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Armenia's Eurovision boycott dashed Karabakh settlement hopes ` NYT
news.am
March 9, 2012 - 15:54 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Article titled `Armenians Are Shunning Song Contest
in Azerbaijan' published by journalist Andrew E. Kramer in The New
York Times deems Armenia's Eurovision 2012 song contest boycott to
undermine Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.
`The greatest cultural chasm evoked by Eurovision, the kitschy
pop-song contest, might seem to lie between those who watch it and
those who do not, but in fact, behind the boy bands, teenage
heartthrobs, novelty acts and sequins lies real-world conflict,' the
article reads.
`Armenian's recent boycott to participate in the contest has dashed
hopes that the contest might, improbably, overcome two decades of
vendetta and violence in the Caucasus. The two countries fought a war
over Nagorno Karabakh that ended in 1994 with a cease-fire, but border
skirmishes remain common,' Kramer writes.
`While withdrawing from Eurovision lacks the gravity of walking out of
peace talks or the Olympics, it is a negative symbol in a delicate and
long-running effort to demilitarize one of the most intractable ethnic
conflicts in the former Soviet Union,' the article further reads.
Azerbaijan's Ell/Nikki duet with Running Scared song won the
Eurovision 2011. Italy's Raphael Gualazzi with Madness Of Love song
took second place followed by Eric Saade from Sweden.
Armenia's Emmy was knocked out of Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in the
May 10 seminal, although her performance of Boom Boom song was met
warmly by the audience at Arena stadium in DÑ?sseldorf, Germany.
For several months Armenia couldn't decide on participation in the
song contest. Public Television of Armenia demanded safety guarantees
for the Armenian delegation from Baku and the European Broadcasting
Union (EBU).
On February 24, Armenian singers refused to participate in Baku-hosted
Eurovision 2012 song contest, following the February 23 death of an
Armenian soldier in Azeri sniper attack. On March 7, Armenian Public
Television officially informed the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
of Armenia's withdrawal from the contest.
42 countries will take part in the contest, each semi-final featuring
18 participants. The final will be held on May 26.
news.am
March 9, 2012 - 15:54 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Article titled `Armenians Are Shunning Song Contest
in Azerbaijan' published by journalist Andrew E. Kramer in The New
York Times deems Armenia's Eurovision 2012 song contest boycott to
undermine Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.
`The greatest cultural chasm evoked by Eurovision, the kitschy
pop-song contest, might seem to lie between those who watch it and
those who do not, but in fact, behind the boy bands, teenage
heartthrobs, novelty acts and sequins lies real-world conflict,' the
article reads.
`Armenian's recent boycott to participate in the contest has dashed
hopes that the contest might, improbably, overcome two decades of
vendetta and violence in the Caucasus. The two countries fought a war
over Nagorno Karabakh that ended in 1994 with a cease-fire, but border
skirmishes remain common,' Kramer writes.
`While withdrawing from Eurovision lacks the gravity of walking out of
peace talks or the Olympics, it is a negative symbol in a delicate and
long-running effort to demilitarize one of the most intractable ethnic
conflicts in the former Soviet Union,' the article further reads.
Azerbaijan's Ell/Nikki duet with Running Scared song won the
Eurovision 2011. Italy's Raphael Gualazzi with Madness Of Love song
took second place followed by Eric Saade from Sweden.
Armenia's Emmy was knocked out of Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in the
May 10 seminal, although her performance of Boom Boom song was met
warmly by the audience at Arena stadium in DÑ?sseldorf, Germany.
For several months Armenia couldn't decide on participation in the
song contest. Public Television of Armenia demanded safety guarantees
for the Armenian delegation from Baku and the European Broadcasting
Union (EBU).
On February 24, Armenian singers refused to participate in Baku-hosted
Eurovision 2012 song contest, following the February 23 death of an
Armenian soldier in Azeri sniper attack. On March 7, Armenian Public
Television officially informed the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
of Armenia's withdrawal from the contest.
42 countries will take part in the contest, each semi-final featuring
18 participants. The final will be held on May 26.