes
the holding of the song contest in Azerbaijan, it means that he is
in the same position with Armenians.
[Ali Ahmadov, executive secretary of the New Azerbaijani Party] It is
difficult to imagine the second one who had no desire for the holding
of the song contest in Azerbaijan as much as Armenians. In that case, I
consider that there is no difference between the attempts of Armenians
and attempts of those in Azerbaijan who are trying to prevent the
conduct of the song contest in the country or cast a shadow on it.
[Passage omitted; a vox pop held among Baku residents]
[translated from Azeri]