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ARMENIA AS A PUNISHED CHILD
Yeghishe Metsarents
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/society26027.html
Published: 10:36:18 - 03/05/2012
We learnt yesterday that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has
imposed a fine on Armenia for pulling out of Eurovision 212 to be
held in Baku. According to the decision of the Union, Armenia will
have to pay the participation fee and the half of that sum as a fine
and to air the song contest live without interruption.
The EBU stated that Armenia is fined because it withdrew only after
the expiration of deadlines to pull out.
So, Armenia is fined for protraction and delay.
For months, the Public TV of Armenia has been trying to decide whether
to go or not to go to Baku, in case it was more than clear that it
was not necessary to participate in a show hosted by a country which
keeps Armenian military hostages, which organizes commandos killing
Armenian soldiers and kidnapping Armenian citizens.
Moreover, Armenia had to call on other European countries not to
attend the show because Azerbaijan is far from European values and
it can't be the capital to host such an event of the European family.
Sure, this appeal would hardly influence on the Eurovision 2012,
but this would be more logic than the uncertainty whether to go or
not to Eurovision, then the decision not to go and the obligation to
pay a fine.
Actually, it's the Public Television of Armenia to pay the fine so, it
comes out to be the money of the taxpayers since this TV is sponsored
by budget means.
Instead of decent boycott Armenia appears in the role of the punished
child.
This is also for the reason that along the attempts to silence the
liberal expressions in Armenia by pseudo-nationalism, the official
Yerevan actually failed to express a really national and state stance
about the Eurovision. While it is doubtless that the decision to
attend or not the Eurovision was at the highest levels of the power.
Yeghishe Metsarents
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/society26027.html
Published: 10:36:18 - 03/05/2012
We learnt yesterday that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has
imposed a fine on Armenia for pulling out of Eurovision 212 to be
held in Baku. According to the decision of the Union, Armenia will
have to pay the participation fee and the half of that sum as a fine
and to air the song contest live without interruption.
The EBU stated that Armenia is fined because it withdrew only after
the expiration of deadlines to pull out.
So, Armenia is fined for protraction and delay.
For months, the Public TV of Armenia has been trying to decide whether
to go or not to go to Baku, in case it was more than clear that it
was not necessary to participate in a show hosted by a country which
keeps Armenian military hostages, which organizes commandos killing
Armenian soldiers and kidnapping Armenian citizens.
Moreover, Armenia had to call on other European countries not to
attend the show because Azerbaijan is far from European values and
it can't be the capital to host such an event of the European family.
Sure, this appeal would hardly influence on the Eurovision 2012,
but this would be more logic than the uncertainty whether to go or
not to Eurovision, then the decision not to go and the obligation to
pay a fine.
Actually, it's the Public Television of Armenia to pay the fine so, it
comes out to be the money of the taxpayers since this TV is sponsored
by budget means.
Instead of decent boycott Armenia appears in the role of the punished
child.
This is also for the reason that along the attempts to silence the
liberal expressions in Armenia by pseudo-nationalism, the official
Yerevan actually failed to express a really national and state stance
about the Eurovision. While it is doubtless that the decision to
attend or not the Eurovision was at the highest levels of the power.