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Armenia pulls out of Azerbaijan-hosted Eurovision show
BBC
7 March 2012
Work is under way to build the concert hall for Eurovision in Baku
Continue reading the main story
The organisers of Eurovision song contest say Armenia has pulled out
of the 2012 show in Baku amid new tension with its old rival
Azerbaijan.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said it was "truly disappointed"
by Armenian Public Television's decision.
Azerbaijani and Armenian forces fought a war over the disputed region
of Nagorno-Karabakh in the 1990s which left at least 25,000 people
dead.
A ceasefire was signed in 1994, but no permanent peace deal has been reached.
There has also been internal tension in Azerbaijan, where security
forces used force to break up an opposition rally in the northern
district of Quba on Friday.
'Our main enemies'
Several people were injured in Quba Armenian Public Television accused
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev of making hostile remarks in recent
days.
"Despite the fact that the Azerbaijani authorities have given security
guarantees to all participating countries, several days ago the
Azerbaijani president made a statement that enemy number one for
Azerbaijan were the Armenians," the TV said in a statement quoted by
AFP news agency.
Last month, a group of Armenian pop singers launched a Eurovision
boycott campaign, saying: "We refuse to appear in a country that is
well known for mass killings and massacres of Armenians, in a country
where anti-Armenian sentiments have been elevated to the level of
state policy.
"There is no logic to sending a participant to a country where he will
be met as an enemy."
In a speech about local government on 28 February, which was posted on
the Azerbaijani leader's website, President Aliyev said: "Our main
enemies are Armenians of the world and the hypocritical and corrupt
politicians under their control."
Reacting to news of the Armenian withdrawal, senior Azerbaijani
politician Ali Ahmedov told reporters that Armenia had no genuine
reason to boycott the competition in Baku.
"The Armenian refusal to take part in such a respected contest will
cause even further damage to the already damaged image of Armenia,"
said Mr Ahmedov, who is secretary of the governing party.
BBC
7 March 2012
Work is under way to build the concert hall for Eurovision in Baku
Continue reading the main story
The organisers of Eurovision song contest say Armenia has pulled out
of the 2012 show in Baku amid new tension with its old rival
Azerbaijan.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said it was "truly disappointed"
by Armenian Public Television's decision.
Azerbaijani and Armenian forces fought a war over the disputed region
of Nagorno-Karabakh in the 1990s which left at least 25,000 people
dead.
A ceasefire was signed in 1994, but no permanent peace deal has been reached.
There has also been internal tension in Azerbaijan, where security
forces used force to break up an opposition rally in the northern
district of Quba on Friday.
'Our main enemies'
Several people were injured in Quba Armenian Public Television accused
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev of making hostile remarks in recent
days.
"Despite the fact that the Azerbaijani authorities have given security
guarantees to all participating countries, several days ago the
Azerbaijani president made a statement that enemy number one for
Azerbaijan were the Armenians," the TV said in a statement quoted by
AFP news agency.
Last month, a group of Armenian pop singers launched a Eurovision
boycott campaign, saying: "We refuse to appear in a country that is
well known for mass killings and massacres of Armenians, in a country
where anti-Armenian sentiments have been elevated to the level of
state policy.
"There is no logic to sending a participant to a country where he will
be met as an enemy."
In a speech about local government on 28 February, which was posted on
the Azerbaijani leader's website, President Aliyev said: "Our main
enemies are Armenians of the world and the hypocritical and corrupt
politicians under their control."
Reacting to news of the Armenian withdrawal, senior Azerbaijani
politician Ali Ahmedov told reporters that Armenia had no genuine
reason to boycott the competition in Baku.
"The Armenian refusal to take part in such a respected contest will
cause even further damage to the already damaged image of Armenia,"
said Mr Ahmedov, who is secretary of the governing party.