Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
May 5 2012
Songs instead of politics
Alexei Vlasov. Exclusively to VK
In late May Baku will host the 2012 international Eurovision song
contest. The level of preparation is so high that guests of
Azerbaijan's capital should have no doubts - everything will be
perfect: from welcoming guests to the technical aspect of the project.
At the moment the last preparations are being completed and in few
days a number one state of readiness will be declared.
In the year since the victory of the Azerbaijani duet in the musical
contest, many experts were concerned with the question - how will this
event affect the difficult relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
On the one hand, it is a chance for a small step toward each other.
Youth culture in its `global wrapping' is a thing that should bring
neighbouring countries closer. On the other hand, there were views
that the musical contest-2012 might become a reason for mutual
accusations. In Armenia a serious discussion appeared on the
participation in the contest and broadcasting it in the media. There
is no one point of view. The official position is more `homogeneous.'
But rejection of broadcasting it might put Armenia in a very difficult
situation, and Azerbaijan is not the point here, it is about the rules
of the game, which were not created in Baku.
Here the question arises - is it necessary to unite politics and a
musical party artificially? Probably Eurovision 2012 should be
considered as a way to turn away from the past for some time and see
that the new generation of 16-20 year-old people has different values
and priorities. From this point of view, the contest gives a splendid
opportunity for rejecting stereotypes of the past and looking to the
future, where popular culture and modern communications make borders
between countries disappear. Armenian-Turkish dialogue started from
football diplomacy, and sport cannot be blamed for postponing
ratification of the protocols.
The authorities of any country in such cases should consider an
obvious factor - isolation from an event which is a part of global
trends means staying far away from the development process.
May 5 2012
Songs instead of politics
Alexei Vlasov. Exclusively to VK
In late May Baku will host the 2012 international Eurovision song
contest. The level of preparation is so high that guests of
Azerbaijan's capital should have no doubts - everything will be
perfect: from welcoming guests to the technical aspect of the project.
At the moment the last preparations are being completed and in few
days a number one state of readiness will be declared.
In the year since the victory of the Azerbaijani duet in the musical
contest, many experts were concerned with the question - how will this
event affect the difficult relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
On the one hand, it is a chance for a small step toward each other.
Youth culture in its `global wrapping' is a thing that should bring
neighbouring countries closer. On the other hand, there were views
that the musical contest-2012 might become a reason for mutual
accusations. In Armenia a serious discussion appeared on the
participation in the contest and broadcasting it in the media. There
is no one point of view. The official position is more `homogeneous.'
But rejection of broadcasting it might put Armenia in a very difficult
situation, and Azerbaijan is not the point here, it is about the rules
of the game, which were not created in Baku.
Here the question arises - is it necessary to unite politics and a
musical party artificially? Probably Eurovision 2012 should be
considered as a way to turn away from the past for some time and see
that the new generation of 16-20 year-old people has different values
and priorities. From this point of view, the contest gives a splendid
opportunity for rejecting stereotypes of the past and looking to the
future, where popular culture and modern communications make borders
between countries disappear. Armenian-Turkish dialogue started from
football diplomacy, and sport cannot be blamed for postponing
ratification of the protocols.
The authorities of any country in such cases should consider an
obvious factor - isolation from an event which is a part of global
trends means staying far away from the development process.